Neil's Notebook: Gucciardi's Steady Growth On Display in GLI

By Neil Koepke, MSUSpartans.com staff writer

EAST LANSING – Michigan State defenseman David Gucciardi went into the Great Lakes Invitations with one goal. He came out of it with four, including a highlight-reel score that ignited an overtime victory celebration.

Gucciardi, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound freshman from Toronto, scored the Spartans' only goal in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to No. 4 Western Michigan in the GLI showcase opener.

On Thursday, he made a much bigger impact.

Gucciardi scored MSU's first goal in the opening period and saved his best for a memorable shot-between-the legs goal 1:17 into overtime to give the Spartans a 3-2 victory over Michigan Tech in front of 5,564, fans at Munn Arena.

On a 3-on-3 rush into the Huskies' zone, Gucciardi, a left-hand shot, got in front of his checker and took a pass from Jesse Tucker, drove down the middle of the ice to the net, then swerved a bit to his right.

He skated over the puck, reached back and shot it between his legs past Tech goalie Blake Pietila to lift Spartans out of their seats and give his team a dramatic victory.

MSU coach Danton Cole said he isn't a fan of the between-the-legs shot, but he is a fan of winning and he'll accept Gucciardi's play – because the puck went in.

Senior defenseman Dennis Cesana scored a similar goal against Air Force on Oct. 9 but it wasn't as dramatic. It was MSU's fourth goal in a 5-1 victory.

"I hate the move. I told Dennis never to do it again so I guess I should have told all the defensemen,'' Cole said. "From our bench, I didn't know if it went in until everybody started celebrating. It thought 'it better go in.'

"It was a great play He jumped up (in the rush) and Tuck bought him a little time and Gucciardi got by the guy. We moved the puck well at the end and finished in off.''

The goal got national attention. It was the 10^th Play of the Night on ESPN's Sports Center show on Thursday night.

"I gave it to Tucker and I had some speed going and he had his head up (coming down the left wing) and made a great pass,'' Gucciardi said. "I was able to keep my speed, and after that, it was an instinct thing and it just took over and rest is history.

"It's something I definitely work on and it's something I was able to do with speed. Whenever I get the chance (in practice), it's always fun to mess around with the puck. It's something you'll never know if you'll get an opportunity in a game to do it, but it was really cool to do it tonight.''

Gucciardi's first collegiate goal came on the road at UMass Lowell on Oct. 22.

Michigan State ends the 2021 portion of the season 11-8-1 overall and 5-5-0-1-0-0 in the Big Ten. Michigan Tech is 10-8-1 overall and 7-5-0-1-3-0 in the CCHA.

The Spartans' other hero of Thursday's victory was – surprise, surprise – goalie Drew DeRidder, who made 43 saves, including 19 in the second period in which Michigan Tech had MSU on its heels with aggressive forechecking and winning lots of battles.

DeRidder, once again, played at a high level with a plethora of great saves in every period except the overtime. He made a game-saving save in the last few minutes of the third period, keeping his team in contention for a victory. He also was credited with an assist on the game-winning goal.

Without DeRidder, the Spartans are headed into 2022 with two losses in the GLI and Gucciardi's brilliant play doesn't happen.

"He's unbelievable game-in and game-out,'' Gucciardi said of his team's senior goaltender. "When he's back there, we have a lot of confidence in him. Both goalies give us confidence. Every time (DeRidder) is in the net, we know we have a chance to win.''

DeRidder has made 40 saves or more in four games this season.

Griffin Loughran, who set up MSUs first two goals by Gucciardi in the first period and Josh Nodler in the final minute of the second period, said DeRidder is a "rock wall back there. He's the spine of our team. If we make a mistake, we know he's going to bail us out.''

Despite MSU getting hemmed in its own zone a few times and really struggling to clear the puck and get possession, Cole said there were several bright spots, besides getting the victory.

"We had some OK things tonight. Our penalty killing was excellent, obviously Drew was outstanding and the power play got us one (goal).'' Cole said. "I liked how the guys stayed calm through it all. They battled and hung in there.''

