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Spartan Recap: Michigan State Spartans Swept by Penn State Nittany Lions

Spartan Recap: Michigan State Spartans Swept by Penn State Nittany Lions
SEF College Hockey

Following an eventful series against the Michigan Wolverines, the Michigan State Spartans and Penn State Nittany Lions faced off in a two-game set in University Park. The Nittany Lions swept the series, taking the first game in overtime, 3-2, while the second game was a 3-1 final.

Game 1:

There was only one line change prior to the first game, and it was on defense. Nash Nienhuis returned to the lineup while Powell Connor was scratched. The matchup in goal was Drew DeRidder, who has started every game this season, and Oskar Autio, who kept the Spartans scoreless in a 1-0 Nittany Lions shutout in the first game of the last series between the two teams.

The beginning of the first period was slow with both Autio and DeRidder making stops. At the 7:01 mark, the Nittany Lions had a two-on-one opportunity that resulted in a nice pass near the crease, and Christian Sarlo tapped it in to make it 1-0 Penn State. The rest of the period was quiet but the Nittany Lions had the majority of control. Both Autio and DeRidder made highlight-reel saves with Autio robbing the Spartans’ leading goal-scorer Charlie Combs, while Sam Sternschein was robbed by DeRidder, who moved from post-to-post for the save. With 3:59 left, Jagger Joshua took a high-sticking penalty, but the dominant Michigan State penalty kill succeeded again. The penalty kill was tested once more in the first as with 1:28 left, Mitchell Lewandowski was called for a high-sticking minor. DeRidder made some fantastic saves, and the Nittany Lions’ power play elapsed into the second period. Penn State had both the lead in goals and shots at 1-0 and 17-5, respectively.

The second period started with the end of the Penn State power play who was not able to score to give the second period a quick start. After Alex Limoges was not able to covert on chance near the goal, Josh Nodler came down near Autio, and a shot off of Evan Bell made it 1-1, 4:01 into the second. Just over a minute after, Jagger Joshua and Kevin Wall were both sent to the box for coincidental interference minors. With 10:04 to go into the second, the Spartans went to the power play, as Christian Berger of the Nittany Lions was sent to the box for holding. The Michigan State power play, however, was unable to convert. The second period was all about Drew DeRidder. After allowing the goal in the first period, he has played some of the best hockey he has this year, and that is tough considering how strong he has looked this entire season. After two, it was a tie game, 1-1, while the Nittany Lions had the Spartans in shots, 33-18.

15 seconds into the third period, the Nittany Lions’ Aarne Talvitie was on the wrong side of a goal as Mitchell Lewandowski’s pass went off of Talvitie’s skate and into the net making it a 2-1 Spartans lead. With 12:11 remaining in the third period, the Spartans went to the power play as Connor MacEachern was called for a hooking minor, but nothing was going for the power play. Later in the period, Brody Stevens missed the net on a two-on-one with Penn State’s player missing his stick. With 4:39 left in the period, Chase McLane took an unfortunate tripping penalty that made the game much harder for the Nittany Lions, but Dennis Cesana took a slashing minor with 18 seconds left in the power play that led to 18 seconds of four-on-four, then the Spartans go on the kill for 1:42. Just under halfway through the minor, Autio went to the bench to give Penn State a six-on-four. With 1:10 left in the game, Connor MacEachern tied the game up. The game went to overtime, tied at two, with the Nittany Lions having the shot advantage, 38-28.

Three-on-three overtime did not last long. 30 seconds in, Alex Limoges scored on the first shot of the overtime period to give the Nittany Lions the additional point over the Spartans. Drew DeRidder had another strong game, giving up three goals on 39 shots, while Oskar Autio gave up two on 28.

Game 2:

Ahead of the second game of the series, there was one line change for the Michigan State Spartans as A.J. Hodges entered the lineup, while Jake Smith was scratched. Drew DeRidder started in goal for the Spartans, while Oskar Autio started for the Nittany Lions.

The Nittany Lions started off the second game just like they ended the first one as just under five minutes in, Evan Bell skated down the left side and put the puck on net. It dribbled through DeRidder from a bad angle, and the Spartans were down 1-0. Brody Stevens had a chance about seven minutes in, but Autio kicked the puck away. Following a Michigan State icing, the Spartans came down and had some opportunities but were unable to convert. Just under 13 minutes into the period, Mason Snell took an interference minor and the Spartans headed to the power play but were unable to convert. With 2:26 remaining in the first period, the puck found the stick of Charlie Combs, who pushed it past Autio on his backhand. After one, Michigan State and Penn State were tied at one, while the Nittany Lions had the shot advantage, 11-7.

The second period started slow until Kyle Haskins shot one off the post. At 3:58 of the second period, Christian Krygier was called for a holding penalty, and the Spartans headed to the penalty kill, the same situation that cost them the game the previous night. At the very end of the Nittany Lions’ power play, the Spartans were caught on a change and Penn State finished off a tic-tac-toe goal that ended with an Aarne Talvitie goal to give them a 2-1 lead. With just under seven minutes left, Kevin Wall scored to make it a 3-1 lead. The Spartans’ Charlie Combs took a cross-checking penalty with 5:39 remaining in the period to send the Nittany Lions to the power play, but Michigan State successfully killed it off. With under three minutes to go in the period, Adam Pilewicz took a tripping penalty and the Spartans headed to another power play. At the very end of the Spartans’ power play, Jagger Joshua jammed the puck in the crease, but after a referee’s review, they said the goal did not count due to incidental contact to the goalie. After two, the Nittany Lions held their 3-1 lead, with a 24-11 shot advantage.

The third period was quick and shots were produced, but they were either stopped by either DeRidder or Autio, missed wide, or was blocked. Charlie Combs was hit into the post and was favoring his shoulder. Just over 12 minutes into the period, Mason Snell was called for a holding penalty, so the Spartans’ power play went to work, including Combs. Combs started the man advantage, but he left the ice, still favoring his shoulder, and went into the dressing room. Michigan State’s power play was unsuccessful again, and play would resume five-on-five. Combs returned to the bench; however, he had an ice pack on his shoulder. With just over two minutes left, Brody Stevens headed to the bench, albeit gingerly and appearing hurt. At the same time, Drew DeRidder left his net in favor of an extra skater. The Penn State Nittany Lions were able to secure their 3-1 lead that was developed in the second period, and they finished the game with the advantage in shots, 35-22.

The Michigan State Spartans face the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday and Sunday at Munn Ice Arena, the home of Spartan hockey.

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