Neil's Notebook: Spartans More Dangerous With Lewandowski

By Neil Koepke, MSUSpartans.com staff writer

ALSO: MSU-Wisconsin Preview

EAST LANSING – When Mitchell Lewandowski is in the lineup this season, Michigan State's record is 5-1-1. When the fifth-year senior is out of the lineup, the Spartans are 1-4-0.

A coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.

For sure, Michigan State is a more dangerous hockey team with Lewandowski taking a regular shift.

After missing five games with an injury suffered on Oct. 22 at UMass Lowell, Lewandowski was back in action last weekend against Ferris State. In the first game, at Munn Arena, he scored the winning goal late in the third period of MSU's 2-0 victory.

Two nights later, at Ferris State, Lewandowski had two key assists – the first on the tying goal late in the second period and the second on a perfect pass out from behind the net to set up Erik Middendorf's goal that gave the Spartans a come-from-behind 4-3 victory.

"It felt good to do my part, play my role and help us succeed,'' said Lewandowski, a 5-foot-170-pound left-hand shot forward from Clarkson, Michigan.

When Lewandowski sat out the second game of the UMass Lowell series, it was first game he's missed in his Spartans' career, ending a streak of 140 consecutive games.

"Being out of the lineup was something I didn't do the first four years here. It was weird, especially watching a home game against Michigan,'' he said. "It wasn't much fun watching, but to get back in the lineup and help contribute to winning on Friday and then go get the sweep on Saturday with a comeback win definitely felt good.''

Despite missing five games, Lewandowski is tied for the team scoring lead with four goals six assists for 10 points in seven games. Junior center Josh Nodler also has the same stat line with four goals and six assists in 12 games.

Lewandowski will try to continue his production this weekend when the Spartans (6-5-1-0 overall, 1-3-0-0-0-0 Big Ten) resume Big Ten play with a series against Wisconsin (4-8-0, 2-4-0-1-0-0). The teams collide at 7 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday at Munn Arena.

Lewandowski has had great individual success against the Badgers over the last four seasons. He has 11 goals and six assists for 17 points 16 games.

As a freshman, he scored six goals and had one assist in four games vs. Wisconsin. During his sophomore season, he had two goals and three assists. Lewandowski was held scoreless in three of four games during his junior year but managed to scored two goals and collect one assist in a 5-4 overtime victory at Munn Arena.

Last season, in which Wisconsin swept the Spartans, 4-0, he had one goal and one assist. In his four seasons, MSU is 6-9-1 against the Badgers.

Lewandowski said he can't explain the reasons for his success against the Badgers.

"I just play well against them. I guess I do well against red jerseys,'' he said with a laugh. "I've scored goals here and there and I definitely remember all of that. They play hard, their defense is good and they always have skilled forwards.

"One thing that's led to my success is playing good defense and capitalizing on odd-man rushes – 2-on-1s, 3-on-2s, or whatever it might be.''

Lewandowski started the season on left wing on a line with Kristof Papp at center and Jeremy Davidson on right wing. After five games, he had three goals and seven points.

When he returned to the lineup last Friday, his line with Davidson was centered by Jesse Tucker.

"Lewie gives us depth down the lineup which helps a ton. You can get more out of every line,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "He brings the scoring – he's a threat on the ice all the time. He got by with his hands and head on Thursday, but his legs were involved on Saturday and he was really good.

"Obviously, we miss him when he's out.''

It didn't take long after last season for Lewandowski to decide to come back to MSU for a fifth season. Because of the impact Covid-19 had on college sports, the NCAA gave athletes playing in 2020-21 and extra year of eligibility.

The transfer portal and the extra season of eligibility changed the landscape of college hockey this season.

"I liked where the program was going. I liked the direction of the coaching staff was taking with the team and I really liked the guys,'' Lewandowski said of reasons to delay a try at pro hockey for another season wearing green and white.

"I really wanted to win something. I hadn't won anything since I've been here. For me to go through this year and then five or 10 years down the road, or even a year from now, I wanted to look back and have something that I won as a team.''

Cole and the coaching staff were excited about having their best offensive player return. Lewandowski and the Spartans didn't have good seasons in 2020-21 and he was determined to go out on a positive note.

"For him to come back and reestablish himself, there were some things he had to do,'' Cole said. "His offseason was outstanding. His prep work was good and his mindset was good. Coming back for a fifth year is not for everybody.

"Lewie has done a nice job with that - to show leadership and just come back and have a good of a year as possible for him and the team. He's done a great job in all those aspects.''

As a freshman playing on a line with Patrick Khodorenko and Taro Hirose, Lewandowski had a great season with 19 goals and 15 assists for 34 points. He was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year, beating out standout Michigan defenseman Quinn Hughes, now in his third season in the NHL with the Vancouver Canucks.

Lewandowski matched his rookie point total as a sophomore with 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points. He dropped to eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points as a junior and in the shortened 27-game schedule last year, he had six goals and 13 points.

In seven games in his final season, Lewandowski's 10 points are almost as many as a year ago.

