Postseason Begins With Wolverines in B1G Quarterfinals


Michigan State (12-20-1, 6-17-0 B1G) at No. 5/4 Michigan (25-9-1, 16-8-0 B1G)
Dates/Times	Friday, March 4, 7 pm Saturday, March 5 , 7 pm Sunday, March 6, 7 pm (if necessary)
Location	Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Mich. \| Fan / Vaccine Policy
Tickets	Michigan Ticket Office
Radio	Spartan Media Network *Games air live on WJIM 1240 AM (Fri./Sat) or WVFN 730 am (Sun.)* Scott Moore (pxp) and Rob Woodward (Analysis) Broadcast on the Web: Friday \| Saturday \| Sunday
Television	FS2 (Friday/Sunday) Bally Sports Detroit (Saturday) Dan Kelly (pxp) and Fred Pletsch (Analysis)
Webstreams	Fox Sports App: Friday/Sunday Download here B1G+: S aturday
Live Statistics	Click Here
Game Notes	Michigan State \| Michigan
Press Conference	Watch Danton Cole's Weekly Press Conference
Social Media	Facebook Twitter Instagram

WEEKEND PARTICULARS
• Michigan State heads to Ann Arbor for a best-of-three quarterfinal series against No. 2 seed Michigan.

• Friday's and Sunday's games (if necessary) will air on FS2, while Bally's Detroit will carry the Saturday matchup. Dan Kelly and Fred Pletsch will be on the call.

• Friday and Sunday's potential game three would have a webstream live on the Fox Sports App. Saturday's game will be on B1G+.

• Scott Moore and Rob Woodward will call the action on the Spartan Media Network. The Friday and Saturday games will air live on WJIM 1240 AM in the Lansing area, as well as on the web via MSUSpartans.com. If there is a Sunday game three, it will air on WVFN 730 AM.

THE MICHIGAN SERIES
• College hockey's most-played rivalry adds a pair of chapters this weekend when MSU and Michigan take part in their home-and-home. Friday's game will be the 337th game in this storied rivalry, with Michigan holding a 174-138-24 edge. UM owns a 82-47-5 mark in games played in Ann Arbor.

• Mel Pearson is in his fifth season as the bench boss in Ann Arbor and his 11th overall as a head coach. Previously, he spent 23 seasons on the Michigan staff under former head coach Red Berenson. Pearson owns a 93-64-16 mark during his time as the head man in Ann Arbor.

• UM swept the regular-season meetings of the teams, winning twice in November and twice more in February. In those four contests, Nash Nienhuis was MSU's top scorer in the four-game set, potting two goals and adding four assists. No other player had multiple goals in the series, but Dennis Cesana had a goal and two assists and blocked 10 shots. MSU's other goal scorers were Jagger Joshua (1-2--3), Mitchell Mattson (1-1--2), Kristof Papp (1-1--2), Cole Krygier, Nicolas Muller, and Griffin Loughran.
(MSU-UM box scores pp. 46-53)

• Four of MSU's nine goals in the four-game series came on the power play. The Spartans were 4-13 (.308) - but Michigan scored seven extra-man tallies in 19 chances (.368).

• In terms of career scoring, Mitchell Lewandowski leads all MSU players with a 4-7-11 scoring line (18 games), but did not play in any of the four games vs. Michigan this season due to injury. Dennis Cesana has a 2-7-9 mark in 17 games, and Nienhuis' six points (all this year) rank third among active Spartans.

• MSU and Michigan's Friday game will be the 17th between the rivals in a postseason tournament. The Spartans owned a 7-6 record in CCHA tournament meetings, and are 0-3 in the B1G.

• In terms of best-of-three quarterfinal series, MSU and Michigan met three times in this round in the CCHA, and most recently met in the 2020 B1G quarterfinals. The teams have each swept two quarterfinal series - MSU swept in both 1986 and 1987 (CCHA), while the Wolverines swept in 2010 (CCHA) and in 2020 (B1G).

• Since the formation of the Big Ten hockey conference in 2013-14, MSU is 0-11 all-time in postseason action, which includes four overtime losses. In 2020-21, MSU fell to eventual tournament champion Minnesota in the single-game quarterfinal round, 2-1.

