Neil's Notebook: Cole Krygier Among Offensive Push By Defensemen

By Neil Koepke, MSUSpartans.com staff writer

SEE ALSO: MSU-Notre Dame Preview

EAST LANSING – Over the past few seasons, Michigan State's defensemen haven't been a big part of the Spartans' offense. This season, it's different.

MSU is creating more scoring chances, putting more pucks in the net, and the defensive corps is a big reason for a more dangerous attack, and it's helping win games.

Six Spartan defensemen have combined for 10 goals and 22 assists for 32 points in 16 games. That's 24% of MSU's 41 goals scored and 26.9% of its 119 points.

This year, there's a big emphasis on joining the rush and finding open spots to score or keep plays alive.

While senior defenseman Dennis Cesana is the most offensively skilled and productive blueliner, senior Cole Krygier has added an offensive flair to his game, which in the past has been more about defending well and playing physical.

Krygier has already matched his career-best season with three goals and three assists for six points in 16 games. He has a point in four of his last five games.

Last season, Krygier had two goals and three points. He had six points (3-3) as a sophomore and five points (1-4) during his freshman season.

"A lot of it comes down to confidence and feeling good about yourself,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "It's amazing how it translates to all areas of the game. Cole is defending really well, he's moving the puck really well and he's jumping into the rush. His physicality is better and I think his all-around game is better.

"When he and his brother, Christian, first came here, they were young as 18-year-old freshmen. They've been around and they're seniors now, but by NHL standards, they're just getting into it as 21-year-old defensemen.''

In last week's series split at Penn State, defensemen chipped in three goals and three assists.

The Spartans hope their defense continues their contributions this weekend as MSU (9-6-1 overall, 4-4-0-0-0-0 Big Ten) battles No. 8/8 Notre Dame (11-4-0, 5-3-0-2-0-0) at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 7 p.m. Saturday at Compton Family Arena in South Bend, Indiana. It's the final series before the Christmas break for both teams. Both games will be televised by the NBC Sports Network.

Cole Krygier, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound left-hand shot D-man from Novi, believes added weight, strength and experience are among the factors in his improvement.

"I think a lot of things have been going right for me. My details and habits built through my freshman and sophomore years have just started to show,'' he said. "I'm getting to the right spots and have had more success in following the rush than leading the rush.

"It's a big difference when you're late in games and you have an excellent opportunity at the top of the circles instead of being down low in a battle for the puck. I think a lot of this comes from moving my feet. I'll make that first outlet pass and then kind of take 10-15 strides through the middle and I'll try to find myself in an area where someone can get the puck to me.''

Krygier's three goals – against Michigan, Ferris State and last Friday at Penn State – have come from about halfway or more into the offensive zone with quick, hard shots. He's shooting the puck better and he's improved his passing – both in breaking the puck out of the D-zone or setting things up in the offensive zone.

"Even snapping the puck on passes has been a big emphasis in my game, and it's made passing and shooting a lot easier,'' Krygier said. "Just getting under that puck and having your hands out in front of you has probably been the biggest key in shooting to get pucks on net.''

While he's brought offense to his game, Krygier knows his main role is to defend, shut down other team's offense, break pucks out cleanly and be physical and be smart about it. He's cut down on penalties and is careful about big hits.

"I definitely think in these last eight games there's been a flip in the physicality and playing on the edge,'' he said. "There's a fine line because we know Big Ten and NCAA referees don't really like that heavy contact, the over-the-edge stuff.

"You have to find that healthy balance where you can be more of a companion with the referees than being a competitor. When they start seeing you playing the game the right way, playing hard and doing things for your team, they won't make as many calls.

"I think it's helped that I put on 15 pounds over the summer and, yes, you'll have some battles that you'll lose, but guys don't really want a lot of (the physicality), so you kind of take a little power off and try to take the puck from him and not worry about making the big hit.''

Krygier said going from 190 to 205 pounds has helped his game in several ways.

