High-Energy Spartans Held Off by OSU, 3-2

GAME CAPSULE
No. 15 Ohio State was able to withstand a late Spartan rally to hold on for a 3-2 win at Munn Ice Arena on Saturday night. The Buckeyes held 2-0 and 3-1 leads, but the Spartans were active and entertained the crowd of more than 6,000 with an up-tempo 60-minute contest. MSU peppered their guests with a season-best 42 shots on net, getting a power play marker from Erik Middendorf and a goal from freshman Tanner Kelly with an extra attacker, but OSU withstood the final flourish to hold on for the win and series sweep.

The Buckeyes (18-7-1, 10-5-1 B1G) got a pair of goals from freshman Georgii Merkulov and Cam Thiesing had a goal and an assist. Jakub Dobes made 40 saves, the most for an opponent this season

Jesse Tucker had assists on both Spartan goals, upping his team-leading total to 16. Defensemen David Gucciardi and Cole Krygier also had assists on the night. Drew DeRidder stopped 27 shots.

Michigan State is idle next weekend (Jan. 28-29) and resumes Big Ten play on Feb. 4-5 at Minnesota.

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Tanner Kelly scored his second goal of the weekend and third of the season with under 90 seconds remaining.
Erik Middendorf scored his ninth goal of the season in the second period.
Drew DeRidder made 27 stops.

NOTABLES AND STORYLINES

MSU went 1-4 on the power play.
The Spartans shut down Ohio State's power play on seven chances over the two weekend games.
Middendorf, Tucker, and AJ Hodges each had five shots on net.
MSU has lost three straight to the Buckeyes after taking the first game of the year between the teams (2-1) in Columbus.
The Spartans have dropped six straight, and two of the last three by a single goal .
Jesse Tucker had assists on both MSU goals, and has an assist in four of MSU's last five contests.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: The Spartans scored first on Friday, but the visitors returned the favor on Saturday with a goal at 4:12. A shot from the left point by Mason Lohrei was tipped in front by Cam Thiesing, his second goal of the series. The Spartans got pucks to the net – good chances were there for Joshua, Kristof Papp, and AJ Hodges – but Dobes managed to hold on and turn back 13 shots in the period. Skating on the power play with 75 seconds to go, Lohrei rang the pipe, and at the other end Middendorf got one up high on Dobes as the seconds ticked off the clock. The Spartans held a 13-10 edge in shots, but the visitors had the lead.

SECOND PERIOD: Michigan State came out in the second with energy and had good pressure on Dobes – but the freshman was up to the task, turning away good looks by Hodges and Papp. The visitors took three swipes at a chance in front of DeRidder at 5:38, and the third chance – from the stick of Merkulov – found its target for a 2-0 Buckeye lead. Jaedon Leslie was whistled for holding just 40 seconds after OSU took the 2-0 lead, and the Spartans took advantage with a goal by Erik Middendorf – his ninth of the season – as the junior tipped a shot from the high slot from David Gucciardi.

* THIRD PERIOD: The late goal in the second could have been a soul-crusher, but the Spartans stayed with what had been working – MSU outshot its guests 17-9 in that final frame, and forced the Buckeyes to play a lot of defense. After starting the period on the penalty kill thanks to a whistle at the end of the second frame, MSU continued to generate chances. The teams traded power plays in the final 6:20, but both kill units held up. With DeRidder on the bench in favor of an extra skater, Tanner Kelly tipped a Cole Krygier shot to beat Dobes with 1:13 to play. MSU was buzzing, and the Buckeyes twice tried to clear the zone to get fresh legs on the ice. Middendorf had a grade-A chance in those closing seconds, and Josh Nodler's attempt off the faceoff with 0.7 seconds remaining was blocked and skittered across the crease as OSU held on. Dobes turned away 16 MSU shots in that final period, and DeRidder held the Buckeyes without a goal and made nine saves.

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Team Stats

Jesse Tucker

Erik Middendorf

Tanner Kelly

David Gucciardi

Players Mentioned

Drew DeRidder

David Gucciardi

Tanner Kelly

Cole Krygier

Erik Middendorf

Josh Nodler

Kristof Papp

Jesse Tucker

Players Mentioned

Drew DeRidder

David Gucciardi

Tanner Kelly

Cole Krygier

Erik Middendorf

Josh Nodler

Kristof Papp

Jesse Tucker