Michigan State Hockey 202?-202?

[Pirateasaur]

Pretty incredible weekend at Munn. 2 full crowds and 5 huge points to bounce back from a rather significant slump. Those two games were not easy on the nerves but the fellas showed a ton of grit with those comebacks. It’s a shame there’s only 3 home games left. The remaining games are sold out. I haven’t enjoyed watching a team like this in probably almost 15 years.

[John J. MacInnes]

The consolation game was a street fight. Tech and MSU are similar teams in that they don't have game breaking talent and have to win as a collective.

The game came down to mistakes - Tech has a number of injuries on the blue line, and with forwards & young players in the lineup, they committed the two errors that led to goals. Forward Jake Crespi got caught flat footed in the neutral zone creating the Tucker breakaway, and rookie Evan Orr misplayed a rush and got walked on the Russell goal.

The first Tech goal came on a delayed penalty where MSU lost focus and expected that the play was going to be blown dead, only to see it end up in a point shot that deflected in. And Cole Krygier's penalty at the end of regulation was:
1) 100% the right call
2) lucky he didn't get upgraded to a 5 minute call
3) completely unnecessary
4) exactly what we've come to expect from him

In the OT the call on Mucha was also 100% correct. He made a lazy play, got caught in the neutral zone going the wrong direction, and reached with his stick to try and recover. The line change in the overtime was really bad. It was early in the kill so not necessary at that point. With two defensemen on the ice that was probably a situation they haven't been in a lot, and you would have expected Nash Nienhaus to be out there had he been in the lineup. Gucciardi and Basgall was a strange pairing to pick for the kill.

Considering that this was the first time this season that MSU lost a game they led going into the 3rd period, this appears it could be an outlier. They aren't built to come back when behind, so it will be imperative that they are playing from in front or even in the second half.

[FLHockeyMom]

I wasn't there, nor did I watch, but the updates I got from Twitter make it seem like MSU outplayed Ferris and was toe to toe with Michigan Tech the whole way. Just unlucky to walk away with a loss and an OT loss. Anybody confirm that?

I wasn't in attendance either, but I believe what fans are taking exception to are 1) the aggressive style of play vs. Ferris in the 1st period resulting in going down 0-3, a difficult road to come back from under any circumstances but certainly given our historical lack of scoring; 2) the boneheaded penalty by a Twin at the end of regulation in the MTU game, resulting in MTU's tying PP goal; and 3) the egregious line change in OT resulting in MTU's GWG. All things you would hope that we've moved on from under the new coaching staff. For me it just highlights that 1) the roster is still primarily Cole recruits so we need to be patient until the Nightingale replenishments arrive; and 2) the smoke-and-mirrors nature of our OOC schedule, like last year, begets early and unwarranted optimism. #thistooshallpass

[Puckstopper467]

Losing to a low scoring team like Ferris is very poor. MSU was not ready to play. Western came out and exposed Ferris the way MSU should have. In the Tech Game MSU was better just missed some close ones or could have won in regulation. also the penalty on Krygier was weak, tall kid shoulder on smaller player

[gomsuman]

Oof. Talk about a clunker of a weekend. We’re gonna be regretting this come March, I bet.

The pressure is on to rattle off a few W’s to start the new year. None of us want to see any shades of last year’s implosion.

I didn’t attend any games but I almost did. I’d like if the GLI could continue with this format in GR. We may not have looked it this week d, but I think if the program can continue to improve here then the games will be well attended. Decent Tech and WMU teams will do their part, as well.

I wasn't there, nor did I watch, but the updates I got from Twitter make it seem like MSU outplayed Ferris and was toe to toe with Michigan Tech the whole way. Just unlucky to walk away with a loss and an OT loss. Anybody confirm that?

[manurespreader]

Looks like it will continue.

[Pirateasaur]

Oof. Talk about a clunker of a weekend. We’re gonna be regretting this come March, I bet.

The pressure is on to rattle off a few W’s to start the new year. None of us want to see any shades of last year’s implosion.