"If anything, it's added more speed in my game and my power has improved,'' he said. "I think I'm getting around the ice pretty well – more fluent and smooth.''

In the Covid-19 impacted 2020-21 season, Michigan State scored only 40 goals and had only 111 points in 27 games. The Spartans averaged 1.48 goals-per-game. This season, MSU has already scored 41 goals and 119 points in 16 games and is averaging 2.56 goals – that's more than one goal per game compared to last season.

Michigan State's defense last season contributed six goals and 21 assists for 27 points 27 games. This year, it's vastly improved offensively with 32 points (10-22), and it's better defensively.

Cesana leads the defense with four goals and four assists for eight points. Cole Krygier (3-3), Christian Krygier (1-5) and sophomore Nash Nienhaus (0-6) are tied for second in defensemen scoring with six points.

Freshman David Gucciardi follows with five points (1-4) and sophomore Aiden Gallacher has one goal and no assists. Sophomore Powell Connor, who's played in 10 games, is still looking for his first career point.

"I think we have a good skating D-corps, and being more offensive minded has been really important for us,'' Cole Krygier said. "As we start to get used to a more offensive role, the game gets a little faster and a little harder in that you really have to limit your mistakes.

"We're getting to the point where we have offensive potential across all our defensive pairings. Pushing the offense has been huge for our team. We've seen some games where we have two or three defensemen scoring and two or three getting points. If you can do that, you're a pretty good team.''

Cole is counting on the defense to continue to play a major role in helping the Spartans' offense. And he believes Cole Krygier and his pals on defense can be better the second half of the season.

"We want those guys involved. It makes you harder to play against,'' he said. "I think the way our pairs are balanced, with a good skill set and that's an asset. I thought that going into the season and it's working out that way.''

Cesana is now paired with Christian Krygier. Cole Krygier teams with Nienhuis and Gucciardi and Gallacher make up a third unit. Powell Connor sometimes dresses as the seventh D-man and gets ice time in certain situations.

"The one thing they've done – and it's probably from the Krygiers and Cole in particular – is a good job joining the rush and not trying to lead it," Cole said. "You can get a little over zealous with that and push things too much and decide I'm going to start beating guys 1-on-1 at the offensive blue line.

"But what they've done is a good job of getting the puck up to the forwards, breaking out clean, coming through the neutral zone clean and then joining the rush and finding those holes.

"Cole's plays are, well, not like a highlight video, but a youth hockey coaching video on when to join the rush and where to be as the fourth guy on the rush. He's just found that pocket a bunch of times. What we have to figure out is not to force it and not try to take something out of the game that isn't there.''

THE RIVALRY: Michigan State holds a 65-53-15 edge in the series which started with Notre Dame's 3-1 victory on Jan. 18, 1922. The teams played four times in the 1920s with the Irish going 4-0. The series resumed in 1970 with a series split – a 10-5 Spartan victory followed by a 4-3 Notre Dame win on Dec. 11-12, 1970, in East Lansing.

Last season, MSU went 1-2-1 against the Irish. In the first series, Dec. 19-20, 2020, the teams tied 2-2 and the Spartans won 4-3 in overtime on a highlight-reel goal by defenseman Tommy Miller. Notre Dame swept the Spartans at Munn Arena, 2-0, 2-0, on Feb. 26-27.

Over the last four seasons, since Notre Dame joined the Big Ten, the Irish are 10-4-4 vs. Michigan State. Two years ago, the Spartans went 2-0-2, including a win and a tie at Notre Dame.

SCOUTING THE IRISH: Notre Dame's claim to fame in the first half of this season is beating Michigan twice in overtime at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor. The Irish topped the highly touted Wolverines, 3-2 and 5-4, on Nov. 19-20.

Notre Dame started the season 4-1-0, then lost two games at Minnesota and won six in a row with sweeps of Holy Cross, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Last week, the Irish split a home series with Ohio State, losing the first game, 4-2, and winning the second, 5-1.

