Spartans Open B1G Second Half at Wisconsin


Michigan State (11-10-1, 5-7-0 B1G) at Wisconsin (6-13-3, 3-8-1 B1G)
Dates/Times	Friday, Jan. 14, 8 pm ET / 7 pm CT Saturday, Jan. 15, 9 pm ET / 8 pm CT
Location	Kohl Center, Madison, Wis. \| Fan Policies
Tickets	Wisconsin Ticket Office
Radio	Spartan Media Network *Games air live on WJIM 1240 AM* Scott Moore (pxp) and Neil Koepke (Analysis) Broadcast on the Web: Friday \| Saturday
Television	Bally Sports Wisconsin / Bally Sports Detroit (both) TSN (Saturday)
Webstreams	B1G+: Friday \| Saturday \| TSN3 (Friday)
Live Statistics	Click Here
Game Notes	Michigan State \| Wisconsin
Press Conference	Watch Danton Cole's Weekly Press Conference
Social Media	Facebook Twitter Instagram

WEEKEND PARTICULARS
• The second half of the Big Ten hockey schedule begins this weekend, and starts for the Spartans with a pair of games in Wisconsin against the Badgers.

• Both games will air live on Bally Sports Wisconsin and Bally Sports Detroit, and will stream on B1G+. Links for webstreams are available on MSUSpartans.com.

• The weekend series can also be watched in Canada this weekend on TSN. Friday's game will be on TSN3, while Saturday's game will aiir live on TSN.

• Scott Moore and Neil Koepke will call the action on the Spartan Media Network. The games this week will air live on WJIM 1240 AM in the Lansing area, as well as on the web via MSUSpartans.com.

THE WISCONSIN SERIES
• With a sweep at Munn Ice Arena back in November, MSU took control of the all-time series, 61-60-4. Those two Spartan victories snapped a five-game winning streak for the Badgers in the series. Wisconsin owns a 34-19-2 mark in games played in Madison.

• MSU swept Wisconsin at Munn back in November by 3-2 and 5-2 scores. Jeremy Davidson had three goals and an assist, Erik Middendorf scored a pair, and both Jesse Tucker and Mitchell Lewandowski had a goal and two assists. Drew DeRidder won both games, combining for 88 saves.

• Tony Granato returned to his alma mater as the head coach in 2016, and owns an 88-95-16 record in his six seasons. His Badgers are the defending Big Ten champions.

• The Badgers own a 6-13-3 overall record, with a 3-8-1 mark in Big Ten games through the first half of the schedule. Last weekend, Wisconsin lost and tied Ohio State, with the Buckeyes winning the shootout.

• Spartan Active Career Scoring / Goaltending vs. Wisconsin

Mitchell Lewandowski: 17 GP, 8-6--14
Dennis Cesana: 14 GP, 1-6--7
Jeremy Davidson: 2 GP, 3-1--4
Jesse Tucker: 2 GP, 1-2--3
Cole Krygier : 10 GP., 0-3--3
Nash Nienhuis: 6 GP, 1-2--3
Erik Middendorf: 2 GP, 2-0--2
Kristof Papp: 6 GP, 0-2--2
Jagger Joshua: 9 GP, 1-0--1
Adam Goodsir: 14 GP, 0-1--1
David Gucciardi: 2 GP, 0-1--1
Griffin Loughran: 2 GP, 0-1--1
Josh Nodler: 10 GP, 1-0--1

Pierce Charleson: 3-1 GP-S., 1.68 GAA, .965 Sv%
Drew DeRidder: 8-6 GP-S, 3.31 GAA, .921 Sv%

TEAM NOTES
• MSU fell out of favor with pollsters after dropping both games to Minnesota, as it had been among the teams receiving votes in each of the previous five USCHO.com polls.

• MSU went 5-7-0 in the first half of Big Ten play, suffering two losses to Minnesota and Michigan, sweeping Wisconsin, and splitting with Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame.

