Augustine Blanks Canisius, 3-0

Buffalo, NY. – Michigan State earned a 3-0 shutout victory on the road at Canisius on Friday night, improving to 4-1 on the season.

Trey Augustine earned his first shutout of the season and fourth of his career, keeping the Spartans in a 1-0 game until the visitors popped a pair of late power-play tallies on a major penalty in the final five minutes of the game. Augustine stopped 15 shots in the victory.

Some moments from tonight's game:

Trey Augustine's breakaway stop on Giampa kept it a 1-0 Spartan lead. pic.twitter.com/tc2wEjgSum
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) October 26, 2024

Tanner Kelly got MSU on the board at the midpoint of the second period, and the Spartans were forced to kill off back -to-back penalties in the middle of the third frame when the Griffins pushed for an equalizer. The Spartan defense was strong in front of Augustine, limiting the home team to just two shots in the period. Canisius defender Carter Patterson was assessed a major penalty with just under six minutes to go in regulation, which is when the Spartans popped power play goals 18 seconds apart to create some separation from their hosts. Joey Larson and Daniel Russell scored the MSU goals on the man advantage.

Kelly (goal, assist) and freshman Shane Vansaghi (two assists) had multiple-point games.

MSU outshot Canisius 35-15 but had a commanding 79-26 edge in shot attempts. The Griffins blocked 17 shots on the night and got 32 saves from goalie Ethan Robertson.

The teams meet again on Saturday evening at 7 pm to complete the series in Buffalo.

First Period: The teams skated through a scoreless first period – while shots on goal were 9-6 in favor of MSU, the Spartans had 27 attempts to Canisius' 9. The Griffins also had a lead 7-2 in blocked shots to keep the Spartan offense off the board.

Second Period: MSU took a 1-0 lead at the 10:10 mark of the second period. Patrick Geary had the puck below the goal line in the Spartan end in the left corner and went hard around to Shane Vansaghi at the right half-wall. Vansaghi got the puck out to Kelly just over the red line, skated up the left side, and then held the puck around a defender in front and shot from the goalie's left to score his first goal of the season. It looked like the Spartans had doubled their lead shortly after, but Tiernan Shoudy's goal was taken off the board after a review. MSU had a 21-13 edge in shots on goal, but just a 1-0 lead.

Here's a look at Tanner Kelly's goal that started below MSU's own blue line. Apples to Vansaghi and Geary. pic.twitter.com/79LIp5wKVd
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) October 26, 2024

Third Period: The home team picked up back-to-back power plays midway through the third period, but Augustine and the Spartan defense was up to the task, keeping it a 1-0 ballgame. MSU then got its own extended advantage, as Carter Patterson was whistled for kneeing and was sent off on a major and game misconduct, putting the Spartans on an extended power play for five of the final six minutes of regulation. Looking for their first power play goals of the season, the first came from Joey Larson at 17:36. Larson got a pass in the left circle from Kellty at the right point, and put the puck through the legs of the defender and past Robinson for his second goal of the season. Off the ensuing faceoff, the Spartans established themselves once again in the offensive zone – Dorwart got it low to Charlie Stramel, who had his back to the net at the left post. Stramel quickly redirected it onto the stick of Russell at the bottom of the left circle, and the junior scored his fourth goal of the season. The Spartan defense also did its part in the period, limiting the home team to just two shots on net – both turned away by Augustine to cap off his fourth career shutout. MSU had 14 of its 35 shots in that final frame.

Here's a look at MSU's second goal - from Joey Larson on the power play. First of the season for the junior, first PPG of the year for MSU.> pic.twitter.com/541z6BK9zx
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) October 26, 2024

Daniel Russell netted this one on the PP to cap the scoring for MSU - his fourth goal of the season in five games. pic.twitter.com/I9LahJ67Hj
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) October 26, 2024

NOTEABLES:

Trey Augustine recorded his fourth career shutout and first of the season. He had 15 saves in the victory, his lowest number of saves in a shutout and his fewest number of saves in a complete game in his career.
Tanner Kelly scored his first goal of the season in the second period and added an assist on the Joey Larson power play goal for a two-point night.
Larson and Daniel Russell each had power play goals 18 seconds apart in the third period. They were MSU's first power play goals on the season after starting 0-8 in the first four games. The Spartans were 2-6 in the game on the power play (13 shots).
The Spartans extinguished all four power play opportunities against, limiting the Griffins to just two shots on their four chances on the man advantage. MSU has allowed one power play in 14 chances this season (.929).
Russell took the team lead in goals (4), with single markers in four of MSU's five games this season. This was his first goal that was not a game-winning tally.
Charlie Stramel and Karsen Dorwart each had an assist on the Russell tally, each posting their second assist of the season.
Freshman Shane Vansaghi had assists on MSU's first and second goals, his first collegiate points and multi-point game.

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Team Stats

Tanner Kelly

Shane Vansaghi

Joey Larson

Daniel Russell

Players Mentioned

Trey Augustine

Karsen Dorwart

Patrick Geary

Tanner Kelly

Joey Larson

Daniel Russell

Tiernan Shoudy

Charlie Stramel

Shane Vansaghi

Players Mentioned

Trey Augustine

Karsen Dorwart

Patrick Geary

Tanner Kelly

Joey Larson

Daniel Russell

Tiernan Shoudy

Charlie Stramel

Shane Vansaghi