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Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

We came. We saw. We split. I'll take it. The downside is after tonight we're now two games from .500, but that's still better than what we've had in past years.

Next week we get PSU. I think we can extend our home winning streak by two more, but we need to get quality shots. Tonight we probably only had 5 or 6, and our lone goal wasn't even one of them.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

Evidently the players have come up with a new pre game chant for the student section. It will even come with its own video tonight. I don't have too high of hopes.

As for the game, I do have pretty high hopes. This is a different team than the one that played PSU a month ago. Six points puts us in 2nd (or third, depending on what happens at Minnesota this weekend), and somehow finishing second would be a huge boost for the tournament with that bye.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

Nothing?

Hey how about MSU's record this season when scoring 3 or more goals! Not that they've done it very often, but it sure is fun when they do :).
All four lines played well last night, but I REALLY hope we can keep DeBlouw, Berry and MacEachern together while they're clicking.

First time being shut out for Penn State this year?
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

I think we played a very sound game last night. That was as punchless as I've ever felt PSU has been in their history against MSU. If we give another performance like that tonight then we will actually have a real shot of winning the B1G. Who would have ever seen that coming?
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

Correct. They've been held to 1 three times this year, but first time being shut out.

Great game last night, but we do need to mark players around the net. Just need to limit second chances. PSU whiffed on all of them getting to the puck a little late but if they're a half step faster tonight they're going to put in a couple.

Also, that new chant was one of the worst things I've ever seen.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

Sweep!!!

First back-to-back conference home sweeps in 8 years when we beat Alaska and Lake State two straight weekends.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

Spartanforlife4 said:
Sweep!!!

First back-to-back conference home sweeps in 8 years when we beat Alaska and Lake State two straight weekends.
Click to expand...

That seems unbelievable but I have heard it elsewhere, too. We've had a few good teams during this time so it just seems so surprising.

Thought we played very well all weekend except stretches of the 2nd period on saturday. I am feeling good about where this team is headed. I personally do not believe Wisconsin is the pushover they were earlier in the year, especially in Madison so I will be anxiously keeping an eye on a gametracker this weekend.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

What a nice weekend for Sophomore F Mackenzie Macheachern - not only a hat trick on Saturday (first MSU since Matt Berry in 2012), but a 5-point weekend and B1G's First Star of the week AND the <a href='http://www.ncaa.com/news/icehockey-men/three-stars/2015-02-17/maceachern-hat-trick-leads-spartans-sweep-big-ten-leader'>NCAA Men's Division 1 1st Star of the Week</a>.

I want to give away more hats! In the past 8 seasons we've seen on home ice ...
Abdelkader in 2008 (vs. Bowling Green)
Krug in 2011 (vs. Michigan)
Berry in 2012 (vs. Michigan)
Maceachern in 2015 (vs. Penn State)
 
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Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

A little difficult to give away hats when the team usually can't put up 3.

I wish we could've gotten Wisconsin before they played Minnesota. Ever since then they've at least looked better, even if the results haven't shown too much. On the flip side, if we're really improving we should beat them easily, which means saving them until late helps a bunch for points in the standings.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

Spartanforlife4 said:
I wish we could've gotten Wisconsin before they played Minnesota. Ever since then they've at least looked better, even if the results haven't shown too much. On the flip side, if we're really improving we should beat them easily, which means saving them until late helps a bunch for points in the standings.
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Some scouting on Wisconsin this weekend -

Wisconsin has had MSU's number over the last 10 meetings - MSU's won just one and tied one other game during that stretch. But over the next 3 weeks as MSU plays them twice, on paper this looks to be pretty one-sided in our favor. But I'm not feeling comfortable.

On one hand, there's a reason Wisconsin's W-L record looks one-sided as well:

* Since the end of last season, the Badgers lost 9 seniors and 11 total players, accounting for 87 out of 130 of their goals (if that goal stat sounds familiar - think State in 2008-09).
* They have 11 freshmen skating, including 2 redshirts.
* They've dealt with some injuries and at least one transfer that I know of - pressing a lot of freshmen into dressing every game.
* Naturally, that translates into the lowest overall scoring output overall among the 6 teams.

However, they still have some skill and some firepower. Sr F Joseph Labate is the leading returning scorer and he's been pretty hot of late, and watch out for So Fr Grant Besse, who torched us last season at Munn.

And they a very good goalie in Joel Rumpel - a senior - who while checking in at #6 in GAA in the conference has kept his team in the game over the last 5 contests. And don't assume MSU will score a lot against Wisconsin this season. MSU still needs to show they have the firepower to compete at the highest level, and like us, Wisconsin blocks a lot of shots.

Feels like a split this weekend, with Wisco winning tonight.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

First place on the line this weekend, and pretty much every weekend from here on out. Who would've thunk that with the start we had this season combined with Minnesota's start and Michigan's hot streak.

