Lewandowski's OT Strike Sinks Irish

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State broke up a scoreless tie with a Mitchell Lewandowski goal 33 seconds into the overtime period to take a 1-0 victory on the road at No. 8/8 Notre Dame and earn a split in the weekend series. MSU is 10-7-1 overall and 5-5-0 in Big Ten play.

On Friday, the Spartans scored twice in the opening two minutes of the game, and then lost on a late goal in the third period to fall 3- 2 to their hosts. On Saturday the script flipped, and neither team was able to find a way past the other's goaltender until Lewandowski's wrister from the high slot.

The eighth-ranked Irish (12-5-0, 6-4-0 B1G) were kept at bay by a sharp Drew DeRidder, who made 30 saves. He weathered flurries, and the tight-checking game was a battle for all 61 minutes. MSU was outshot 9-3 in the opening frame and stayed composed as the Irish put eight shots on the board early in the third period. The Spartans had 12 shots in the second and eight in the third, with the kill shot coming in the overtime period.

Lewandowski, who led MSU with four shots in the game, scored his seventh goal of the year and his third in Big Ten games.

Notre Dame goalie Ryan Bischel was the third star of the game, making 23 saves. Lewandowski and DeRidder, respectively, were the first and second.

Michigan State is idle until Dec. 29-30, when it hosts Western Michigan and Michigan Tech in a pair of Great Lakes Invitational Showcase games.

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Drew DeRidder made 30 saves and posted his second shutout of the season.
Mitchell Lewandowski scored his seventh goal of the season 33 seconds into overtime.

NOTABLES

Lewandowski, who had his 11-game point-scoring streak halted in the Friday night game, got back on track with the only goal of the game in overtime.
Drew DeRidder had an assist and the shutout, his second of the season and fourth of his career. His first shutout of the year was a 2-0 decision over Ferris State – another game in which Lewandowski scored a late game-winner and MSU got an empty-netter.
DeRidder had an assist on the game-winner, leading to Lewandowski initiating the rush on the Spartans' first offensive possession in OT
MSU enters holiday break with a 10-7-1 overall record, three wins better than their win total in 2020-21.
The Spartans have played seven of their 10 league games so far on the road and are 3-4 in those games. Overall, MSU is 6-2 at home and 4-5-1 in road contests.
MSU earned its first win this season over a ranked team.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: The first period featured some end-to-end action, but MSU had trouble establishing any extended time in its offensive zone. Each team had one power play chance – MSU's came with just over five minutes remaining, and Notre Dames just after the Irish returned to full strength. The Spartans saw their hosts rack up a 9-3 edge in shots on net.

SECOND PERIOD: Notre Dame got a second power play at the 7:04 mark, but it was right after the penalty to Cole Krygier expired when the home team had its best chances – DeRidder stoned Trevor Janicke on a chance out to his left, and then on the ensuing play behind the net, Cam Burke tried a wraparound that DeRidder stopped at the left post. Notre Dame had nine shots on the Spartan netminder in the first 10 minutes of the frame after a total of nine in the first period. With just under five minutes to go, the Spartans had a flurry of shots in front of Bischel, but the netminder did his job and his defense did a good job of pushing the rebounds out to the sides and out of danger. MSU had the momentum and tempers were building as time ticked away in the second, resulting in three penalties (one for MSU, two for Notre Dame ) with 1:37 remaining in the period – the Spartans made the most of their man advantage, including a rip at Bischel by Gucciardi as the period ended. MSU outshot their hosts 12-10 in the period

THIRD PERIOD: The tensions on the ice led to plenty of pushing, shoving, and colorful words exchanged as the teams passed the 10-minute mark scoreless. The home team had eight shots in a six-minute flurry to start the period, but DeRidder was up to the task and made several point-blank stops. The teams grew anxious, both getting chances – and Michigan State was getting pucks to Bischel, outshooting their hosts 7-3 after the first five minutes when DeRidder turned away those eight shots. Regulation ended the way it began – with zeroes on the scoreboard.

OVERTIME: The Spartans went with their three captains to start 3x3 overtime. Cesana passed back to DeRidder, who left the puck for Lewandowski to initiate the Spartan rush into the offensive zone. He carried the puck across the blue line and wristed a shot that went thrrough the defense and beat Bischel high stick-side and ended the game 33 seconds into the extra period.

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Team Stats

Mitchell Lewandowski

Dennis Cesana

Drew DeRidder

Nash Nienhuis

Players Mentioned

Drew DeRidder

Cole Krygier

Mitchell Lewandowski

Players Mentioned

Drew DeRidder

Cole Krygier

Mitchell Lewandowski