• MSU will be the seven seed for the second consecutive year and for the fourth time overall.

TEAM NOTES
• MSU split its most recent series with Penn State, falling 5-3 in game one before rebounding with a big 2-1 win on Senior Night. The win snapped a 13-game losing streak.

• 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. The Spartans went 1-11 in the second half.

• With a 8-10-0 mark at Munn Ice Arena, the Spartans had more 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 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 through the regular season is rated as the eighth toughest among Division I teams. The seven Big Ten schools all occupy top-20 spots in the overall SOS rankings in Division I.

• The Spartans are 8-6 in one-goal contests and 2-6 in two-goal games - and five of those eight had an empty-net goal for the final margin. Fourteen of MSU's last 20 games were either one- or two-goal efforts, including both against Penn State.

• MSU is 7-3-0 when scoring three or more goals and is 5-16-1 when held to two or less. MSU scored three and lost to Penn State, and won a 2-1 game in the series finale.

• The Spartans are 7-1-1 when allowing two goals or fewer, with that one loss coming against Notre Dame (2-1, 2/18).

• MSU's power play is at .223, converting on 23 of 103 chances to rank second in the Big Ten and 17th nationally. MSU has scored power play goals in each of its last five games with an attempt, the most consecutive games with a PPG this season. MSU did not have a power play chance in the most recent game against Penn State.

• Over the last six games, MSU has gone 7-for-20 on the power play (.350) after going 2-for-20 with a man advantage over the first eight games of 2022.

• The Spartan penalty kill (.812, 104-109) is fourth in the Big Ten and 30th among D1 programs. MSU allowed five extra-man tallies in 13 chances (,613) in February series against Michigan and Notre Dame, but allowed just one in five chances against Penn State last weekend.

• While MSU went 3-for-4 on Friday on the penalty kill against the Nittany Lions, the Spartans had just one PK chance on Saturday. It was, however, a five-minute major penalty. MSU blocked seven shots and Drew DeRidder made four saves in that five-minute stretch in the third period, preserving a 2-1 lead.

• MSU's scoring offense is at 2.21 goals per game. Since the start of 2022 the Spartans have scored 27 goals in 14 contests (1.92 per game).

• Through Dec. 31, MSU had scored 48 goals in 20 games (2.40 per game), but have been limited to 27 in 14 games in 2022 (1.92). The Spartans had allowed 50 goals in the first 20 games (2.50 per game) but have surrendered 47 since the start of the calendar year. 10 of those 14 games, however, came against four of the top nine offenses in Division I hockey: Michigan (third, 3.86 gpg) Minnesota (sixth, 3.65 gpg) Ohio State (eighth, 3.47 gpg) and Notre Dame (ninth, 3.44 gpg).

• MSU has surrendered 1,254 shots on net (36.88/game), the second-most in the country behind Mercyhurst (1,257/36.97).

• MSU ranks second behind Wisconsin (15.41) in the Big Ten in blocked shots (14.06 per game). The Spartans had 33 blocks in the series against Michigan (2/11-12), and a season-best 42 in the most recent series against Penn State. MSU had a single-season best of 24 in its most recent game against PSU.

• With an average of 13.12 penalty minutes per game, the Spartans rank second in the B1G (12th nationally). MSU has had more penalty minutes than its opponent just 16 times in 34 games this season.

• In nine of MSU's 12 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 in the GLI.

• MSU ranks seventh in overall average attendance among Division I hockey programs, welcoming 97,772 fans over 18 home dates. Its 5,432 average attendance also ranks seventh nationally.

• MSU had a pair of alums in Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics. Justin Abdelkader was an alternate for Team USA, and is representing the US for the fifth time in his hockey career: he played for the US in the 2016 World Cup and the 2012 and 2014 World Championships, as well as capturing a bronze medal at the 2007 World Junior Championships. Meanwhile, blueliner Jake Chelios was a member of Team China - China will utilize the roster of Kunlun Red Star, a Beijing-based entry in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for which Chelios is in his third professional season.