• With a 7-5-0 mark at Munn Ice Arena, the Spartans have as many wins at home as MSU has earned in any of the last three seasons. MSU won seven home games in both 2018-19 and 2019-20, and just five in 2020-21. The Spartans have six home games remaining in the regular season.

• The Spartans last had double-digit victories in their home rink in 2011-12, winning nine home games in 2013-14 and 2014-15 and eight in 2012-13 and 2017-18.

• MSU's strength of schedule ranks eighth nationally overall, and the fifth toughest for remaining games. The Big Ten schools occupy top-20 spots in the SOS rankings in Division I.

• The Spartans are 7-3 in one-goal contests and 2-2 in two-goal games - and all four of those had an empty-net goal for the final margin. Six of MSU's last eight games were either one- or two-goal efforts.

• MSU is 7-1-0 when scoring three or more goals and is 4-8-1 when held to two or less. Meanwhile, the Spartans are 7-0-1 when allowing two goals or fewer.

• MSU's power play is at .221, converting on 15 of 68 chances to rank third in the Big Ten and 19th nationally. Michigan State has scored a power play goal in two of the last three games, including just 11 seconds into its only power-play chance in the finale vs. Minnesota.

• The Spartan penalty kill (.845, 71-84) is second in the Big Ten and 19th among D1 programs. MSU killed 10 of 11 chances against Minnesota, including a 6-of-7 effort in the second game.

• MSU had killed off 14 consecutive penalties and has extinguished 20 of 21 dating back to the first game at Notre Dame (12/10).

• With an average of 12.05 penalty minutes per game, the Spartans rank fourth in the Big Ten. Only nine times in 22 games has MSU had more penalty minutes than its opponent - and its largest discrepancy was a 7-1 margin in the second game against Minnesota.

• MSU's scoring defense, allowing 2.73 goals per game, is fifth in the Big Ten and 25th nationally.

• MSU shares the Big Ten lead with Wisconsin in blocked shots (14.09 per game).

• In nine of MSU's 11 wins, the game-winner has come in the third period or later. In seven of the nine, the goal has been scored in the final seven minutes or OT, and five with four minutes or less remaining or in OT. The latest in regulation was a 19:40 goal that capped a three-goal third period at Ferris State. MSU's last two wins came in OT at Notre Dame and at home against Michigan Tech.

• The Spartans sit at 5-7-0 in the Big Ten, which is fifth (14 points). Minnesota leads the way with 25 points, while Ohio State and Michigan trail with 23 and Notre Dame 22.

• Danton Cole won his 50th game as the Spartan head coach at Ohio State (Oct. 29). He has won more than 500 games in his 21 seasons as a head coach (529-456-60).

• MSU ranks seventh in both overall and average attendance, welcoming 53,950 fans over 10 home dates. (5,395 average).

PLAYER NOTES - FORWARDS
• MSU shook up its forward lines between the games of the Minnesota series.

• Erik Middendorf and Jeremy Davidson were centered on MSU's top line by freshman Jesse Tucker. The trio accounted for all three MSU goals on Saturday.

• Erik Middendorf scored twice on Saturday against the Gophers, his second two-goal game of the season. His first came in the Nov. 19 game against Wisconsin.

• Middendorf is tied for second among Spartans in goals (7) and has a 7-4--11 scoring line. He scored the game-winner in the first game against Wisconsin (Nov. 19), and with four game-winners to his credit, ranks second nationally (first, B1G) in that category.

• Jeremy Davidson leads the Spartans in goals (9), and he ranks 10th in goals per game in the Big Ten. His season scoring line of 9-6--15 is his career best all categories. His four power play goals ranks in a tie for second in the league, (15th nationally).

• Davidson had MSU's power play goal on Saturday vs. Minnesota, scored just 11 seconds into the man advantage.

• Jesse Tucker centered a line with Mitchell Lewandowski and Davidson for 10 games, and now has Middendorf on his left wing.