What seems to be different about Notre Dame this season is a more potent offense than in recent years. The Irish are averaging 3.67 goals-per-game, which is 8^th in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten behind Michigan (4.17).

Last season, Notre Dame was 26^th nationally on offense and No. 5 in the Big Ten with a 2.90 goals-per-game average.

Notre Dame boasts a balanced scoring attack led by junior forward Max Ellis with 11 goals and nine assists for 20 points in 16 games. Sophomore forward Ryder Rolston is second in team scoring with six goals and 10 assists for 16 points.

Senior defenseman Nick Leivermann is having a strong season with four goals and nine assists for 13 points.

Other top forwards include junior Solag Bakich (3-8-11), senior Cam Burke (4-6-10) and the Slaggert brothers – sophomore Landon (5-5-10) and senior Graham (5-4-9).

In goal, the Irish have one of the nation's best in Matthew Galajda, a graduate transfer from Cornell which didn't play last season because the Ivy League cancelled its season. Galajda, who sat out four games due to illness, is 7-2-0 with a 1.68 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.

Ryan Bischel, a junior, is 4-2 with a 2.26 GAA and .916 saves percentage. Bischel was in goal for both victories at Michigan and last Saturday's 5-1 win over Ohio State.

Notre Dame is still pretty stingy defensively. The Irish are averaging 2.00 goals against – tied for No. 6 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten. Their penalty killing is at 91.5% - the best in the Big Ten and No. 2 nationally.

On the power play, Notre Dame is 10-for-52 (19.2 percent). That ranks No. 29 in the nation and only 5^th in the Big Ten.

Coach Jeff Jackson, who earned a communications degree from Michigan State in 1978 and an education degree from MSU in 1979, is in his 17th season at Notre Dame and has a record of 359-223-66. In 23 seasons as head coach, he has a career record of 541-275-91. He coached at Lake Superior State for six years and won two national titles.

At Notre Dame, Jackson has led the Irish to 11 trips to the NCAA Tournament and four to the Frozen Four but have never won a national championship. Notre Dame was runner-up in 2008 and 2018. During his stay in South Bend, his teams have won three regular-season titles and five playoff championships.

PRODUCTIVE TRIO: When Mitchell Lewandowski returned to lineup after missing five games with an injury, the Spartan senior left wing found himself on a new forward line. He had a familiar linemate in sophomore right wing Jeremy Davidson but a new centermen in freshman Jesse Tucker, who took over the spot from sophomore Kristof Papp.

The trio's first series was against Ferris State and they immediately clicked as all three had points in a 2-0, 4-3 sweep of the Bulldogs. Lewandowski had a goal and two assists, Tucker chipped in with two assists and Davidson had one assist.

They continued their strong play in the sweep of Wisconsin and the split last weekend at Penn State, and they're Michigan State's hottest line going into the final series before the Christmas break - this weekend at Notre Dame.

Tucker, Lewandowski and Davidson have combined for eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points in their last six games.

Lewandowski leads the way with three goals and seven assists for 10 points. Davidson has four goals, three assists and seven points, while Tucker has one goal and five assists for six points.

"They've been outstanding,'' MSU coach Danton Cole said. "A big part of it is we knew what we were going to get from Jeremy and he's continued to do that. He's a goal scorer, he has a hot stick and he's going to shoot the puck.

"He's good at getting in space so if he plays with two guys who can distribute the puck and create offense, he's going to continue to get those chances and continue to score.''

Lewandowski, who came back to MSU for his fifth season, leads the Spartans in scoring with six goals and a team-leading 11 assists for 17 points in just 11 games. He has at least one point in every game.

Davidson, a 5-foot-10, 170-pounder from Grand Rapids, has a team-high eight goals and five assists for 13 points, second on the team. Tucker is tied for sixth with one goal and seven assists for eight points.

"We know what Mitch Lewandowski is all about,'' Cole said. "He creates a lot, he's a good scorer and a great passer, and when he's forechecking, he's one of the better players in the conference and the country.''