MSU's regular season in 2020-21 ended with Wisconsin sweeping the Spartans, 4-0, 2-1, at Munn Arena. The second win gave the Badgers the Big Ten's regular-season title and they celebrated on the ice at Munn.

"The last time they were here, they won a championship in our building. We didn't forget that,'' Lewandowski said. "We're definitely humming in on that, trying to make their lives difficult.

"It'll be a good series. Two good games and we need two wins. We can't settle for one or get swept. We have to take advantage of home games in the Big Ten.''

After this weekend, the Spartans won't play a home game until late December when they'll face Western Michigan, Dec. 29, and Michigan Tech, Dec. 30, in the Great Lakes Invitational.

They'll be off next weekend and then head back out on the road at Penn State, Dec. 3-4, and at Notre Dame, Dec. 10-11. After the Christmas break, MSU's next home conference series is against Minnesota, Jan. 7-8.

THE RIVALRY: The Spartans trail the series with the Badgers by one game. Wisconsin leads 60-59-4. MSU is 31-22-2 at home, 19-34-2 in Madison and 9-4 on neutral ice. The series started on Dec. 11-12, 1964, when Wisconsin was in the early stages of the modern era of its varsity program. The Spartans won 9-2 and 9-0 at Demonstration Hall.

The Badgers are 6-13-2 against MSU over the last five seasons and 20-13-1 in the last 10. Last season, highly rated Wisconsin swept the Spartans – 6-0 and 4-1 in Madison and 4-0 and 2-1 at Munn Arena.

SCOUTING THE BADGERS: Wisconsin has had its share of highs and lows over its first 12 games. The highs include a 4-2 victory at now-No. 1 Michigan and a 4-3 overtime win at home vs. now-No. 7/7 Minnesota. The lows? How about getting swept by Michigan Tech, 5-2, 5-1, at the Kohl Center in Madison, losing twice at No. 2/2 St. Cloud State, 5-1, 4-1, and getting swept at Notre Dame last weekend and only scoring one goal in 4-1 and 3-0 losses.

The Badgers are going through what the plagued Michigan State all of last season – lack of scoring. Wisconsin has scored only 20 goals in 12 games for an average of 1. 67 goals-per-game, which ranks 56th among 59 NCAA Division I teams.

Last season, in which Wisconsin finished first in the Big Ten and lost to Minnesota in the conference championship game, the Badgers averaged 3.81 goals-per-game (No. 2 nationally), led by Hobey Baker winner Cole Caufield, the nation's top scorer with 30 goals and 22 assists for 52 points in 31 games.

Wisconsin lost its top four scorers – Caufield, Linus Weissbach (12-29-42), Dylan Holloway (11-24-35) and Ty Pelton-Byce (12-19-31). The Badgers had the NCAA's top power play at 31.6% (31-for-98).

Caufield and Holloway, both sophomores, left to sign contracts with NHL teams. Caufield joined the Montreal Canadiens and played in the playoffs, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final. Holloway signed with the Edmonton Oilers but didn't play because of an injury.

This has been a bit of a rebuilding year for the Badgers, who still were picked to finish third in the Big Ten Coaches' Preseason Poll.

Top returning players include senior forwards Brock Caufield (3-2-5), Roman Ahcan (1-4-5), Tarek Baker (2-2-4), Jack Gorniak (2-1-3), Dominik Mersch (2-1-3) and Max Johnson (2-0-2), a transfer from Bowling Green, and sophomore forwards Sam Stange (1-2-3), a Detroit Red Wings draft pick, and Mathieu De St. Phalle (1-1-2) and freshman Caden Brown (2-2-4).

Junior forward Owen Lindmark, a 2019 draft pick by the Florida Panthers, has been injured and played only six games and has one goal.

Baker and defensemen Tyler Inamato and Josh Ness are fifth-year seniors.

Key freshmen include defensemen Corson Ceulemans (1-4-5), a first-round draft pick last July by the Columbus Blue Jackets, and Daniel Laatsch and forwards Zach Urdahl (0-1-1) and Brown.

Ceulemans came out of the same Canadian Tier II junior program – the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League – as MSU senior defenseman and captain Dennis Cesana and former Massachusetts standout Cale Makar, the 2019 Hobey Baker winner now an NHL star with the Colorado Avalanche.

Wisconsin lost transfer goalie Robbie Beydoun to graduation and brought in Jared Moe, a transfer from Minnesota. Moe has been bright spot for the Badgers. He has a 2-4-0 record but he has an impressive saves percentage at .932 and a 2.36 goals-against average. Sophomore Cameron Rowe has struggled thus far this season. He has a 4.05 GAA and a .859 saves percentage.

Not surprisingly, the Badgers special teams rank low in the Big Ten and nationally. Their power play is converting on 10% of their chances – 4 goals in 40 opportunities, which ranks 53^rd among 59 teams. Wisconsin's penalty killing is at 61.8 percent, 7^th in the Big Ten.

