Spartans Start Series With Michigan on Friday at Munn

Games 29-30: Michigan (13-12-3, 8-8-2-1 B1G) vs. Michigan State (14-13-1, 10-7-1-0 B1G)
Dates | Times: Friday, Feb. 14 | 6 p.m. // Monday, Feb. 17 | 7 p.m.
Locations: Friday - Munn Ice Arena // Monday – Little Caesars Arena
Tickets: Friday - MSUSpartans.com (standing room only) // Monday - TicketMaster
TV: Friday – BTN // Monday – FS Detroit
Web Stream: Friday - FOX Sports App // Monday - BTN +
Radio: Spartan Sports Network | Local: WJIM 1240-AM & 106.9-FM
Game Notes: Michigan State | Michigan | Big Ten

On The Fly…
• Michigan State and Michigan resume college hockey's most-played rivalry on Friday at Munn Ice Arena and will then meet again in the Duel in the D on Monday at Little Caesars Arena.

• In the previous series between Michigan State and Michigan in November, the Spartans swept the home-and-home set, winning 4-3 in Ann Arbor and then 3-0 at Munn.

• With three weekends to play, six Big Ten teams are separated in the standings by just five points … After a split at Minnesota last weekend, Michigan State (10-7-10), Ohio State (9-3-3-1) and Minnesota (8-6-4-3) are all tied for second place with 31 points – two points behind first-place Penn State (10-7-3-0) … Notre Dame (7-7-4-3) has 28 points and is in fifth place, while Michigan has 27 points and is in sixth place (8-8-2-1).

• Michigan State is currently tied for 19th in the PairWise rankings.

• Patrick Khodorenko had points in both games last weekend (1g, 2a) and his 31 points rank fourth in the Big Ten, while his 15 goals are second most.

• John Lethemon continues to lead the NCAA in save percentage at .942 while leading the Big Ten and ranking seventh nationally in GAA at 1.93.

• The Spartans erased all five Minnesota power plays last weekend and have killed 15 consecutive (since Jan. 11) … MSU leads the league in Big Ten play with a .927 penalty kill percentage, which is .102 better than the next closest team (PSU).

• Since Nov. 30, Michigan State leads the country with a .942 penalty kill percentage … Over the 16-game span, MSU has erased 49 of 52 opponent power plays.

• Michigan State leads the Big Ten in conference play in goals-against per game at 2.06 and has allowed five fewer goals – 37 – than any other team.

• Saturday's 4-2 win at Minnesota marked the fourth time this season MSU has won a game when trailing in the third period (Nov. 14 at Michigan; Nov. 23 vs. Notre Dame; Dec. 7 vs. Wisconsin; Feb. 8 at Minnesota).

• MSU has outscored Big Ten opponents by a 34-20 margin in the second and third periods (not including empty-net goals), while in the third period of second games of a series, MSU holds a 12-4 edge (not including empty-net goals).

• Michigan State ranks fourth in the nation and leads the Big Ten in faceoff winning percentage at .541 … Junior Tommy Apap leads the Big Ten in total faceoff wins (301) and is third in winning percentage (.579).

• Sophomore defenseman Dennis Cesana ranks third among all Big Ten blueliners in points with 18 … Cesana scored the tying goal on the power play on Saturday at Minnesota.

About Michigan
Michigan is 6-2-1 since the beginning of January and is coming off a sweep of Wisconsin (8-4, 5-3) last weekend at home … The Wolverines rank eighth nationally in goals against per game at 2.21 … Michigan ranks 35th nationally in power play percentage at .176 (18-for-102), while it is 21st in penalty kill at .821 (69-of-84) … Senior Jake Slaker leads the team in goals (10), assists (11) and points (21) … Sophomore goaltender Strauss Mann ranks second behind John Lethemon in the Big Ten in both save percentage (.932) and GAA (2.07).

Michigan State Michigan graphic

The Last Time Out: at Minnesota (Feb. 7-8)
The Spartans rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the third period on Saturday with three goals in a span of 8:03 to win 4-2 … It was the fourth time MSU has won this season when trailing in the third period … John Lethemon made 36 saves in the 4-2 win and posted a .921 save percentage on the weekend … MSU erased all five Minnesota power plays, including three in the 4-2 win … MSU went 2-for-4 on the power play, scoring a goal on the man-advantage in both games.

The Wall of Lethemon
John Lethemon continues to lead the nation save percentage, entering Friday's game at .942. His 1.93 GAA ranks seventh nationally and leads the Big Ten. Lethemon has allowed two or fewer goals in eight of the last nine games (since Dec. 31), and in 17 of 25 starts this season.

