Gophers on Tap in B1G Semifinals - Michigan State University Athletics

Big Ten Tournament Semifinals No. 18/17 Michigan State (18-17-2, 10-12-2 B1G) at No. 1/1 Minnesota (25-8-1, 19-4-1 B1G)
Dates/Times	Saturday, March 11, 2023, 9 pm ET / 8 pm CT
Location	Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis, Minn \| Gameday Information
Tickets	Minnesota Ticket Office
Television	Big Ten Network Dan Kelly (pxp) and Ben Clymer (analysis)
Radio	WJIM 1240 AM Listen Online: Click "Spartan Media Network" Scott Moore (pxp) and Rob Woodward (analysis)
Webstreams	Fox Sports App
Live Statistics	Click Here
Game Notes	Michigan State \| M Innesota
Press Conference	Watch This Week's Coach Nightingale Press Conference
Social Media	Facebook Twitter Instagram

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

• Michigan State defeated Notre Dame in the best-of-three Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal round and takes on No. 1/1 Minnesota on Saturday in the single-game semifinal. MSU trails in the all-time series with Minnesota by a 50-133-16 margin (7-32-3 since the teams joined the Big Ten hockey conference in the 2013-14 season). MSU's last win at Mariucci came in February of 2020, which is also MSU's most recent win over the Gophers. Michigan State won the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal series at Notre Dame (0-1, 4-2, 4-2). It was not only the Spartans' first-ever wins in the Big Ten Tournament, but also MSU's first postseason series win since 2013 (at Alaska, in the CCHA first round)

• MSU's 18 wins is the most since the Spartans had 19 victories in 2011-12. With an 18-17-2 record, the Spartans are guaranteed at least a .500 season, its first since 2014-15 (17-16-2). Meanwhile, Adam Nightingale has the third-most wins for a first-year head coach in program history. Rick Comley went 23-14-2 in 2002-03, Tom Anastos was 19-16-4 in 2011-12, and Ron Mason was 14-24-0 in 1979-80.

• Senior Nicolas Müller sits atop the Spartan statistics sheet with 34 points (nine goals, 25 assists), which is his career single-season bests in all categories. He ranks seventh in the Big Ten in assists and ninth in points, and leads the team with 15 power play points (2-13-15). He has 14 points in the last ten games, including two goals and three assists in the quarterfinals. With 34 points, Müller has compiled the most points and assists by a Spartan player since the 2018-19 season, when Taro Hirose (15-35-50) and Patrick Khodorenko (18-19-37) sat atop the scoresheet.

• Jeremy Davidson had two goals and two assists in the quarterfinal series, and has totaled 10 points in the last nine games (5g, 5a). He had a goal and an assist in each of the two wins at Notre Dame. He owns a 9-11-20 scoring line on the season, tying his career best of 11 assists a year ago. Both of his seasons at Michigan State have been 20-point efforts. Meanwhile, Davidson and Müller's linemate Erik Middendorf had an assist in the Notre Dame series, and has nine points in the last nine games.

• Matt Basgall and Nash Nienhuis share the scoring lead among the team's defensemen (4-13-17). Basgall had the go-ahead goal in the Saturday win at Notre Dame, and leads all Spartans with 52 blocked shots (T-7th, B1G). He is the program's top-scoring freshman defenseman since Zach Osburn produced 19 points (6g, 13a) in 2015-16. Basgall's 52 blocked shots makes him the top shot-blocking freshman in the Big Ten, and he ranks sixth nationally among first-year players. Meanwhile, Nienhuis had a goal and assist in the Notre Dame series, and has surpassed his career single-season bests in goals, assists, and points.

• Dylan St. Cyr was masterful in the quarterfinal series at Notre Dame, stopping 88 of 93 shots against in the series and 37 in the winner-take-all game three. St. Cyr has played in all but one of MSU's games this season, surpassing his previous single-season bests in games played (36), wins (17), saves (1,055) and minutes played (2104:35). He is fourth in the Big Ten in save percentage (.917), and is fifth in the Conference with a 2.74 GAA. His 1,055 saves ranks second among Division I goaltenders this season, while his 36 games and 2104:35 minutes played are both third.

Michigan State University Athletics

Related News

Players Mentioned

Matt Basgall

Jeremy Davidson

Erik Middendorf

Nash Nienhuis

Dylan St. Cyr

Related Videos