Lewandowski's Return Lifts Spartans, 2-0

GAME CAPSULE

Senior Mitchell Lewandowski returned to the lineup after a five-game absence and scored the game-winning goal with just over six minutes remaining to help Michigan State to a 2-0 victory over visiting Ferris State on Thursday night at Munn Ice Arena.

The Spartans (5-5-1) and their guests battled through nearly 55 minutes of scoreless action before Lewandowski finally got the home team on the board. The goal started with a lead pass from Christian Krygier to freshman Jesse Tucker, who came up the right wall with the puck and entered the offensive zone. He dished across the high slot to Lewandowski, who held the puck a beat, took a stride to the top of the circle, and beat Ferris goaltender Logan Stein glove-side for his fourth goal of the season.

At the other end, Drew DeRidder picked up his first shutout of the season, making 26 saves. Stein made 20 stops for Ferris State, (4-7-0).

Aiden Gallacher scored into an empty net with 76 seconds remaining to ice the victory.

MSU and Ferris State close out the series on Saturday, when the teams take the ice in Big Rapids. Game time is 7 pm.

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Mitchell Lewandowski returned to the lineup and scored the game-winner, off assists from Jesse Tucker and Christian Krygier.
Drew DeRidder had a 26-save shutout, his first blank sheet of the season.
MSU was 2-for-2 on the penalty kill
Aiden Gallacher's empty-net tally was his first career goal.

NOTABLES

Mitchell Lewandowski returned to the lineup for the first time since Oct. 22. He missed five games.
MSU's penalty kill was 2-for-2 in the game, the sixth game this season that the Spartans have been perfect on the PK.
The Spartans had just one power play chance in the game.
MSU was dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 31 of 47 draws.
DeRidder had his second-fewest number of saves in a game this season. His low was last Saturday vs. Michigan (11/6) in a tough 3-2 loss.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: The Spartans and Bulldogs skated through a scoreless first period with a 7-5 edge to the Spartans in shots on net. MSU dominated in the faceoff circle (13-3), while Ferris held a 6-1 edge in shots. MSU had a few grade-A chances, and saw a few nifty plays from senior Mitchell Lewandowski, who returned to action for the first time since Oct. 22.

SECOND PERIOD: The Spartans came out buzzing, and had some early chances. Just over two minutes in, but Logan Stein made it post-to-post to get a pad on a Kyle Haskins offering and made the save, and then, Davidson and Tucker went in on an odd-man rush but couldn't get a shot off. By the seven-minute mark, Ferris held an 8-2 edge in shots on net in the frame, and overall in the period out-shot MSU 12-7. The Spartans had their chances, but saw a lot of opportunities die without a shot on net.

THIRD PERIOD: Through the first 12 minutes of play in the period, the teams combined for just seven shots on net. Gucciardi had a blast from the point which got through traffic, but turned away by Stein – but that shot seemed to give MSU a lift. At 13:38, the Spartans finally broke through, as Jesse Tucker sped up the right wall and passed across the high slot to Lewandowski, who held the puck an extra beat and sent a laser from the top of the left circle past Stein for the first goal of the game, his fourth of the season. Aiden Gallacher scored on an empty net for his first goal as a Spartan. MSU outshot Ferris 9-6 in the period.

Next Event

Team Stats

Mitchell Lewandowski

Aiden Gallacher

Christian Krygier

Jesse Tucker

Players Mentioned

Drew DeRidder

Aiden Gallacher

Kyle Haskins

Christian Krygier

Mitchell Lewandowski

Jesse Tucker

Players Mentioned

Drew DeRidder

Aiden Gallacher

Kyle Haskins

Christian Krygier

Mitchell Lewandowski

Jesse Tucker