In Big Ten play, Lethemon's numbers are even better as he leads the league in save percentage (.949), GAA (1.72), shutouts (4) and is tied for the most wins (10).

The Northville, Michigan, native has made a remarkable improvement over his career numbers entering the season. Lethemon's current .942 save percentage is .044 better than his career average entering the year, while his 1.93 GAA is 1.20 below is average through his first three seasons.

Patty Paces the Offense
After being among the top Spartan scorers the last two seasons, Patrick Khodorenko leads the team this year in goals (15), assists (16) and points (31). His 31 points rank fourth in the Big Ten, while his 15 goals are second most. He leads the Big Ten in conference games with 12 goals, while he's tied for second in points in league contests with 20.

Khodorenko had points in both games last weekend (1-2--3) and has points in three of the last four games (4-2--6) and in six of the last nine (6-7--13).

The Hobey Baker candidate is tied for the Big Ten lead with 10 multi-point games, in which MSU is 8-2. Some of his notable multi-point games include: a hat trick in a 4-2 win over Penn State on Jan. 24; a two-goal game with an OT game-winner vs. Wisconsin on Dec. 7; and a two-goal game, including the tying goal, in a 4-3 comeback win at Michigan on Nov. 14. Earlier this season, Khodorenko compiled a career best six-game point streak from Oct. 26 - Nov. 14 over which he produced 12 points (6g, 6a).

Michigan State vs. Penn State, Jan. 24, 2020

Michigan State vs. Penn State, Jan. 24, 2020

B1G Lockdown
The Spartans have improved their overall goals-against average by just over a goal per game this season. Entering Friday, the Spartans' 2.32 goals-against per game ranks 13th nationally and is 1.07 better than last year's average. In Big Ten play, the Spartans have been even stingier, leading the league at 2.06.

Since league play began for the Spartans on Nov. 8 at Penn State, MSU has allowed two or fewer goals in 12 of 18 conference games. Earlier this season, the Spartans allowed three or fewer goals from Nov. 9 – Dec. 6 (all in conference play), marking the first time MSU allowed three or fewer in seven consecutive games since the 2013-14 season.

Lethemon in Company of Elite Spartan Netminders
John Lethemon's .942 season save percentage is second best in school history only to Ryan Miller's .950 save percentage, which Miller posted in 2000-01 – the year he won the Hobey Baker Award.

His 1.93 GAA is currently seventh best in program history and is the best by a Spartan since Ryan Miller's 1.77 in 2001-02.

Tallying the Shutouts
John Lethemon's Big Ten-leading five shutouts are tied for the seventh most in a season by a Spartan netminder, while his nine career shutouts rank sixth in school history. Here's a look at this year's shutouts:

1 - Nov. 8 at Penn State – 48 saves (career high); 2 - Nov. 16 at Michigan – 35 saves; 3 - Dec. 6 vs. Wisconsin – 41 saves; 4 - Dec. 15 vs. Arizona State – 36 saves; 5 - Jan. 17 at Wisconsin – 39 saves.

Do NOT Count Us Out…
Michigan State has demonstrated a great deal of resilience this season with four wins when trailing in the third period. Three of those wins have come when trailing after two periods, including: Nov. 14 at Michigan (down 3-2; won 4-3); Dec. 7 vs. Wisconsin (down 3-1; won 5-4 in OT); and Feb. 8 at Minnesota (down 2-1; won 4-2). MSU was also trailing Notre Dame on Nov. 23, 2-1, 18 seconds into the third period, before scoring twice in the final 6:12 to win 3-2.

Last Saturday's win at Minnesota marked the third time this season MSU has scored three goals in the third period. MSU has won all three games in which they've scored three goals in the third: Dec. 7 vs. Wisconsin (5-4 OT); Jan. 17 at Wisconsin (4-0); and Feb. 8 at Minnesota (4-2).

…We've Got Plenty of Gas in the Tank
One key to the Spartans' success in Big Ten games has been their ability to outscore opponents over the final two periods. In its 18 conference games, MSU has outscored opponents by a 34-20 margin in the second and third periods (not including empty-net goals). Further, in the third period of second games of a series, MSU holds a 12-4 edge (not including empty-net goals).

jerad Rosburg GLI

In Big Ten Games, MSU…
• Leads the league in goals against per game at 2.06
• Leads the league total goals allowed at 37
• Leads the league in penalty kill percentage at .927
• Leads the league in faceoff winning percentage at .540

PK Getting The Job Done
The Spartans have a league-best 92.7% penalty kill percentage in conference play, which includes extinguishing the last 15 opponent power plays and allowing just one goal on the man-advantage in the last 12 conference games (36-of-37).

