Spartan Season Ends in B1G Quarterfinals

GAME CAPSULE

No. 5 Michigan scored four goals in each of the first two periods and skated to a 8-0 victory over Michigan State on Saturday, taking the best-of-three series in two games.

The Wolverines scored early to set the tone and the Spartans struggled to get much going offensively after falling behind 3-0 in the first 7:23 of the game, and could not find a way past Erik Portillo. Johnny Beecher scored twice while senior captain Nick Blankenburg had a goal and three assists for the Wolverines (27-9-1), who were the second seed in the tournament.

Drew DeRidder started the game and surrendered the first three goals before Pierce Charleson came on in relief, going the final 52:23 and making 32 saves. Portillo made 22 saves and Jack Leavy played the final 5:3, stopping one shot.

Michigan State completes the season at 12-23-1 overall (6-18-0 B1G).

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Pierce Charleson came on in relief of Drew DeRidder and made 32 saves. DeRIdder surrendered the first three goals of the game.
Michigan State was 0-for-5 on the power play and allowed a shorthanded goal. Michigan was 3-for-6 with a man advantage.
The Spartans surrendered a season-high eight goals, and was shut out for just the second time this season. The first was a 4-0 loss to UMass-Lowell on the road (4-0) on Oct. 23.
Drew DeRIdder started the game, but Pierce Charleson came on for the senior at 7:23 of the first. It is the first time this season that the starting goalie did not play the entire game.
Michigan took all six meetings of the teams in the 2021-22 season. MSU and Michigan split the two games in 2020-21.

GAME SYNOPSIS

FIRST PERIOD: Michigan was unhappy with its first period in Friday's tilt, and jumped out to a 3-0 lead within the first eight minutes of Saturday's game. Thomas Bordeleau got the home team on the board with a shot from the left circle on UM's first shot of the game 54 seconds in, Michael Pastujov's put away a backhander from the bottom of the right circle at 4:25, and Dylan Duke pushed it to 3-0 at 7:23. The Spartans made a change in the crease, bringing on sophomore Pierce Charleson – but he did not fare much better, as he got caught behind the net on the Spartan power play, leaving Kent Johnson a wide-open net to score a shorthanded tally at 10:51.

SECOND PERIOD: The Spartans had a pair of grade-A chances in the opening minutes, as Portillo made a good save on a Tanner Kelly opportunity right in front, and AJ Hodges rang the post seconds later. Michigan took the puck the other way and potted a fifth goal, as Johnny Beecher streaked up the left side and beat Charleson five-hole for his fifth goal of the season. Christian Krygier was whistled for a major for slew-footing at 11:28, giving the Wolverines an extended power play. The Wolverines scored three times on the man advantage, as Mackie Samoskevich, Beecher, and Blankenburg all found the back of the net. That sent the home team into the locker room with the commanding 8-0 lead.

THIRD PERIOD: The teams combined for just 14 shots on net in the final period, with neither getting many noteworthy chances. Both teams had a power play opportunity, but CHarleson stopped all eight shots that came his way and Portillo stopped five before making way for backup Jack Leavy.

Team Stats

Kristof Papp

Christian Krygier

Cole Krygier

Jesse Tucker

Players Mentioned

Pierce Charleson

Drew DeRidder

Tanner Kelly

Christian Krygier