Mitchell Lewandowski, MSU's leading scorer, was injured in the second period, returned for a few shifts and then didn't return. He collided with a Tech defender near the Huskies blue line, fell to the ice and slid behind the net.

Lewandowski missed five games early in the season with an unspecified injury.

"We don't play this weekend so, hopefully, he'll have a little time (to recover),'' Cole said. "It's kind of what he had before. It's not a huge thing but it could keep him out of the lineup if we don't get it right.''

Gucciardi gave MSU a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 16:15 of the first period. He moved into the slot near the right circle, got a pass from Loughran and fired the puck past Pietila, with Tucker drawing the second assist.

The Gucciardi-from-Tucker-and-Loughran goal was the same score line as MSU's only goal on Wednesday against Western Michigan.

Meanwhile, the Huskies tied it 1-1 at 7:30 of the second period on a crisp passing play off a 4-on-2 rush in which Brian Halonen took a pass in the slot from Trenton Bliss and fired it past DeRidder.

After Michigan Tech came very close to taking a 2-1 lead, the Spartans instead went up by a goal with 28.4 seconds left in the middle period. Cole Krygier carried the puck into the right corner and Loughran darted behind the net, got possession and sent a perfect pass to Nodler in the right circle. Nodler's one-timer found the back of the net.

But MSU's lead didn't last long. Just 2:49 into the third period, Alec Broetzman's shot from the middle of the ice was deflected by Nick Nardella and it got past DeRidder.

Each team had 11 shots on goal in the third period and each created quality scoring chances in a bid to take the lead, but both goaltenders responded with clutch saves.

The Spartans had two good chances to win it in overtime before Tucker led the game-winning rush and Gucciardi made the play that MSU fans will savor for a while. And so will the Spartans

"I thought we were good in the first period but in the second, we took it off and they pushed the pace,'' Loughran said. "We've been great in the third period. Our legs are great. We condition hard during practices. Tonight, we stuck with it.''

Cole was thrilled with the victory but he said there are areas to scrutinize.

"You have to be ruthlessly introspective as a coach of a team. You say, 'OK, we got a win but these are the things we have to do better,''' he said. "In the second period, we did not win enough battles. They won the races and battles and were willing to play the right way.

"We got separated in the second period. When I watch video of our guys a zone at a time, if they're up in the offensive zone and I only see two or three guys in the video, that means we're not playing very well. It's the same on rushes coming back. Our five guys should beat their five guys.

"I'm willing to bet that when I watch the game back, there won't be enough guys in the screen for me, especially in that second period.''

The Spartans were 1-for-4 on the power play and had nine shots on goal. Michigan Tech failed to score on three power plays and had five shots. MSU had an overwhelming edge in the faceoff circle, winning 34 and losing only 20. Kristof Papp was 11-0 on faceoffs and Nodler was 13-3.

OVERTIME FUN: Michigan State is now 2-1-0 in overtimes this season, and its last two victories have come in extra time – both with highlight-reel goals.

In the Spartans' last game before the Christmas break, Mitchell Lewandowski's end-to-end goal 33 seconds into OT gave MSU a 1-0 victory over Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana, on Dec. 11.

Defenseman David Gucciardi made it two overtime victories in a row on Thursday in MSU's 3-2 decision over Michigan Tech.

Spartan goaltender Drew DeRidder earned an assist on both of MSU's overtime goals.

The Spartans' first overtime game ended in a 2-2 tie at UMass Lowell on Oct. 22.

BRIGHT FUTURE: Right from the start of training camp and early in the regular season, Danton Cole liked what he saw from freshman defenseman David Gucciardi. He liked his potential as an impacting offensive-style D-man and saw him getting better each game.

Now, three games into the second half of the season, Gucciardi has become a force on the Spartan blue line.

In his first series after returning from Christmas break, he has vaulted into the spotlight with a stellar performance in the Great Lakes Invitational showcase against Western Michigan and Michigan Tech.

He scored MSU's only goal in a 3-1 loss on Wednesday and had two goals, including the winner in overtime, in Thursday's 3-2 victory over Michigan Tech.

