Larson's Four-Point Night Propels Spartans to 5-3 WIn

Colorado Springs, Colo.. – Sophomore Joey Larson had his first career hat trick and four Spartans had multiple-point nights as Michigan State (3-1-0) earned a split at Air Force with a 5-3 win on Friday night.

Larson had his first career three-goal effort and added an assist for a four-point night, while Karsen Dorwart had a goal and an assist and Red Savage rounded out the multiple-point scorers with a two-assist effort.

Trey Augustine made 25 saves for MSU, while Guy Blessing made 28 for Air Force (2-2-0).

MSU outshot its hosts 33-28 and killed off three of four power plays to split the road series.

Michigan State returns home for a non-conference series against Canisius next Thursday and Friday at Mason Rink.

STATISTICS OF NOTE

Joey Larson had MSU's first multiple-goal game of the season, and his goals in a Spartan uniform. He added a third-period assist for a four-point night.
Larson's linemates – Red Savage (two assists) and Gavin O'Connell (goal) also found the scoresheet, giving the trio seven points in the game and 10 in the weekend set.
Karsen Dorwart had a goal and an assist on the night.
Augustine made 25 saves, earning his third win of the season.
Both freshman Owen Baker and graduate transfer James Crossman made their MSU debuts on Friday.
Larson, Savage, and Nicolas Müller have each recorded at least a point in all four MSU games this season.

First Period: MSU came out and looked to set the pace, and spent large stretches in its offensive zone over the first half of the frame. As it did the night before, the Falcons looked to block shooting lanes (and picked up 13 blocked shots in the period overall), but were still engaged in a track meet with the visitors as MSU kept coming in waves. Air Force earned the first power play chance of the night, but was held without a shot on net during the man advantage – in fact, it was MSU with the best chance as Dorwart and Russell went in on an odd-man rush and forced Blessing into making a big save to avoid the shorthanded marker. Air Force's best chance came on a three-on-one break, But Augustine made a pair of big saves before ending up at the bottom of an eight-car pileup on the doorstep. MSU broke through at 18:22 when Red Savage won the faceoff to Joey Larson, who whipped it past Blessing to give the sophomore his first goal of the season. The Spartans held a 10-7 edge in shots on the period but the Falcons also blocked an additional 13 that were headed on net.

Second Period: MSU wasted little time getting a second on the board, as Larson scored his second of the night at 3:13. Nash Nienhuis started the rush by feeding Karsen Dorwart, and the two sophomore forwards streaked through the neutral zone. Larson sniped it from the right circle to double the MSU lead. At 8:10, the Spartans got another from its top line, as Daniel Russell kept the puck in at the blue line, tipped it to Howard, and Howard slid it across the hash marks to Dorwart, who caught the upper right corner for his second goal of the season. The Falcons popped a pair of goals 50 seconds apart, with Nick Remissong getting a feed from Brendan Gibbons at 11:52, and then Gibbons got one of his own from the left hash less than a minute later to pull the home team within a goal. The final three minutes was frantic for the home team, blocking three shots and Blessing making an additional three saves as the time ticked off the clock. MSU held a 22-19 edge in shots as it headed into the intermission.

Third Period: Air Force got an early power play chance when Levshunov was sent off for interference at 2:31 – but the PK was more offense for the Spartans than their hosts. Blessing was forced to make a pair of saves compared to just one for Augustine. It wasn't just on the kill that MSU spent long stretches in the offensive zone -MSU insisted on determining the pace. MSU finally broke through on its ninth shot of the period at 10:29, as freshman Gavin O'Connell gave the Spartans' "third line" – made up entirely of MSU newcomers – its third goal of the night. O'Connell tapped home a rebound at the left post, with assists going to Larson and Savage. Larson struck again 14 seconds into the power play to finish off his hat trick, with Levshunov and Nicolas Müller earning assists. With a 5-2 lead, the Spartans picked up a pair of penalties over the final five minutes – the first resulting in a Chris Hedden goal that pulled the Falcons within a pair. Basgall was sent off with 2:45 remaining on a cross-check, and Air Force pulled their goalie in an effort to pull closer. MSU did not bend, keeping it a two-goal margin and earning the split on the road. The Falcons outshot MSU 12-11 in the period.

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Team Stats

Joey Larson

Karsen Dorwart

Red Savage

Gavin O'Connell

Players Mentioned

Trey Augustine

Owen Baker

James Crossman

Karsen Dorwart

Joey Larson

Nash Nienhuis

Gavin O'Connell

Daniel Russell

Red Savage

Players Mentioned

Trey Augustine

Owen Baker

James Crossman

Karsen Dorwart

Joey Larson

Nash Nienhuis

Gavin O'Connell

Daniel Russell

Red Savage