Tucker, 21, a 5-11, 183-pounder from Longlac, Ontario, started the season on a line with left wing Adam Goodsir and right wing Tanner Kelly. He also was paired with Goodsir and Kyle Haskins, Papp and Davidson and Mitchell Mattson and Goodsir.

After some tinkering here and there, Cole teamed Tucker with Lewandowski and Davidson when Lewandowski returned from his injury, and the unit has made a huge impact.

"You need to find the right guy in the middle and with Jessie Tucker, we weren't sure when he was going to (settle in),'' Cole said. "We knew he was a good player but with freshmen, you never know if it's going to be in the first half of the first year or the second half, or it could be their sophomore year. But we knew there was a lot there.''

Tucker played three seasons in the U.S. Hockey League with the Green Bay Gamblers and was known as an energetic, all-around forward with good offensive and defensive skills. Each season, Tucker had 43 points, and twice led his team in scoring.

"He had a heck of a summer and got himself in really good shape,'' Cole said. "His hockey mind and his hands are really good. When we slotted him in there, it worked really well. He plays at a pace, sees the ice and runs the half wall on the power play. He's got a little swagger to him and has some good leadership.

"Overall, it's been a good combination. And sometimes you just fall into those. It was a situation where we changed out the center on that line and Jesse jumped in and it's a good fit. He's emerging and a fun player to watch and he's going to keep getting better.''

CHARLESON EARNS STAR STATUS: Spartan goalie Pierce Charleson was selected as the Big Ten's Third Star for his standout play last Saturday in MSU's 4-3 victory at Penn State. Charleson, 20, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound sophomore from Aurora, Ontario, made a career-high 50 saves to help the Spartans earn a series split with the Irish.

Charleson made 15 saves in each of the first two periods and 20 in the third. The 50 saves are the most for any goalie in one game in the Big Ten this season, and tied for the most stops among all Division I teams.

Charleson has started five games this season. He's 3-2 with a 3.21 goals-against average and a .910 saves percentage.

Michigan fifth-year senior forward Michael Pastujov was named the Big Ten's No. 1 star. He scored three goals for his first career hat trick in the Wolverines' 6-2 victory over Minnesota last Saturday in Ann Arbor.

Notre Dame forward Ryder Rolston was the No. 3 star after scoring two goals and picking up two assists last week against Ohio State. He had a goal and an assist in each game.

IN THE BIG TEN: No. 3/3 Michigan hits the road this weekend and faces No. 17 Ohio State on Friday and Saturday at Value City Arena in Columbus. Both teams are coming off splits. The Wolverines (13-5-0 overall, 6-4-0-0-2-0) lost 5-1 and won 6-2 against No. 10/11 Minnesota (10-8-0, 6-4-0-0-1-0), while the Buckeyes won 4-2 and lost 5-1 at Notre Dame.

In the other conference series, Penn State (10-7-0, 2-6-0-0-0-0) plays at Wisconsin (4-11-1, 2-6-0-1-0-0), also on Friday and Saturday. This is a battle of the Big Ten's 6^th and 7^th-place teams. The Nittany Lions are coming off a split with Michigan State while the Badgers had a bye in Big Ten play last weekend. However, Wisconsin played an exhibition game last Thursday against the U.S. Under-18 Team and lost 4-0.

Minnesota is off this weekend. Since sweeping Notre Dame on Oct. 29-30, the Gophers have split their last five series against Wisconsin, Ohio State, Penn State, North Dakota and Michigan.

Neil's Notebook: Cole Krygier Among Offensive Push By Defensemen

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Players Mentioned

Dennis Cesana

Pierce Charleson

Powell Connor

Jeremy Davidson

Aiden Gallacher

Adam Goodsir

David Gucciardi

Kyle Haskins

Tanner Kelly

Christian Krygier

Cole Krygier

Mitchell Lewandowski

Mitchell Mattson

Tommy Miller

Kristof Papp

Jesse Tucker

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