PLAYER NOTES - FORWARDS
• Erik Middendorf has three goals and five points over the last two series against Notre Dame and Penn State. On the season, he ranks first on the team in goals (12) and third on the team in points (20). He has established career bests in all offensive categories: his freshman season at Colorado College, he had a 7-4-11 scoring line.

• Middendorf shares the team lead in power play goals (4/fifth, B1G), and leads the squad with four game-winners. He is fourth in the Big Ten in game-winners and ninth nationally.

• Jesse Tucker has moved into the team's point scoring lead with two goals and 22 assists. He is MSU's leader and is fourth in the Big Ten in assists and assists per game (0.65). He also has 10 more helpers than any other Spartan player.

• Tucker has assists in three of the last four games, and is averaging a point per game over his last 16 games after eight points in his first 18 collegiate contests.

• Mitchell Lewandowski returned to the lineup for the last four games after missing the first 10 contests of 2022. A player who never missed a game (135 consecutive games played) in his first four seasons, he has missed 15 games with injury this year.

• Lewandowski, a fifth-year senior, owns a 7-12--19 scoring line in 19 games (+9). He had 11 points (4-7--11) in the 10 games after an early-season five-game injury hiatus, and had an assist in his first game back vs. Notre Dame (2/18).

• Lewandowski ranks eighth among active Division I players in career points (121), sixth in goals (56), ninth in game-winners (12), and power play goals (20) in 154 career games.

• Jeremy Davidson missed the finale vs. Penn State, but with a 11-11-22 scoring line, has established career bests in all offensive categories. He ranks second in goals and points, and is tied for the lead in power play markers (4/fifth, B1G), and ranks third on the team in assists.

• Josh Nodler was MSU's top scorer in the Penn State series, snapping a 12-game scoreless streak with a pair of goals and an assist against the Nittany Lions. Nodler is tied for fifth on the team in points (7-8--15) and is tied for the lead in power play goals (4/fifth, B1G),

• Nodler has won 53.9% of his faceoffs on the year (291-249, tenth B1G), and ranks fourth in the B1G in total faceoff wins. He has taken the third-most draws of any centerman in the league (540).

• Nodler has established new career bests in all offensive categories, including power play goals (4), and doubled his career penalty minutes (2-for-4).

• Jagger Joshua, one of the team's top defensive forwards, has earned time on the power play in addition to his penalty kill duties. He had a goal and an assist in the most recent Michigan series and owns a 2-6--8 scoring line, establishing a new career best for points. He leads the team in both penalties (21) and penalty minutes (66). He has 28 blocked shots this season, the most among forwards.

• In the four Spartan games vs. Michigan this season, Joshua has a goal, two assists, and seven blocked shots.

• Freshman Tanner Kelly has appeared in 32 of 34 MSU contests this season. He has scored three goals, and picked up his first career assist in the finale vs. Penn State last Saturday.

• AJ Hodges has skated in 32 of 34 games this season, and has earned four assists in those games, the most recent last Friday vs. PSU. He surpassed the two assists he had last year as a freshman.

• Nicolas Muller had the primary assist on the game-winning goal on senior night, and has a 1-5--6 scoring line in 2021-22. He is tied for second among MSU forwards with 23 blocked shots.

• Kristof Papp has more than tripled his freshman season offensive output (0-4--4) with a 2-10--12 scoring line in 2021-22. He had a goal and an assist in the most recent Michigan series.

• Papp has won more than 60% of his draws (60.5%, 256-167), leads the Big Ten in faceoff winning percentage, and is ninth in faceoffs won. He ranks seventh among Division I centermen in faceoff winning percentage, (minimum of nine faceoffs taken per game).

• Adam Goodsir has played in all 34 games this season, and his most recent goal was the game-winner on senior night vs. Penn State. He has a 2-2--4 scoring line and has blocked 23 shots, a total which ranks in a tie for second among Spartan forwards.

• Kyle Haskins has skated in 23 games, and has one assist and 13 blocked shots.

• Senior Mitchell Mattson has a goal and two assists on the year. He had a goal and an assist against the Wolverines in the November series, was 5-3 on faceoffs in the most recent Michigan series, and has compiled 15 blocked shots.

