Following a series split with the Arizona State Sun Devils, Head Coach Danton Cole and the Michigan State Spartans are preparing for a quick turnaround against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Coach Cole and forward Mitchell Lewandowski spoke to the media Wednesday, talking about the most recent series, looking forward to this weekend, Lewandowski’s nearing milestone and the race to the finish line in the Big Ten.

Cole began with an opening statement. “Interesting weekend. I thought the guys both nights did some things fairly well and I thought the first night we had enough opportunities couldn’t get much to go, I thought we did a number of things fairly well, and then the second game was a little different, up and down, I thought the guys battled hard and did some good stuff, found a way to get a win which is always important, you always feel good heading into the next weekend getting something out of it. Arizona State played hard… some good stuff, heading out to play a really good Minnesota team, looking forward to getting back into the Big Ten.”

Minnesota has been on a cold streak since the start of 2021, losing five games since after starting the year undefeated, but that doesn’t take away from their play as a whole. “They have four lines that play really well, they have defensemen who can skate really well, very good hockey players back there, you have to make sure you are paying attention to them on the rush and not feeding their transition too much. If you turn it over to their defensemen in the neutral zone they’re coming back pretty hard all the time. Whether you’re carrying it in or passing it into the offensive zone, making sure you do a good job coming through there. Spend some time in the offensive zone, because if you don’t they have some guys who can create and make plays.”

Special teams are going to be a big aspect of this series as it impacted the result of the last time these two teams met, and with the improvements seen from the Spartans’ power-play last weekend versus Arizona State, things could be looking up for the man-advantage.

Cole spoke highly of Mitchell Lewandowski as he aims for the triple-digit mark with his next point being his 100th career point at Michigan State.

“Lewy is a good hockey player. He came in and found his way in the first couple of weeks with Taro Hirose and Patrick Khodorenko and there was a line that had some unbelievable chemistry. I’ve talked to him and said you may never find a line like that again in your hockey career, three guys that had one brain in the way they moved, Lewy can shoot and they make plays, it was a fun line to watch, you don’t get that chemistry with two other guys. That’s been gone the last couple of years but what I’ve seen from him is he is willing to take a role of where I can put him on a line, being able to move him around, if I was able to put you on a line, you made that line better, that’s a good hockey player. Lewy has that ability, when he’s slashing and moving, getting in on the forecheck, making plays, and backchecking, he’s a very good hockey player, and he makes the other guys better. Not always do guys understand that (you may be moved around onto lines where you may not put up as many points), especially point guys, they want to be in a certain position. In terms of a leadership position, he’s wearing a letter this year, and that’s something I might not have thought he would have had in his freshman year. It’s been a good growth with him, he’s a good young man and he’s meant a lot to our hockey program.”

Mitchell Lewandowski mentioned how important Drew DeRidder has been to the Spartans this year. “This year, more than ever, he has taken a locker room role, spoken up more than ever. I think that’s gone a long way in the locker room. It’s good to see some emotion from him sometimes, some fightback, it gives other guys something to play for.”

He had the opportunity to score that 100th point Monday against Arizona State, but didn’t realize until after he missed the empty net and got off the ice. He said that he is going to play his game and it comes when it comes, but it can come as early as tonight against a familiar foe in Jack LaFontaine and the Minnesota Golde Gophers.

The Michigan State Spartans and the Minnesota Golden Gophers face off today at 8 P.M. EST on BTN+ and tomorrow at 6 P.M. EST on Fox Sports Detroit+ and BTN+.

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