Hockey Begins Stretch Run With Penn State Series

No. 1/1 Michigan State (22-5-3, 13-4-3 B1G) vs No.18/17 Penn State (16-11-3, 7-10-3 B1G)
Dates/Location	Friday, Feb. 21, 6 pm \| Saturday, Feb. 22, 6 pm Mason Rink at Munn Ice Arena \| Bag Policy/FAQ's
Promotions	Senior Night (Saturday Post-Game)
Tickets	Utilize MSU's official ticket reselling app, Seat Geek
Television	Big Ten Network Chris Vosters (pxp) and Fred Pletsch (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
Press Conference	Adam Nightingale Weekly Availability
Game Notes	Michigan State \| P enn State
Social Media	Facebook Twitter Instagram

THE ORIGINAL SIX
The top notes you need to know about Spartan hockey

• Michigan State hosts its final regular-season weekend series, welcoming No. 18/17 Penn State to East Lansing. MSU is unbeaten in nine straight against the Nittany Lions dating back to November 2022, (6-0-3). The Spartans posted a 6-4 win in the first game in State College this season (Jan. 10) and the teams skated to a 2-2 tie in game two (with the Nittany Lions claiming the shootout win). MSU is 12-9-3 against PSU all-time at Munn. The Spartans will honor the four Spartan seniors at the conclusion of Saturday's game.

• At 22-5-3, MSU is currently tied for the fewest losses in program history, set by the 2001-02 squad (33-5-4). The Spartans enter the weekend with a 13-4-3 record in Big Ten play (43 points), atop the Big Ten standings by three points. Ohio State and Minnesota are tied for second place - and face off this weekend in Minneapolis. The Spartans returned to the top spot in both national polls this week, the sixth time this season that MSU has held the No. 1 ranking. MSU is ranked second in the pairwise rankings, which determines the seeding for the NCAA Tournament field.

• Richter and AAU Sullivan Award semifinalist Trey Augustine is among just 32 full-time starting goaltenders in the country and in that group he owns the fewest losses (5), ranks fifth in GAA (2.07), sixth in save percentage (.926), and has allowed 48 goals, the fifth fewest among full-time starters. Augustine and the Spartans have not lost back-to-back games in 2024-25 as Augustine leads the Big Ten in wins (15) and ranks second in games played (23) and minutes played (1393:47).

• The line of Charlie Stramel centering Isaac Howard and Daniel Russell have skated together since mid-December (19 of 30 games). The trio has 64 points in their games together (30g, 31a), and combine for 89 points overall (43g, 46a). Hobey candidate Howard has delivered 22 goals and 43 points and is second in the nation in goals (22), points (43), goals per game (0.73) and points per game (1.43). Russell is second among Spartans in goals (12, with seven game-winners). Stramel owns career bests in all offensive categories (9-15-24).

• Blueliner Matt Basgall is tied for third on the team in points (22) and has career bests in all three offensive categories, tied for third among Big Ten defensemen in points (22), third in assists (17), and fourth in goals (5). Grad transfer Nicklas Andrews owns a 2-13-15 scoring line and leads the squad with a +25 rating, which ranks second in the B1G and tied for second nationally.

• The Gavin O'Connell-Karsen Dorwart-Joey Larson trio had seven points in MSU's last series against Michigan. Dorwart has a 9-13-22 scoring line and 18 of his 22 points have come in Conference play. Larson became MSU's third double-digit goal scorer against Michigan and improved his scoring line to 10-10-20; he is second on the team in power play goals behind Dorwart. O'Connell missed nine games in the middle of the season with injury, and has delivered 2-3-5 in his eight games since returning to the lineup.

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Players Mentioned

Nicklas Andrews

Trey Augustine

Matt Basgall

Karsen Dorwart

Isaac Howard

Joey Larson

Gavin O'Connell

Daniel Russell

Charlie Stramel