Game Gab - Nightly Post-Game Analysis
Come here after the games for analysis and insights from CHN Staff members.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Miami 4, Michigan State 1 - Saturday, March 16, 2013
Miami was sparked by a shorthanded goal from Austin Czarnik in the first period to force a Game 3. Czarnik scored another in the third period to seal it. It was quite interesting that Miami coach Rico Blasi went back to Ryan McKay to start Game 2 after he started Game 1. He'd been alternating most of the season with fellow freshman Jay Williams. McKay had the better numbers, but Williams' numbers were pretty good too, so it was unclear what Blasi would do. But this was McKay's fourth straight start now, so it appears the job is his. Still, Miami could go to a fresh Williams in Game 3. "I thought we came out with some intensity (in the second period)," Blasi said. "When they made it one nothing, for us to tie the game and then to go up with a short-handed goal, that was huge."
"We had no effort (Friday) night. That was the message," Czarnik said. "We started battling in the pregame skate. That really got us going there and it just carried over into the game. ... We did a good job of attacking the net today. We got pucks to the net and won battles in front of the net. That was our key focus for today and we were successful with it."
Friday, March 15, 2013
Michigan State 3, Miami 0 - Friday, March 15, 2013
Coming off a first-round bye, top-seeded Miami was shut out by last-place Michigan State. Miami is comfortably in the NCAAs at this point, but this is not what coach Enrico Blasi wanted to see. "They out played us from the beginning," Blasi said. "They won a lot of key battles and they got a couple goals up. They did a good job blocking shots and weren't giving us second opportunities. (Jake) Hildebrand played well (in goal). They did a great job. They were aggressive." The RedHawks were held scoreless for the seventh time this season, tying a dubious single-season school record set in 2000-01 -- interesting for a team that is so good generally. Ryan McKay actually looked human in net, something that has been rare for the Miami freshman. But there was nothing he could've done is his team scored no goals.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Michigan State 4, Alaska-Fairbanks 3 - Sunday, March 10, 2013
Michigan State suffered through a rough regular season, but despite traveling to Fairbanks for the second time in three weeks, managed to dig down and find a way to win this series in three games. Alaska scored twice in the final two and a half minutes of the game, but couldn't come all the way back. It's a disappointing end for the Nanooks, who were certainly eliminated from NCAA tournament contention now.
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Michigan State 1, Western Michigan 0 - Saturday, March 2, 2013
It's been a rough year for Michigan State, albeit somewhat expected with all the turnover it had. And now it has to go back to Alaska for the second time in three weeks for the first round of the CCHA playoffs. But at least it closed out the CCHA regular season with a hard-fought win against a team scratching for playoff positioning and an NCAA bid. Definitely something to hang its hat on. A first-period goal by Anthony Hayes stood up and Jake Hildebrand made 28 saves for the shutout. Western drops to third with the loss, although still with a first-round bye and still in OK shape for the NCAAs. But coach Andy Murray was left fuming after a late third-period tying goal was disallowed because referees said Dane Walters was in the crease.
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Alaska-Fairbanks 4, Michigan State 2 - Saturday, February 23, 2013
UAF outshot the Spartans 37-14 on Friday, but lost 1-0, as Will Yanakeff picked up the shutout. But the Nanooks responded Saturday. But not before Yanakeff came up with another 15 saves in the first period. At that point, Alaska was getting frustrated, evidenced by Andy Taranto's penalty for roughing the goalie late in the first period. But Michael Quinn and Taranto were finally able to break through in the second. And later, Taranto scored the game winner with 1:03 left in regulation, on a power play, UAF's third PPG in 5 chances. The win locked up the six spot for Alaska, which wrapped up its final CCHA games this weekend, and it means it will likely face last-place Michigan State again in the first round of the CCHA tournament in two weeks. Fairbanks also sits at No. 18 in the Pairwise.
"It was disappointing to take that late penalty -- at the end of what had been probably our best period of the weekend," MSU coach Tom Anastos said. "We gave up three power-play goals against tonight, and that's just not good enough. Special teams were critical in this game -- its frustrating, and in games like this, you need your special teams to step up. We couldn't do that on the power play (0-for-7), and we couldn't do it on the PK. Will Yanakeff was absolutely outstanding -- I wish he would have gotten a win out of it tonight, but it was good to see him play as well as he did, and hopefully he can gain some confidence out of that."
