Goodsir, DeRidder Shine in 2-1 Senior Night Victory

GAME CAPSULE

Michigan State got a goal from Senior Adam Goodsir with nine seconds remaining in the first period, then put forth a solid defensive effort in the final two periods to claim a 2-1 victory over Penn State on Saturday to close the regular season.

MSU had a 1-0 lead from Josh Nodler's goal midway through the first period, then traded goals in the final minute of the opening frame. Drew DeRidder made 38 saves to backstop the Spartans and end a 13-game losing streak, finishing the season at Munn Ice Arena with a victory.

While Penn State had a 39-26 edge in shots on net, MSU blocked 24 shots to tie their season high.

Kevin Wall scored his 15^th goal of the season for Penn State (15-18-1, 6-17-1 B1G), and Liam Souliere made 24 stops.

The Big Ten Conference playoffs begin next Friday, and MSU will match up with No. 2 seed Michigan in Ann Arbor in a best-of-three series.

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Josh Nodler gave MSU a first period goal for the second straight night
Adam Goodsir scored his second goal of the season, the eventual game-winner.
Drew DeRidder made his second start against Penn State this season, stopping 38 shots.

NOTABLES AND STORYLINES

MSU tied its season best with 24 blocked shots, originally set in the UMass-Lowell series in October.
Powell Connor and Cole Krygier each had four blocked shots. Krygier tied his season best.
DeRidder's 38 saves was his most since stopping 43 pucks against Michigan Tech in the GLI.
For the second time this season, MSU did not have a power play chance. The first time was a 2-1 victory over Miami on Oct. 16.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: As he did on Friday, Josh Nodler opened the scoring with a goal from the left side, sliding a rebound of a Jagger Joshua shot past Souliere for a 1-0 lead. The final minute packed a lot of excitement – the Nittany Lions scored an equalizer at 19:03 – a Kevin Wall slow-motion shot from the left post that barely trickled across the goal line - and it looked like Penn State would have a confidence boost headed into the locker room. Instead, Adam Goodsir streaked up the left side with the time winding down and unleashed a sharp-angle shot from along the boards between the hash mark and the goal line that found its mark for the senior's second goal of the season. MSU held a 12-5 edge in shots on net.

SECOND PERIOD: The second period featured a 14-12 edge for the Nittany Lions in shots on net - but without a goal and no penalties, the period moved swiftly. MSU had 12 shots again, compared to 14 for the visitors.

THIRD PERIOD: The first power play of the game for either team was a doozy – Christian Krygier received a five minute major for hitting from behind with a game misconduct, putting the visitors with five minutes of a man advantage 5:51 into the period. MSU was assertive and deliberate in killing off the five-minute disadvantage, racking up seven blocked shots and four DeRidder saves during the PSU power play. The Nittany Lions, as they did on Friday, held a commanding lead in shots on goal in the final period, but DeRidder and the defense in front of him turned back all 20 and held on for the one-goal victory.

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Team Stats

Adam Goodsir

Josh Nodler

Jagger Joshua

Tanner Kelly

Players Mentioned

Powell Connor

Drew DeRidder

Adam Goodsir

Jagger Joshua

Christian Krygier

Cole Krygier

Josh Nodler

Players Mentioned

Powell Connor

Drew DeRidder

Adam Goodsir

Jagger Joshua

Christian Krygier

Cole Krygier

Josh Nodler