Coach Tony Granato is in his sixth season at Wisconsin and has a career record of 86-90-13. His teams have made the NCAA Tournament one time – last season when they won the Big Ten regular-season title. The Badgers were upset by Bemidji State, 6-3, in the semifinals of the NCAA East Regional.

In Granato's five full seasons, Wisconsin has had two winning seasons – 2016-17 and 2021-22.

Wisconsin's last national championship came in 2006, one year before Michigan State captured its last NCAA title in 2007.

DEFENSE COMBOS: The Spartans have adjusted their defense pairs and now have a puck-moving, offensively skilled D-man on each pairing.

Sophomore Nash Nienhuismoves from playing with Dennis Cesana to teaming with senior Cole Krygier. Senior Christian Krygier moves to Nienhaus' spot with Cesana. Freshman David Gucciardi and sophomore Aiden Gallagher form the third pairing.

Cesana, Nienhuisand Gucciardi are well suited to join the rush and help create scoring chances.

"If you look at our pairs, we have Dennis Cesana on one and he's obviously an elite college defenseman with a good offensive mind,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "We now have Nash Nienhuis with on another (unit) and David Gucciardi on one, too.

"Each pair has a guy that can get up and go and is paired with a bigger guy. With splitting up Denny and Nash, that gives all the pairs the ability of having a guy that can jump up.''

MSU is getting more offense out of its defensive corps than in past seasons.

Cesana (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points), Gucciardi (1-3-4), Nienhuis(0-3-3), Christian Krygier (0-4-4), Cole Krygier (2-0-2) and Gallacher (1-0-1) have combined for six goals and 13 assists for 19 points. The 19 points are 24% of MSU's total of 79 points in 12 games.

The six goals by the D-men are 22% of the team's 31 goals.

"I like defenseman that can get up the ice but I really like guys that know when it's time to go, to kick the puck up and join the rush and don't think they're going to go goal line to goal line.'' Cole said. "That doesn't happen very often.

"What's the expression? Defensemen sometimes go from 'crusher to rusher to usher,' and find their way out of the lineup when doing things you're not supposed to do.

"But when you pick your spots and do it the right way, it's really effective. And the way the game is played now, you need that fourth guy, sometimes the fifth guy, getting involved.

"Our guys are starting to pick up on it and are doing it at the right times.''

NEW CHALLENGE FOR NIENHUIS: Sophomore defenseman Nash Nienhuis has come a long way in his development and he's now taking on a new challenge.

After playing the left side with offensively gifted Dennis Cesana most of last year and up until last weekend, Nienhuis, a left-hand shot, is moving to play the right defensive spot with Cole Krygier. Nienhaus, a good puck-moving defenseman, will bring an offensive flavor to his unit with Krygier. But he'll have to adjust to playing the right side while looking to create offensive chances, much more than he did with Cesana.

"It's great playing with Cole. He's a solid defenseman and makes the right plays. It's a bit of an adjustment for a left-hander playing the right side in different situations,'' said Nienhuis, a 5-foot-10, 178-pounder from Sarnia, Ontario. "But there's also some pros to it, with the cons. It's about that and doing what I can do to help the team.''

Nienhuis said he played the right side spot a few times in juniors, but he's eager to try to handle the new assignment and do even more offensively than he did before.

"Cesana's one of the better defensemen in the league and playing with him was great, and off-ice, he's a great guy and a great captain,'' Nienhuis said. "We were a good pair but to switch helps the team.''

Nienhuis's emergence has a lot to do with experience of a full season and building confidence.

"A lot has to do with confidence and the coaches giving me the opportunity, and obviously our D-corps is strong this year,'' he said. "Everyone I've played with helps me out on the ice. It's building off every practice and games and continuing to get better.''

The Spartans are looking for an offensive boost from their defensemen. Last Saturday, Cesana and Cole Krygier each scored goals and Christian Krygier had one assist in MSU's 4-3 victory over Ferris State.

"It's huge help getting goals from the back end,'' Nienhuis said. "We've all been working on it practice, getting that fourth guy to join the rush. It's great getting some offense from the defense. We need to keep it going.''

THE BIG TEN: No. 1/1 Michigan plays host to No. 14/15 Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday at Yost Arena. The Wolverines (10-2 overall, 5-1 Big Ten) are coming off a sweep at Penn State while the Irish (8-3-0, 2-2-0-0-0-0) last week won two games against Wisconsin.

In the other conference series, Penn State plays at No. 7/7 Minnesota (7-5-0, 4-2-0-0-1-0), also on Friday and Saturday. The Gophers last weekend split a home series with Ohio State, losing 4-3 and winning 3-0. The Buckeyes (7-3-0, 4-2-0-0-0-0) have this weekend off.

Neil's Notebook: Spartans More Dangerous With Lewandowski

Players Mentioned

Dennis Cesana

Jeremy Davidson

David Gucciardi

Christian Krygier

Cole Krygier

Mitchell Lewandowski

Erik Middendorf

Nash Nienhuis

Josh Nodler

Kristof Papp

Jesse Tucker

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