Michigan State University Athletics
Spartans in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs
5/17/2021 11:05:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING – The 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs are underway with several Spartans chasing the most iconic trophy in all of sports. Mason Appleton (Winnipeg Jets), Jeff Petry (Montreal Canadiens), Torey Krug (St. Louis Blues) and Mackenzie MacEachern (St. Louis Blues) will all take part in the playoffs. Behind the bench, Rod Brind'Amour, will lead the Carolina Hurricanes to the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Brind'Amour, who coached Carolina to the Discover Central Division title, is joined on the staff by another former Spartan great in goaltender Jason Muzzatti, who is in his third season as the club's goaltending coach. Carolina faces the Nashville Predators in the first round.
Another former Spartan netminder, Bob Essensa, is in his 18th season as the Boston Bruins' goaltending coach. The Bruins are facing Washington in its first-round matchup.
Krug, who is in his first season with St. Louis after spending nine years with Boston, put up 32 points (2g, 30a) in 51 games this season. MacEachern is in his third year with the Blues and has two points (1g, 1a) in 21 games this year. Krug, MacEachern and the Blues will meet the Vegas Golden Knights in the opening round.
The last time an NHL club had two Spartans on its roster in the playoffs was 2018 when Ryan Miller and Derek Grant played for Anaheim.
The 2020-21 season has been Appleton's most productive in his three years in Winnipeg. Appleton recorded a career-high in goals (12), assists (13) and points (25) in 56 games for the Jets. He has points in three of the Jets' last four games and will be a key force for Winnipeg in their first-round matchup with Edmonton.
"It makes you feel good," Appleton said after scoring in the Jets' regular-season finale win over Toronto. "Through the course of a season you have ups and downs. You score in bunches and then you get cold for a little while and you second-guess some things. It feels good to find myself on the scoresheet late in the season. It gives you that little extra boost of confidence heading into the playoffs."
Another Spartan that has put together a career season is Petry. The Montreal defenseman recorded 42 points, including 12 goals and 30 assists, in just 55 games. Petry and the Canadiens will face rival Toronto in the opening round.
MacEachern was 12th and last Spartan to win the Stanley Cup, doing so with St. Louis in 2019.
Discover Central Division
#1 Carolina vs. #4 Nashville
Game 1: Monday, May 17 | 8 p.m. CNBC
Game 2: Wednesday, May 19 | 8 p.m. CNBC
Game 3: Friday, May 21 | 7 p.m. USA
Game 4: Sunday, May 23 | TBD
Game 5: Tuesday, May 25 | TBD *
Game 6: Thursday, May 27 | TBD *
Game 7: Saturday, May 29 | TBD *
Honda West Division
#1 Colorado vs. #4 St. Louis
Game 1: Monday, May 17 | 10 p.m. NBCSN
Game 2: Wednesday, May 19 | 10:30 p.m. CNBC
Game 3: Friday, May 21 | 9:30 p.m. USA
Game 4: Sunday, May 23 | TBD
Game 5: Tuesday, May 25 | TBD *
Game 6: Thursday, May 27 | TBD *
Game 7: Saturday, May 29 | TBD *
Scotia North Division
#1 Toronto vs. #4 Montreal
Game 1: Thursday, May 20 | 7:30 p.m. NHLN
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 | 7 p.m. CNBC
Game 3: Monday, May 24 | TBD
Game 4: Tuesday, May 25 | TBD
Game 5: Thursday, May 27 | TBD *
Game 6: Saturday, May 29 | TBD *
Game 7: Monday, May 31 | TBD *
#2 Edmonton vs. #3 Winnipeg
Game 1: Wednesday, May 19 | 9 p.m. NBCSN
Game 2: Friday, May 21 | 9 p.m. NBCSN
Game 3: Sunday, May 23 | TBD
Game 4: Monday, May 24 | TBD
Game 5: Wednesday, May 26 | TBD *
Game 6: Friday, May 28 | TBD *
Game 7: Sunday, May 30 | TBD *
*If necessary | All times ET
Brind'Amour, who coached Carolina to the Discover Central Division title, is joined on the staff by another former Spartan great in goaltender Jason Muzzatti, who is in his third season as the club's goaltending coach. Carolina faces the Nashville Predators in the first round.
Another former Spartan netminder, Bob Essensa, is in his 18th season as the Boston Bruins' goaltending coach. The Bruins are facing Washington in its first-round matchup.
Krug, who is in his first season with St. Louis after spending nine years with Boston, put up 32 points (2g, 30a) in 51 games this season. MacEachern is in his third year with the Blues and has two points (1g, 1a) in 21 games this year. Krug, MacEachern and the Blues will meet the Vegas Golden Knights in the opening round.
The last time an NHL club had two Spartans on its roster in the playoffs was 2018 when Ryan Miller and Derek Grant played for Anaheim.
The 2020-21 season has been Appleton's most productive in his three years in Winnipeg. Appleton recorded a career-high in goals (12), assists (13) and points (25) in 56 games for the Jets. He has points in three of the Jets' last four games and will be a key force for Winnipeg in their first-round matchup with Edmonton.
"It makes you feel good," Appleton said after scoring in the Jets' regular-season finale win over Toronto. "Through the course of a season you have ups and downs. You score in bunches and then you get cold for a little while and you second-guess some things. It feels good to find myself on the scoresheet late in the season. It gives you that little extra boost of confidence heading into the playoffs."
Another Spartan that has put together a career season is Petry. The Montreal defenseman recorded 42 points, including 12 goals and 30 assists, in just 55 games. Petry and the Canadiens will face rival Toronto in the opening round.
MacEachern was 12th and last Spartan to win the Stanley Cup, doing so with St. Louis in 2019.
Discover Central Division
#1 Carolina vs. #4 Nashville
Game 1: Monday, May 17 | 8 p.m. CNBC
Game 2: Wednesday, May 19 | 8 p.m. CNBC
Game 3: Friday, May 21 | 7 p.m. USA
Game 4: Sunday, May 23 | TBD
Game 5: Tuesday, May 25 | TBD *
Game 6: Thursday, May 27 | TBD *
Game 7: Saturday, May 29 | TBD *
Honda West Division
#1 Colorado vs. #4 St. Louis
Game 1: Monday, May 17 | 10 p.m. NBCSN
Game 2: Wednesday, May 19 | 10:30 p.m. CNBC
Game 3: Friday, May 21 | 9:30 p.m. USA
Game 4: Sunday, May 23 | TBD
Game 5: Tuesday, May 25 | TBD *
Game 6: Thursday, May 27 | TBD *
Game 7: Saturday, May 29 | TBD *
Scotia North Division
#1 Toronto vs. #4 Montreal
Game 1: Thursday, May 20 | 7:30 p.m. NHLN
Game 2: Saturday, May 22 | 7 p.m. CNBC
Game 3: Monday, May 24 | TBD
Game 4: Tuesday, May 25 | TBD
Game 5: Thursday, May 27 | TBD *
Game 6: Saturday, May 29 | TBD *
Game 7: Monday, May 31 | TBD *
#2 Edmonton vs. #3 Winnipeg
Game 1: Wednesday, May 19 | 9 p.m. NBCSN
Game 2: Friday, May 21 | 9 p.m. NBCSN
Game 3: Sunday, May 23 | TBD
Game 4: Monday, May 24 | TBD
Game 5: Wednesday, May 26 | TBD *
Game 6: Friday, May 28 | TBD *
Game 7: Sunday, May 30 | TBD *
*If necessary | All times ET
Wednesday, September 23
Thursday, March 26
Wednesday, March 25
Sunday, March 22