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Michigan State 3, Bowling Green 1 - Saturday, February 9, 2013
Freshman Tommy Burke stepped in and performed admirably this weekend in place of injured senior Andrew Hammond in the Bowling Green nets. Hammond's status is unknown, but coach Chris Bergeron said he hopes to have him back before the regular season is over. Burke helped BG get a weekend split, in a couple of low-scoring games. ... "A tribute to them. We tried to warn our guys. But I think we showed our lack of experience in being in a game where we can close a weekend," Bergeron said. "They brought their game up a level, we didn't. We got the bounces we deserved."
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Michigan 5, Michigan State 2 - Saturday, February 2, 2013
Michigan wins for the fourth time in five meetings against Michigan State this season, getting its first weekend sweep.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Penn State 3, Michigan State 2 - Saturday, January 26, 2013
So, Penn State has not played a Top 10 team this season -- though Wisconsin may be one by the team those teams meet later in the season -- but nevertheless, against four teams from the "power conferences," Penn State is now 3-3 on the season after the split with Michigan State. The Nittany Lions were right there with MSU all weekend, even when falling behind 2-0 in this game. Taylor Holstrom, a Mercyhurst transfer, scored what proved to be the game winner, his sixth goal in as many games, capping the comeback for Penn State, which put up a whopping 50 shots.
"(Goalie Matthew Skoff) had a very shaky start and came back really strong," Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky said. "It's a great win for us. This (game) is a lot of fun and it's a great place to win. I can't say at the start of the year I ever expected this, so I'm very happy. ... I give the guys a lot of credit -- they've surprised us a few times this year. This is certainly one of them. ... This is why you go to the Big Ten."
Skoff is friends with Michigan State freshman goalie Jake Hildebrand, who is from Butler, Pa.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Ferris State 5, Michigan State 2 - Saturday, January 19, 2013
Hey, don't look now, but Ferris State has won 5 of 6 after sweeping Michigan State, and has inched itself back near the top of the CCHA standings.
Michigan State finds itself in the basement, right with Michigan -- how strange, and what a weird way for this final CCHA season to be shaping up. The two teams that have dominated the league more than any other over the years.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Ferris State 3, Michigan State 0 - Saturday, January 5, 2013
A one-game weekend for both teams. Garrett Thompson scored all three goals, and C.J. Motte got the shutout for Ferris. Michigan State's struggles continue this season. Tom Anastos took the team to the NCAAs in his first season one year ago, but the honeymoon has long ended.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Michigan 5, Michigan State 2 - Sunday, December 30, 2012
Great Lakes Invitational. After getting shut out by Michigan Tech in the semifinal, Michigan bounced back with a strong effort -- particularly in the third period -- to take the consolation game. This was the first time since 1981 that Michigan and Michigan State met in the consolation game of this illustrious tournament. Some guys who sorely needed goals got ones here, such as Phil Di Giuseppe, who got his third of the season. Interestingly, Red Berenson stuck with Adam Janecyk in goal despite the first-round loss, and he did the job. Janecyk came out of nowhere to get a win in the team's last game, and Berenson is hoping to ride this story as far as it will go. Michigan has a long way to go still, though, to recover from a bad first half.
For Michigan State, it also used Jake Hildebrand in both games, and he played well until late in this one. Only one was a bad goal though. The Spartans rode the momentum of the first-round late goal from Matt Berry that tied the game. Michigan State lost in a shootout to see who advanced, but it played well. And was up 2-1 here until the third, when it all fell apart.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Notre Dame 5, Michigan State 1 - Saturday, December 8, 2012
Steven Summerhays made 29 save and five different players scored, including the 11th of the season for Anders Lee, as Notre Dame took care of business with a sweep this weekend of the struggling Spartans. It was the fifth win in a row for the Irish. “I thought Michigan State had more energy than us in the early part of the game,” said Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson. “I think (Friday) night took a lot out of both teams. It was an emotional game. It’s always that way on Saturday night, it’s a different game because they (the players) expend so much energy on Friday and there isn’t quite as much left on Saturday.”
Jackson said that getting scoring from all four lines was a great sign. “The years that we have had success here have been when we’ve had depth,” said Jackson. “That’s important to get those contributions from others. There are nights when T.J. Tynan isn’t going to score or Anders Lee isn’t going to score. So, if you get contributions from David Gerths or Steven Fogarty or whoever, it’s a bonus for us.”