• Tucker is the team's top-scoring freshman with a goal and 12 assists. He leads the Spartans in assists and is second in plus/minus (+5), and had a goal and two assists - his first career goal - when the Badgers came to East Lansing in November. He had assists on each of Middendorf's tallies last weekend and was a +1.

• Nicolas Muller has centered the line with Jagger Joshua on the left wing all season, and the pair was joined by AJ Hodges last Saturday. Muller (19) and Joshua (14) are first and tied for second among Spartan forwards in blocked shots.

• Joshua picked up an assist on Davidson's power-play goal last Saturday, his third helper of the season. The big winger ranks second on the team in both penalties (13) and penalty minutes (34). He owns a 1-3--4 scoring line with 14 blocked shots this season.

• Muller has a 1-4--5 scoring line in 2021-22, and leads all MSU forwards with 19 blocked shots. He ranks 14th nationally and second among B1G among forwards in that category.

• AJ Hodges has skated in 18 of 20 games this season, and has earned three assists in those games.

• Griffin Loughran had assists on three of MSU's goals in the GLI, and on the season owns a 3-9--12 scoring line with a pair of power-play markers. He is second on the team in penalties (13) and penalty minutes (34).

• Loughran has 84 career points, good for second among active Spartan players (38g, 46a). He skated in his 110th career game last weekend against the Gophers.

• Kristof Papp has already doubled his freshman season offensive output (0-4--4) with a 1-9--10 scoring line. He has had points in each of MSU's last three Big Ten series, including scoring his first collegiate goal at Penn State (12/4) . He had two assists in the first series against Wisconsin this season.

• Papp has won better than 60% of his draws (61.9%, 166-102) in the faceoff circle. He ranks third among Division I centermen in faceoff winning percentage, (minimum of nine faceoffs taken per game). Against Minnesota, Papp went 13-5 (.722) at the dot, as the Spartans won 56.7% overall on the weekend.

• Adam Goodsir has played in all 22 games this season. He has blocked 14 shots, a total which ranks second among forwards, and he has an 0-2-2 scoring line.

• Josh Nodler scored his fifth goal of the season against Michigan Tech, his first goal since the Ferris State series in November. Nodler ranks fourth on the team in points (12). The centerman has won 52.4% of his faceoffs on the year (200-182).

• Nodler has established new career bests with five goals and surpassed his career-best output with 12 points. He also has earned career bests in power play goals (3), and doubled his penalty minutes (2-for-4).

• Nodler centered a line with sophomore Kyle Haskins and freshman Tanner Kelly last Saturday against the Gophers. Haskins has appeared in 13 games this season, while the freshman Kelly scored his first collegiate goal at Notre Dame (12/10) and has played in 20 of 22 contests.

• Fifth-year senior and active career leading scorer Mitchell Lewandowski ranks fourth among active Division I players in career points (120), fifth in goals (56), fourth in game-winners (12), and sixth in power play goals (20).

• Lewandowski remains atop the Spartan leaderboard in points (18) and is a squad-best +11 in 14 games. He has 11 points (4-7--11) in the 10 games after an early-season five-game injury hiatus, but most recently missed the Minnesota series.

PLAYER NOTES - DEFENSEMEN
• Nash Nienhuis had a point in each game last weekend, including his first career goal in the Friday game. With a 1-7--8 scoring line this year, he had already surpassed his freshman year point total (6). He has a pair of two-assist games this season - one against the Badgers on Nov. 20 - to tie his career best, and has skated in all 22 games. He has 15 blocked shots.

• Dennis Cesana ranks second overall in the Big Ten (15th nationally) in blocked shots (39), his new career best after getting in front of the 36 he had as a sophomore. He skated in his 120th career game last Friday against the Gophers, and has compiled a 17-5--67 scoring line in his career.

• Cesana is the top-scoring defenseman and ranks seventh overall for Michigan State with 10 points (5g, 5a). He has been one of the Big Ten's top-producing defensemen over the last three seasons. He earned Preseason Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors this fall.

