Saturday, October 5
Sault Ste. Marie, MI
4 PM
Michigan State University
2-0-0
5
at
1
Lake Superior State
0-2-0
1
2
3
F
Michigan St.
0
3
2
5
Lake Superior St.
0
0
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1
MSU Completes Weekend Sweep With 5-1 WIn
10/5/2024 8:02:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.. – No. 4 Michigan State completed the weekend sweep of Lake Superior State on Saturday afternoon, earning a 5-1 win in a matinee matchup. Junior Isaac Howard had a pair of goals and an assist, and three others had multiple-point efforts.
MSU (2-0) swept the Lakers (0-2) for the second consecutive season in the opening weekend.
The teams skated through a scoreless opening frame – but MSU peppered goalie Easton Hesse with 21 shots in the first 20 minutes. MSU scored on its first two shots of the second period to open up the game. Howard had both of his scores in the second period sandwiched around a goal by linemate Daniel Russell to turn a scoreless game into a 3-0 lead before the eight minute mark.
William Ahlrik broke up the shutout at 8:56, but the game was well in hand for MSU by that point. Joey Larson and Nicklas Andrews put goals on the board in the final 10 minutes for the final 5-1 margin.
The visitors outshot LSSU 47-26
Michigan State hosts its home-opening series next weekend when No. 2 Boston College comes to East Lansing for a two-game series.
STATISTICS OF NOTE
First Period: Michigan State came out much like it finished the Friday contest – it moved the puck and pushed the pace, leading to a 13-4 edge in shots on goal by the midpoint of the frame and 21-7 over 20 minutes. The Laker goaltender Easton Hesse was tested and up to the challenge, turning away each of the shots he faced – including a shorthanded breakaway generated by Tommi Männistö
.
Second Period: The Spartans scored on their first two shots of the second period – first a rush and shot unleashed from the high slot by Isaac Howard at :25, and at 1:10, Daniel Russell tapped home a rebound on the right side off a shot by Tiernan Shoudy for his second goal of the weekend. Howard struck again at 7:54 – just seconds after the expiration of a David Gucciardi penalty. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Russell tipped it to Howard, who's shot froze Hesse and went past the netminder for his second of the game. MSU outshot the Lakers 12-5.
Third Period: The home team broke up the shutout at 8:56 of the third. William Ahlik scored his first of the season set up by Brandon Piku. Joey Larson returned MSU to a three-goal lead with his score at 12:12, as Red Savage sent the puck onto his stick inside the offensive zone at the left point. Larson had a pair of defenders in front of him, but his shot split the pair ad past Hesse. Nicklas Andrews got his first goal as a Spartan into an empty net with 29 seconds to play, with Matt Basgall and Howard picking up assists on the play.
MSU (2-0) swept the Lakers (0-2) for the second consecutive season in the opening weekend.
The teams skated through a scoreless opening frame – but MSU peppered goalie Easton Hesse with 21 shots in the first 20 minutes. MSU scored on its first two shots of the second period to open up the game. Howard had both of his scores in the second period sandwiched around a goal by linemate Daniel Russell to turn a scoreless game into a 3-0 lead before the eight minute mark.
William Ahlrik broke up the shutout at 8:56, but the game was well in hand for MSU by that point. Joey Larson and Nicklas Andrews put goals on the board in the final 10 minutes for the final 5-1 margin.
The visitors outshot LSSU 47-26
Michigan State hosts its home-opening series next weekend when No. 2 Boston College comes to East Lansing for a two-game series.
STATISTICS OF NOTE
- Isaac Howard had his first career two-goal game in his 72nd career collegiate contest. He also had an assist on Nicklas Andrews' third period tally.
- Howard had a goal and an assist on Friday and a three-point night on Saturday, his first back-to-back multiple-point outings in his career.
- Howard finished the weekend with three goals and two assists, his highest weekend output in his collegiate career.
- Daniel Russell had a goal and an assist in each game of the weekend series.
- Transfers Nicklas Andrews and Charlie Stramel each picked up their first points as Spartans on Saturday. Andrews had an assist on Russell's goal and also added an empty-netter. Stramel's helper came on Howard's second goal.
- Trey Augustine had shut out the Lakers for more than 93 minutes dating back to the first period Friday before the Lakers scored their goal at 8:56 of the third period.
- Augustine finished with 25 saves in each game at LSSU, matching his fewest saves in a full game. His previously had 25 stops vs. Air Force last Oct. 13.
- Maxim Strbák recorded his first multiple-point game of the season with a pair of assists, matching his career best.
- Joey Larson scored his first goal of the year in the third period.
- Matt Basgall had assists in both games on the weekend.
- The Spartans had 47 shots on goal in Saturday's game, which included 21 in the first period. MSU had 25 shots on net in the third period of Friday night's game after just 13 in the first two periods combined. MSU limited Lake State to 26 shots on net on Saturday, which included 14 in the third period after 12 in the first two frames.
- Adam Nightingale is now a perfect 4-0 in games against Lake Superior State, where he spent two years as a player before transferring to Michigan State.
- MSU's power play was 0-3 on Saturday but generated 12 shots on net. The Spartans were 0-6 on the weekend (19 power play shots). The penalty kill was a perfect 4-4 in both ends of the series.
- The Spartans had a much better night in the faceoff dot on Saturday, winning 38 of 68 draws after just 15 of 45 on Friday.
First Period: Michigan State came out much like it finished the Friday contest – it moved the puck and pushed the pace, leading to a 13-4 edge in shots on goal by the midpoint of the frame and 21-7 over 20 minutes. The Laker goaltender Easton Hesse was tested and up to the challenge, turning away each of the shots he faced – including a shorthanded breakaway generated by Tommi Männistö
.
Second Period: The Spartans scored on their first two shots of the second period – first a rush and shot unleashed from the high slot by Isaac Howard at :25, and at 1:10, Daniel Russell tapped home a rebound on the right side off a shot by Tiernan Shoudy for his second goal of the weekend. Howard struck again at 7:54 – just seconds after the expiration of a David Gucciardi penalty. After a turnover in the neutral zone, Russell tipped it to Howard, who's shot froze Hesse and went past the netminder for his second of the game. MSU outshot the Lakers 12-5.
It's the first career two-goal game for Isaac Howard - this rush is a beauty. pic.twitter.com/V3GCypXMPq
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) October 5, 2024
Third Period: The home team broke up the shutout at 8:56 of the third. William Ahlik scored his first of the season set up by Brandon Piku. Joey Larson returned MSU to a three-goal lead with his score at 12:12, as Red Savage sent the puck onto his stick inside the offensive zone at the left point. Larson had a pair of defenders in front of him, but his shot split the pair ad past Hesse. Nicklas Andrews got his first goal as a Spartan into an empty net with 29 seconds to play, with Matt Basgall and Howard picking up assists on the play.
Joey Larson's first goal of the year is another thing of beauty, pic.twitter.com/Dv0wpPvrr9
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) October 5, 2024
Team Stats
MSU
LSS
Shots
47
26
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
6
5
Penalty Mins
12
10
Faceoffs Won
38
30
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
3
Goals
2
Sh
8
A
1
+/-
3
Goals
1
Sh
5
A
1
+/-
2
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
1
+/-
2
Goals
0
Sh
5
A
2
Players Mentioned
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