Four-Game Homestand Starts Friday Against PSU

No. 11/11 Michigan State (7-3, 2-0 B1G) vs. No. 17/16 Penn State (5-2-2, 0-0-2)
Dates/Times	Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, 7pm Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023, 4pm
Location	Mason Rink at Munn Ice Arena \| Bag Policy
Tickets	Spartan Ticket Office
Television	none
Radio	WJIM 1240 AM (Friday) \| WVFN 730AM (Saturday) Listen Online: Click "Spartan Media Network" Scott Moore (pxp) and Rob Woodward (analysis)
Webstreams	B1G+ (Friday) \| B1G+ (Saturday)
Game Program	Download Digital Game Program
Live Statistics	Click Here
Game Notes	Michigan State \| Penn State
Promotions	Spartans Full Strength (Both Games) Military Appreciation (Saturday)
Social Media	Facebook Twitter Instagram

THE ORIGINAL SIX
What you need to know about Spartan Hockey
Click on "game notes" above to see the entire notes packet for the weekend.

• No. 11/11 Michigan State opens a four-game Big Ten homestand with a pair of games against No. 17/16 Penn State. MSU is 14-20-4 all-time against the newest program in the B1G, which includes a 10-9-1 mark at Munn Ice Arena. MSU went 2-1-1 against Penn State last season and won the shootout for the extra point in the tie. The teams split in State College, and MSU took five of six points at home. The weekend also kicks off the Spartans Full Strength initiative, putting a spotlight on cancer awareness and joining with our community to honor those who have been affected by the disease. The program aims to acknowledge those who we have lost, those currently undergoing treatment, survivors, caregivers, and loved ones.

• MSU opened conference play with a road sweep at No. 13 Ohio State last weekend, (6-0, 6-4.) Big Ten First Start of the Week Gavin O'Connell exploded for four goals (two in each game) and freshman Trey Augustine had a 34-save effort in his first career shutout on Friday. At 7-3, the Spartans are off to their best start since the 2009-10 season, and this is the first time since the start of Big Ten play in 2013-14 that MSU has started 2-0. The Spartans are tied for second nationally in wins (7) behind Wisconsin (9). MSU's 2023-24 opponents are currently a combined 151-78-39, (.636), the highest winning percentage of any team's opponents in the country.

• Seven of MSU's 12 goals last weekend came from freshmen, led by O'Connell (4). Owen Baker, Tommi Männistö and defenseman Patrick Geary had their first career goals and multiple-point games over the weekend as well.

• The all-sophomore line of Karsen Dorwart centering Isaac Howard and Daniel Russell was the top-producing trio for the second straight weekend, (3-7-10). Howard had two goals (one in each game) and three points on the weekend. His 12 points is tied for seventh in the B1G (10th nationally) with teammate Red Savage. Dorwart had a goal and three assists in the OSU series, putting him at a team-best 13 points (6-7-13, +8). He shares the team lead in goals with O'Connell (six, third in the B1G) and ranks fifth in the conference in points (eighth nationally). Russell tied his career best with three assists in the first game at Ohio State, and now owns a 5-5-10 scoring line overall. He is second on the team and eighth in the Big Ten in goals.

• Nash Nienhuis had a goal and an assist in the Saturday game at OSU and now owns a 3-6-9 scoring line. He is paired with freshman Artyom Levshunov on the blueline, and the duo is tied for the points lead among the team's defensemen, which is also tied for sixth among rearguards nationally. Levshunov (+12) and Nienhuis (+10) lead the team in plus/minus.

• Augustine earned his first career shutout on Friday at Ohio State, recording 34 saves in a 6-0 Spartan victory. He stopped a total of 64 shots (of 68 against) in the series (.941). Augustine has started nine of MSU's 10 games, owns a 3.25 GAA, .905 save percentage, and has a 6-2 record. He leads the Big Ten in both saves (258) and saves per game (28.67) and ranks is fifth in save percentage (.905).

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Players Mentioned

Trey Augustine

Owen Baker

Karsen Dorwart

Patrick Geary

Isaac Howard

Artyom Levshunov

Nash Nienhuis

Gavin O'Connell

Daniel Russell

Red Savage