• David Gucciardi was named the Big Ten First Star of the Week Jan. 3 after scoring three times in the GLI. The freshman has four goals and four assists for eight points on the season, with 26 blocked shots. He ranks second among defensemen on the team in points and goals.

• Cole Krygier has surpassed his career-best point total (8), posting three goals and five assists (most recently, he assisted on one of Middendorf's goals against Minnesota). He has surpassed his scoring line he posted in all of 2019-20 (3-3--6). He is a +4 (good for third on the team, and tops among defensemen) and also has 33 penalty minutes and 32 blocks. His four blocks in the Gopher series was the team's best.

• Cole Krygier had three assists when the Spartans last played the Badgers, and was a +4.

• Christian Krygier has doubled his single-season career best points total with a 1-5--6 scoring line. He has 28 blocked shots, ranked third on the team behind Cesana and his brother.

• Both Krygier twins scored in the first game at Penn State (12/3), marking the first time in their Spartan careers that they lit the lamp in the same game.

• Sophomore Aiden Gallacher has appeared in 18 games for MSU this season after skating in 25 as a freshman. He has scored once this season, his first collegiate goal, at home against Ferris State (11/11) and he had a team-best five blocked shots in the November series with the Badgers.

• Powell Connor has earned significant time as Michigan State's games. He has played in 14 games for MSU and has 24 blocked shots.

• Five of MSU's seven regular defensemen average at least one blocked shot per game, compiling between 24-39 blocks on the year.

PLAYER NOTES - GOALTENDERS
• MSU has split its goaltending duties in seven of 11 weekends this season, including the last three B1G series against Penn State, Notre Dame, and Minnesota.

• Drew DeRidder earned both wins over the Badgers when the teams met at Munn Ice Arena back in November. Two of his four 40+ save performances this season came in those games - he made 40 saves on Friday and a season-best 48 in the Saturday tilt. The other two are 43 vs. Michigan Tech (12/30), as well as 41 vs. Ohio State (10/29).

• DeRidder's GAA (2.12) is third in the B1G and 13th nationally, while his .942 save percentage tops the Big Ten and is fourth among Division I goaltenders. He leads the B1G and is sixth nationally with 520 saves, his average of 34.66 is first both in the league and Division I goaltenders, and he has surpassed his career best with eight victories.

• DeRidder not only earned OT wins in two of his last four games, but picked up assists on the game-winning goals in each contest.

• Pierce Charleson turned in a 54-save performance last Saturday against Minnesota. It was his second 50-save effort of the season, as he also stopped 50 at Penn State (12/4). His effort against Minnesota is the most saves for a Division I netminder in a game this season, and his 50 saves against the Nittany Lions ranks in a tie for third.

• In seven starts this season, Charleson owns a 3.59 GAA, .906 save percentage, 3-4 record, and averages 34.28 saves per game. He made three starts and appeared in seven games for Michigan State in the crease last season as a freshman, and compiled a 2.57 GAA and .938 save percentage in those contests, making 210 saves in 326:49.

• Charleson's 50-save effort at Penn State ranks in a tie for second by a goaltender in Division I hockey this season, while DeRidder's 48-save effort vs. Wisconsin ranks fourth.

• There are 24 Division I games this season in which a goaltender has made 43 or more saves. Six of those are netminders in this weekend's series - DeRidder owns two (43 vs. Michigan Tech and 48 vs. Wisconsin), Charleson two (54 vs. Minnesota and 50 vs. Penn State) and Wisconsin's Jared Moe two others (44 vs. Minnesota, 43 vs. Notre Dame).

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Dennis Cesana

Pierce Charleson

Powell Connor

Jeremy Davidson

Drew DeRidder

Aiden Gallacher

Adam Goodsir

David Gucciardi

Kyle Haskins

Jagger Joshua

Tanner Kelly

Christian Krygier

Cole Krygier

Mitchell Lewandowski

Griffin Loughran

Erik Middendorf

Nash Nienhuis

Josh Nodler

Kristof Papp

Jesse Tucker