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Miami 2, Michigan State 0 - Saturday, November 17, 2012
Jay Williams is turning into a force for Miami in net, but he's getting help from a great defense. The freshman matched fellow freshman Jake Hildebrand on Friday, ultimately getting a shootout win. Saturday, he was a step better, getting the shutout, but needing only 13 saves to do it, while Hildebrand made 34 stops in a 2-0 defeat. Miami remains atop the CCHA early on, which is a mild surprise given its youth movement -- but Miami has proven by now its ability to reload talent, so it shouldn't be that much of a surprise.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Michigan State 7, Michigan 2 - Saturday, November 10, 2012
A record crowd of 7,225 at a raucous Munn Arena watched the Spartans dismantle rival Michigan, bouncing back strongly from Friday's loss. It was a reversal from Friday, when Michigan dominated in a 5-1 win, getting Boo Nieves' first career goal, and goaltender Jared Rutledge's first career win. But the Spartans jumped out in the first period with four goals, with Matt Berry leading the way. He had two in the first period and completed a hat trick later on. Jake Hildebrand stopped 40 shots to get the win for Michigan State.
"There was an emotional level to our team tonight that we haven't seen this season. I think the rivalry brings that out, but the atmosphere had a lot to do with it," MSU coach Tom Anastos told MSUSpartans.com. "We didn't do anything different. We had a similar strategy. We just had more jump and high emotion level. When you get a goal on your first shift, it boosts your confidence. Now, guys are attacking the net, doing the things you talk about every day, and the pucks goes in." ... Anastos has been instrumental, in many ways, in boosting the atmosphere at Munn once again -- something it was known for back in his playing days. It doesn't hurt that this was the fourth straight win by the Spartans over Michigan at home. And it was MSU's largest margin of victory over Michigan since Dec. 10, 1989.
Meanwhile, for Michigan, Rutledge, who had a rough first two starts to his career, and saw fellow freshman Steve Racine get most of the time early, had a strong game Friday for his first win, but was not good on Saturday. Racine eventually replaced him late.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Michigan State 6, Bowling Green 1 - Saturday, November 3, 2012
Andrew Hammond returned to the lineup Friday night after an injury, and recorded the shutout win for Bowling Green. But he was roughed up in this one, as Will Yanakeff made a return of his own (not from injury) to the Spartans net and got the win. He was helped by a stingy defense that allowed just 19 shots. “Take no marks away from Michigan State,” Bowling Green coach Chris Bergeron told the Sentinel-Tribune. “Not only did they win, but they embarrassed us. We haven’t had a game like that in the three years I’ve been here.” Bowling Green had killed off 18 straight penalties going in, but allowed four power-play goals. Conversely, its own power play now has gone 25 straight chances without a goal. ... Bowling Green freshman Brent Tate played his first game after missing eight games with a back injury.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Michigan State 4, Lake Superior 2 - Saturday, October 27, 2012
After sticking with junior incumbent Will Yanakeff in goal through some rough early-season losses, MSU coach Tom Anastos went to Jake Hildebrand for his first start, and he come up with 28 saves in the win. "I thought he made key saves when he needed to, and they had to earn their goals," Anastos said. "I thought he was excellent, and I am happy for him getting his first win." LSSU coach Jim Roque pulled his goalie with over four minutes remaining, and it paid off with a goal, but that was all the Lakers could get.
"I thought we played the kind of game that we wanted to play all weekend. The guys played with toughness, and obviously, special teams were a big factor," Anastos said. "Guys played disciplined in their game all night long -- I don't mean just from a penalty standpoint, but also from the forecheck and through the neutral zone, which is what we didn't do (Friday). It was good for our players to see what good things can happen when we follow the game plan, keep things simple, and execute."
Miami 4, Michigan State 1 - Sunday, March 17, 2013
Miami freshman Sean Kuraly recorded the first multi-goal game of his career, while classmate Kevin Morris and sophomore forward Austin Czarnik added goals, giving their team the series win in three games. Miami was the better team, clearly, after Friday's Game 1 loss. The RedHawks will face No. 7-seed Michigan in the semifinals on Saturday in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. "This is the first senior class to go (to the CCHA Semifinals) all four years," Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. "It's not an easy place to get to and for them to be there all four years is quite an accomplishment."
Kuraly put the 'Hawks up 2-0 with 2:07 left in the first; he swooped through the right circle and ripped a hard wrist shot. Kuraly ended a scoring slump dating back to Dec. 7. "Michigan State played a great game tonight," Blasi said. "They came at us and we got a lucky bounce on the first goal. I thought the second was a great effort by Kuraly."
Miami went with Ryan McKay for the fifth straight game, clearly establishing himself as the No. 1 starter for the playoffs. He helped Miami get through a stretch in the second period when it had to kill a number of penalties. "We got into penalty trouble in the second," Blasi said. "They came back and made a push. We got a huge power-play goal in the third. I thought we did a really good job in the third not giving them anything."
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