Don't want to get too confident this weekend, but I'm thinking a sweep.

Friday:
MSU 4
UW 2

Saturday
MSU 3
UW 1
 
owslachief said:
Some scouting on Wisconsin this weekend -

Wisconsin has had MSU's number over the last 10 meetings - MSU's won just one and tied one other game during that stretch. But over the next 3 weeks as MSU plays them twice, on paper this looks to be pretty one-sided in our favor. But I'm not feeling comfortable.

On one hand, there's a reason Wisconsin's W-L record looks one-sided as well:

* Since the end of last season, the Badgers lost 9 seniors and 11 total players, accounting for 87 out of 130 of their goals (if that goal stat sounds familiar - think State in 2008-09).
* They have 11 freshmen skating, including 2 redshirts.
* They've dealt with some injuries and at least one transfer that I know of - pressing a lot of freshmen into dressing every game.
* Naturally, that translates into the lowest overall scoring output overall among the 6 teams.

However, they still have some skill and some firepower. Sr F Joseph Labate is the leading returning scorer and he's been pretty hot of late, and watch out for So Fr Grant Besse, who torched us last season at Munn.

And they a very good goalie in Joel Rumpel - a senior - who while checking in at #6 in GAA in the conference has kept his team in the game over the last 5 contests. And don't assume MSU will score a lot against Wisconsin this season. MSU still needs to show they have the firepower to compete at the highest level, and like us, Wisconsin blocks a lot of shots.

Feels like a split this weekend, with Wisco winning tonight.
Click to expand...
I feel a similar level of hesitation. While we are pulling it together down the stretch here, our offense is probably never going to be consistently reliable. That can make a hot goalie or below average puck luck a perfect recipe for an unfortunate loss.

I also think Wisky is playing better now than much of the year. I am basing this off watching them tie Minny, lose at PSU in a game that felt closer than the score and actually beating OSU last weekend.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

Tonight's game will be on BTN2go. Or Wisconsin Public TV if you happen to be there.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

Good game last night, but man does Friday still sting. Could've been going to Minneapolis in 1st place. Really I didn't see much difference between last night and Friday except for the post stopping a few, but I that's the breaks sometimes.
 
Spartanforlife4 said:
Good game last night, but man does Friday still sting. Could've been going to Minneapolis in 1st place. Really I didn't see much difference between last night and Friday except for the post stopping a few, but I that's the breaks sometimes.
Click to expand...

better shots, more energized start, and actually got down and blocked shots. The last was lacking on Friday and the last time MSU lost (in Chicago)
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

I too am a little disappointed in Friday's results, but with offensive production that does not often bring the pain, we are a little more at the mercy of puck luck and hot goalies. It does not surprise me that we dropped one on the road to anybody. Wisconsin, at this point, is probably better than their record anyway. I expect a sweep at home in two weeks, though.

It does make our situation a little more difficult. I think we will now need to salvage at least a split next weekend at Minny. With the way they are playing now, I do not think that will be a simple task. We have given some pretty spirited performances over there the last couple years, though.
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

FYI: Anastos has just announced the suspensions of F Dylan Pavelek and D Carson Gatt indefinitely for violation of team rules.

Also my prolonged hiatus from the forum is over. My thoughts on the season so far:
1. The offense is finally starting to come around which is leading to less stress on Hildebrand.
2. MacEachern is really, really good.
3. The defense blocks a lot of shots and has played pretty well all season besides a couple freshmen blunders.

All in all I think we have a very good shot at a top two spot in the Big Ten with two home games against Wisconsin (very winnable) and what I hope is at least split with Minnesota and Michigan (harder said then done).
 
Re: Michigan State's Eternal Optimist Thread, 2014-15 edition

gomsuman said:
FYI: Anastos has just announced the suspensions of F Dylan Pavelek and D Carson Gatt indefinitely for violation of team rules.

Also my prolonged hiatus from the forum is over. My thoughts on the season so far:
1. The offense is finally starting to come around which is leading to less stress on Hildebrand.
2. MacEachern is really, really good.
3. The defense blocks a lot of shots and has played pretty well all season besides a couple freshmen blunders.

All in all I think we have a very good shot at a top two spot in the Big Ten with two home games against Wisconsin (very winnable) and what I hope is at least split with Minnesota and Michigan (harder said then done).
Click to expand...

Gah, I hope it is not serious. Knudson's chance to insert himself back into the rotation? Who else? Hoomaian? Bondra? Stenglein?

I think we have the forwards to step in and not miss a beat. Gatt's absence might sting more. While I think Knudson proved capable of having a regular role in the rotation last season, he has only played 1 game since last season. Minnesota's speed and big ice might be tough to handle until he gets his feet going again.
 
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