"Going into the break, I thought he was playing good hockey and when he came back, he seems like . . . well, I don't know what he did at home but maybe I should get (MSU director of athletic performance) Mike Vorkapich to talk to him and get the other guys to do it,'' the Spartans coach said with a smile.

"I know he had an outdoor rink next to his house (in Toronto) and he said he was out there a couple times a day.''

Gucciardi came into the GLI with one goal and four assists for five points and 33 shots on goal, including at least one shot on net in 16 of 18 games.

He leaves with four goals and four assists for eight points and 40 shots on goal – two vs. WMU and five against Michigan Tech.

"He can wire the puck, he's fast, he can skate and he's figuring some things out really well,'' Cole said. "I talked to him about it and said goals are great and that's the fun part of the game. But the decision-making, and when to join the rush and when to make the easy play (is really important).

"It's like playing cards. Sometimes, it's better to fold and play the next hand. That's how defense is. If you go in all the time, at some point you'll get burned. That's why D-men take a little longer to get to the NHL. There's a bit more of a nuisance to that position than the forwards

"He's picking up those things. It makes it easier and you get more chances. If you look at the goals at the goals he's scored – setting himself up and doing everything right.''

Gucciardi, who played two years in the U.S. Hockey League before arriving at MSU last July, anchors one of MSU's power plays with four forwards.

"I think my defensive game has come a long way and I'm looking to continue to improve,'' Gucciardi said. "I really try to get better every day. There are a lot of guys here, especially on our D corps, that have been here and have done a good job. The big thing is learning from them – the Krygiers and Denny (Cesana).''

Gucciardi, 19, wasn't drafted last summer – the first year he was eligible for the NHL Entry Draft. This season, scouts are tracking his play and he's expected to get selected in the 2022 draft.

"I think skating is something I always try to use to my advantage,'' he said. "When I have the opportunity and see open ice, I try to use it and take that ice.

"When to go and when to stay back, I think that's another learning curve for me. It's picking your spots.''

For sure, the Spartan freshman is impressing his teammates.

"He's so skilled, especially as a young guy,'' junior forward Griffin Loughran said. "Its super fun to watch. The first half of the year for a freshman is a feeling out process and getting used to the college game. Once Christmas comes, guys take off. Actually, all our freshmen are taking off now. It's good to see.''

Gucciardi's rookie teammates include forwards Jesse Tucker, who had two assists on Thursday, and Tanner Kelly, part of MSU's shutdown line with juniors Nicolas Muller and Jagger Joshua.

UP NEXT: The Spartans skate back into Big Ten play next weekend with a home series against second-place Minnesota, which has been idle since Dec. 4 at Michigan. The No. 11 Gophers will play an exhibition against the U.S. Under 18 team on Monday at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.

Michigan State and Minnesota meet at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 7 and 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 8.

The Spartans have 14 conference games left in the regular season – eight at home, five on road and one game, vs. Michigan, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Feb. 12.

Meanwhile, Michigan Tech is off next weekend and resumes CCHA play at Lake Superior State Jan. 14-15.

IN THE BIG TEN: Michigan State, Michigan and Wisconsin are done for this week, but Ohio State and Notre Dame are playing non-conference series and Penn State is playing game.

The Buckeyes play host to Long Island University on Friday and Saturday, while Niagara plays at aNotre Dame on Saturday and Sunday.

Penn State was supposed to host Maine on Friday and Saturday but the series has been canceled because of Covid-19 issues with the Black Bears' program. The Nittany Lions quickly added a non-conference road game at Army on Saturday.

Minnesota plays an exhibition game against the U.S. Under-18 team on Monday in Minneapolis.

Neil's Notebook: Gucciardi's Steady Growth On Display in GLI

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Players Mentioned

Dennis Cesana

Drew DeRidder

David Gucciardi

Jagger Joshua

Tanner Kelly

Cole Krygier

Mitchell Lewandowski

Griffin Loughran

Josh Nodler

Kristof Papp

Jesse Tucker

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