• Griffin Loughran owns a 3-9--12 scoring line with a pair of power-play markers. With 84 career points, he is second among active Spartan players (38g, 46a). He skated in his 110th career game on Jan. 7 vs. the Gophers, but has not played since the second semester began.

PLAYER NOTES - DEFENSEMEN
• Eight of MSU's 15 points in the most recent Michigan series came from defensemen, including three of the five goals.

• Senior captain Dennis Cesana ranks in a tie for eighth in the Big Ten in blocked shots (50), his career best. He is fifth among Spartans in points (15) and has tied his career best with seven goals on the season, two coming with an extra man.

• In four games against Michigan this season, Cesana has a goal, two assists, 10 blocked shots, and is a +1.

• Cesana has been one of the Big Ten's top-producing defensemen over his career, skating in 133 career games and has compiled a 19-53--72 scoring line. He earned Preseason Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors this fall.

• Nash Nienhuis owns a 3-10--13 scoring line this year, and has more than doubled his freshman year point total (6). He has skated in all 34 games, is second on the team among blueliners in scoring, and has 30 blocked shots.

• Nienhuis had a hand in all five Spartan goals in the February set against Michigan, with a pair of goals and three assists. He had a career-best two goals and one assist in the game at Little Caesars Arena.

• Cole Krygier has surpassed his career-best point total (11), posting four goals and seven assists. He has surpassed his scoring line he posted in all of 2019-20 (3-3--6), has compiled 56 penalty minutes, and shares the team lead with 50 blocked shots. .

• Christian Krygier has more than doubled his single-season career best points total with a 2-6--8 scoring line. He picked up an assist on Adam Goodsir's game-winner on senior night. He has 44 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.

• David Gucciardi has five goals and six assists for 11 points on the season, with 43 blocked shots.

• Gucciardi's most recent goal came in the Friday game against Penn State, a marker just 1:09 into the second period. He ranks second among defensemen on the team in goals and is tied for third in points.

• Sophomore Aiden Gallacher has appeared in 30 games for MSU this season after skating in 25 as a freshman. He has a 1-1--2 scoring line, tallied his first collegiate goal at home against Ferris State (11/11), and has 26 blocked shots.

• Powell Connor has played in 26 games for MSU and as blocked 42 shots. With 1.61 per game, he leads all Spartan blueliners in that category.

PLAYER NOTES - GOALTENDERS
• MSU has split its goaltending duties in 11 of 17 weekends this season, including the last two vs. Notre Dame and Penn State.

• Drew DeRidder is fourth in the B1G and is 11th nationally with 736 saves, his average of 32.0 is first both in the league and among Division I goaltenders. He ranks sixth in the Big Ten and 12th nationally in save percentage (.924).

• DeRidder's two shutouts are the second-most in the Big Ten behind Jakub Dobes of Ohio State, who has three.

• DeRidder made 38 saves in his most recent outing, a 2-1 victory over Penn State on senior night. It was his most saves in a game in the 2022 portion of the schedule, and his fifth-highest total of the season.

• DeRidder not only earned both of MSU's OT wins in the crease this season, but picked up assists on the game-winning goals in each contest.

• In his career, DeRidder's .918 save percentage ranks 15th among active Division I netminders, and his 2,108 saves ranks 11th. Pierce Charleson's career GAA is also .918 over two seasons.

• Charleson averages 34.0 saves per game in his 11 starts this season. He is the only goaltender in the country with two 50+ - save efforts this season: he stopped 50 at Penn State (12/4) and a career-best 54 vs. Minnesota at home (1/8). His effort against the Gophers is the second-most saves for a Division I netminder in a game this season, (Devon Levi of Northeastern had 60 vs. UConn on Feb. 25) and his 50 saves against the Nittany Lions ranks in a tie for fifth.

• Charleson last start came in the Friday game vs. Penn State, where he surrendered four goals and made 36 saves. He owns the season high (54, vs. Minnesota, 1/8) and season low (20, vs. Notre Dame, 2/18) for saves by a Spartan netminder this season

• In 11 starts this season, Charleson owns a 3.48 GAA, .908 save percentage, and 3-8 record. 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.

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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

Mitchell Mattson

Erik Middendorf

Nash Nienhuis

Josh Nodler

Kristof Papp

Jesse Tucker