I didn’t attend any games but I almost did. I’d like if the GLI could continue with this format in GR. We may not have looked it this week d, but I think if the program can continue to improve here then the games will be well attended. Decent Tech and WMU teams will do their part, as well.

[aallenpollreisz]

We’re number 11!

Perhaps was a good time to hit the holiday break. I think we had an illness scratch on Saturday. I was wondering when that flu bug was going to hit us.

[Pirateasaur]

Had to miss the game last night but followed along with the game tracker pretty much all game. Feels great to get that win for many reasons but it’s gotta feel great for the boys to take the W in front of the big crowd after last week’s flops on the big stage.

[John J. MacInnes]

And now Naurato joins Red as the only skunk coaches to lose their first.

[John J. MacInnes]

No Michigan State coach has ever won his first game in the rivalry.

John Kobs L 3-6 24 Jan 1925
Harold Paulsen L 4-10 22 Feb 1950
Amo Bessone L 1-11 5 Dec 1951
Ron Mason L 2-7 5 Dec 1979
Rick Comley L 1-3 14 Feb 2003
Tom Anastos L 3-4 9 Dec 2011
Danton Cole L 0-4 7 Dec 2017

Adam Nightingale could be the first.

[John J. MacInnes]

On an unrelated note, I was taking a spin through some box scores around the country and I see that Aiden Gallacher scored the OT game winner for Northern against tech tonight. Good for him, I suppose.

edit: Nope, assist for Gallacher.

and then the next night, he got the early shower for a 5 minute facemasking penalty at the end of the 1st period.

[Pirateasaur]

On an unrelated note, I was taking a spin through some box scores around the country and I see that Aiden Gallacher scored the OT game winner for Northern against tech tonight. Good for him, I suppose.

edit: Nope, assist for Gallacher.

[Pirateasaur]

All good points, wsummers. I guess I should have emphasized that I was expecting more OFFENSE from Underwood. Solid but unspectacular dmen are a dime a dozen. And I agree that Dorwart, although not a transfer which is what I was addressing, has turned out to be a pleasant surprise late addition by Nightingale and Co. I honestly never expected to see Nolan or Best on the ice in the first place, so I'm indifferent there. It's not often that NAHL recruits make a huge impact in our conference (sorry, Pirateasaur, not seeing it with J. Jallen). Finally, thanks for the confirmation re. Ch. Krygier's injury.

I can’t recall anybody out of the NAHL who really made some noise for us. Esteves was a regular in the lineup and could skate well enough but didn’t score much.

Anyways, flopped tonight for our first game in the spotlight, full Munn and all. First period wasn’t good, but I thought it was a fairly even game in the 2nd and 3rd until they scored their 3rd goal and it came crashing down. Minny’s good though, very good. We’ve done a great job opening our game up and trying to run a bit this season but the talent gap was pretty evident tonight against a team that is clearly better built to play this way. With a little puck luck, we can take tomorrow night if we bring it like the 2nd and 3rd periods.

[FLHockeyMom]

Success has come from new conditioning coach, team buy in to new systems, and a few key additions. Mucha and St. Cyr as mentioned. Underwood has been solid on defense. Dorwart a late pick up was a true diamond in the rough who has blossomed on the Russell and Joshua line. As for Christian…he has been injured and may be back this weekend.

As far as the F transfer not playing, Nolan was always going to be a practice player…the possible surprise is Best not seeing any ice time this year. He was a hyped Cole recruit who hadn’t played in the higher level leagues.

All good points, wsummers. I guess I should have emphasized that I was expecting more OFFENSE from Underwood. Solid but unspectacular dmen are a dime a dozen. And I agree that Dorwart, although not a transfer which is what I was addressing, has turned out to be a pleasant surprise late addition by Nightingale and Co. I honestly never expected to see Nolan or Best on the ice in the first place, so I'm indifferent there. It's not often that NAHL recruits make a huge impact in our conference (sorry, Pirateasaur, not seeing it with J. Jallen). Finally, thanks for the confirmation re. Ch. Krygier's injury.