Saturday, December 10
Ann Arbor, MI
6:30 pm
Michigan State University
12-7-1, 6-5-1
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Michigan
12-7-1, 4-6-0
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Michigan St.
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Michigan
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MSU Falls 2-1 in Ann Arbor
12/10/2022 11:21:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Ann Arbor, Mich. – No. 12/13 Michigan State beat the clock with a goal at 19:55 of the third period to break up a potential shutout, but the Spartans fell at No. 6/7 Michigan, 2-1, on Saturday night to split the weekend series.
The Spartans (12-7-1, 6-5-1 B1G) were one again strong defensively, frustrating the Wolverines by clogging lanes and limiting the number of shots, holding a 38-27 edge in shots on net.
The Spartans were the lesser-penalized team on Friday but the tables turned in the Saturday rematch. The first Michigan goal came on its second power play chance, with MSU in the box for a too many men call. Dylan Duke tipped a blast by Luke Hughes for the first goal of the night. The Spartans killed off the two chances against in the second period and one more in the third, finishing 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
With the Wolverines looking like they would earn a 2-0 shutout win, the Spartans never quit – skating 6-on-4, Jagger Joshua batted a Nash Nienhuis shot out of the air and past Portillo's glove hand for the 2-1 final.
MSU was whistled for six total penalties for 20 minutes, while Michigan had five for 18. Both teams picked up a game misconduct in the waning minutes of the game. MSU finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while Michigan was 1-for-5.
Portillo made 37 saves for the home team, while Dylan St. Cyr had 25 for MSU.
The Spartans are now off until Dec. 27 for exams and the holidays. MSU returns to action against Ferris State in the semifinals of the Great Lakes Invitational in Grand Rapids.
STATISTICS OF NOTE
First Period: The Wolverines got an early power play chance when Christian Krygier was whistled for charging, but MSU limited the Wolverines to just one shot on net while blocking four others. The second power play chance for the Wolverines did some damage, however – a too many men call put UM back on the man advantage, and a minute in a blast from the right point by Luke Hughes was topped by David Duke and past St. Cyr.
Second Period: The Wolverines tacked on a second goal late in the second period to take a 2-0 lead into the intermission. Rutger McGroarty had the puck in the high slot and went to Keaton Pehrson in the left circle, and his backdoor pass to TJ Hughes on the right side was redirected by the freshman for his second goal of the weekend. That goal came with 2:11 remaining
Third Period: The Wolverines thought they had a break-open goal on the power play with 3:09 remaining, on a Luke Hughes shot that found its way through traffic – however, the goal was immediately waved off as Duke was in the crease. MSU pushed to break up the shutout from whistle to whistle, outshooting its hosts 16-4 in the period. With St. Cyr on the bench in favor of an extra skater, the Spartans had the faceoff in the offensive zone with about nine seconds remaining. Muller won the faceoff back to Nienhuis, who got the puck to the net – and Joshua tipped it out of midair past Portillo. MSU outshot their hosts 16-4 in the period and 26-13 over the final two frames.
The Spartans (12-7-1, 6-5-1 B1G) were one again strong defensively, frustrating the Wolverines by clogging lanes and limiting the number of shots, holding a 38-27 edge in shots on net.
The Spartans were the lesser-penalized team on Friday but the tables turned in the Saturday rematch. The first Michigan goal came on its second power play chance, with MSU in the box for a too many men call. Dylan Duke tipped a blast by Luke Hughes for the first goal of the night. The Spartans killed off the two chances against in the second period and one more in the third, finishing 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
With the Wolverines looking like they would earn a 2-0 shutout win, the Spartans never quit – skating 6-on-4, Jagger Joshua batted a Nash Nienhuis shot out of the air and past Portillo's glove hand for the 2-1 final.
MSU was whistled for six total penalties for 20 minutes, while Michigan had five for 18. Both teams picked up a game misconduct in the waning minutes of the game. MSU finished 1-for-4 on the power play, while Michigan was 1-for-5.
Portillo made 37 saves for the home team, while Dylan St. Cyr had 25 for MSU.
The Spartans are now off until Dec. 27 for exams and the holidays. MSU returns to action against Ferris State in the semifinals of the Great Lakes Invitational in Grand Rapids.
STATISTICS OF NOTE
- Jagger Joshua is now tied for the team lead in goals (7). Nash Nienhuis and Nicolas Muller had the helpers on his third-period marker.
- Muller's 15 assists lead the team. His 18 points this season has doubled his previous single-season high (nine, as a freshman)
- The Spartans surrendered their first power play goal since the Friday game at Miami (11/26), spanning four complete games between extra-man markers.
- MSU held Michigan to four shots on net in the third period after limiting the Wolverines to five on Friday in the third. It is the fewest shots for an opponent in a third period this season.
- The Wolverines had a combined 50 shots on net in the weekend series, their fewest in a two -game set since their Big Ten opening weekend against Penn State (42)
- Freshman Gavin Best made his Spartan debut on the third line with Zach Dubinsky and Justin Jallen. It is MSU's only line of all Spartan newcomers.
- St. Cyr stopped 47 of 50 shots against on the weekend and remains tied atop the Big Ten in save percentage (.925). He has 569 saves on the season, one behind league leader Ryan Bischel (570).
First Period: The Wolverines got an early power play chance when Christian Krygier was whistled for charging, but MSU limited the Wolverines to just one shot on net while blocking four others. The second power play chance for the Wolverines did some damage, however – a too many men call put UM back on the man advantage, and a minute in a blast from the right point by Luke Hughes was topped by David Duke and past St. Cyr.
Second Period: The Wolverines tacked on a second goal late in the second period to take a 2-0 lead into the intermission. Rutger McGroarty had the puck in the high slot and went to Keaton Pehrson in the left circle, and his backdoor pass to TJ Hughes on the right side was redirected by the freshman for his second goal of the weekend. That goal came with 2:11 remaining
Third Period: The Wolverines thought they had a break-open goal on the power play with 3:09 remaining, on a Luke Hughes shot that found its way through traffic – however, the goal was immediately waved off as Duke was in the crease. MSU pushed to break up the shutout from whistle to whistle, outshooting its hosts 16-4 in the period. With St. Cyr on the bench in favor of an extra skater, the Spartans had the faceoff in the offensive zone with about nine seconds remaining. Muller won the faceoff back to Nienhuis, who got the puck to the net – and Joshua tipped it out of midair past Portillo. MSU outshot their hosts 16-4 in the period and 26-13 over the final two frames.
Team Stats
MSU
U-M
Shots
38
27
PPG
1
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
6
5
Penalty Mins
20
18
Faceoffs Won
37
30
Game Leaders
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
6
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
6
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
6
A
0
Players Mentioned
F
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