Since Nov. 30 (16 games), MSU has extinguished a nation's best 94.2% (49-of-52) of opponent power plays. Earlier this season, MSU went six consecutive games without allowing a power play goal, killing 20 consecutive power plays form Nov. 30 – Dec. 15.

On the season, MSU ranks 16th in the country with an 84.3% PK percentage, which is 7% above its average from last season.

Career Years
With six regular season games to play, eight different Spartans have posted career-best numbers in several offensive categories:

Tommy Apap – goals (6), assists (5) points (11) Dennis Cesana – goals (5)
Gianluca Esteves – goals (2), assists (6), points (8) Butrus Ghafari - assists (2), points (4)
Christian Krygier – assists (3), points (3) Cole Krygier – goals (3), points (6)
Logan Lambdin – points (13) Brody Stevens – assists (5), points (8)

The Big Ten Race
With three weekends to play, six Big Ten teams are separated in the standings by just five points. After a split at Minnesota last weekend, Michigan State (10-7-10), Ohio State (9-3-3-1) and Minnesota (8-6-4-3) are all tied for second place with 31 points – two points behind first-place Penn State (10-7-3-0). Notre Dame (7-7-4-3) has 28 points and is in fifth place, while Michigan has 27 points and is in sixth place (8-8-2-1).

Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin all have just four games remaining.

Khodo Hits 5-0
Patrick Khodorenko's hat trick vs. Penn State on Jan. 24 gave him 52 career goals as he became the first Spartan since Tim Crowder (2005-09) to hit the 50-career goal mark and only ninth Spartan since 2000 to reach the milestone. Khodorenko's 53 career goals are the sixth most by any Spartan since 2000; the last player with more than 53 in a career was Bryan Lerg, who had 68 (2004-08). Earlier this season Khodorenko hit the 100-career point mark when he second goal at Michigan in a 4-3 win on Nov. 14.

Brody Stevens vs. Michigan

The Captain is Coming Through
After producing a combined 19 points over the last two seasons, senior captain Sam Saliba is tied for fourth on the team this year with 15 points, while ranking second in goals with nine. He's just one goal and three points shy of tying his career highs from his freshman year.

Earlier this season against Notre Dame, he scored three of the Spartans' four goals in the series – including the game-winner on Nov. 23 with 1:10 to play – and was subsequently named the Big Ten First Star of the Week for his efforts.

Spartans, Apap Strong in the Dot
The Spartans rank fourth in the country in faceoff winning percentage at .541. Junior center Tommy Apap leads the conference in faceoff wins (301) and is third in winning percentage (.579). The Spartans have won more faceoffs than their opponents in 18 of 28 games, including taking a season-high 69% of draws in a 5-1 win at Colorado College on Oct. 26.

Someone New Playing the Hero
Michigan State has game-winning goals from 10 different players this season, which is the most Spartans with GWGs since 2010-11 (10). Four Spartans have two game-winners, including Tommy Apap (Oct. 11 at Northern Michigan; Jan. 17 at Wisconsin) and Cole Krygier (Oct. 26 at Colorado College; Jan. 24 vs. Penn State), whose game-winning goals this season were the first of their careers. Other first-time game-winning goal scorers include: Gianluca Esteves (Jan. 10 vs. Minnesota), Tommy Miller (Dec. 6 vs. Wisconsin), Butrus Ghafari (Feb. 8 at Minnesota) and Josh Nodler (Nov. 16 vs. Michigan).

Spartans' Strength of Schedule Ranks No. 3
Entering the Friday, Michigan State ranks third in the country in strength of schedule, behind only Minnesota Dulth (1) and Minnesota (2). In addition to Big Ten foes Penn State (No. 8) and Ohio State (15), three of the Spartans' non-conference opponents rank in the top 19 in the PairWise – Cornell (No. 3), Arizona State (No. 10) and Northern Michigan (No. 19).

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Players Mentioned

Tommy Apap

Dennis Cesana

Gianluca Esteves

Butrus Ghafari

Patrick Khodorenko

Christian Krygier

Cole Krygier

Logan Lambdin

John Lethemon

Tommy Miller

Josh Nodler

Sam Saliba

Brody Stevens