The freshman trio had played more games together than any other line combination on the team, playing in 19 games together this season.

It was the first time all season MacEachern and Ebbing were split up, with the two playing side-by-side throughout high school and junior hockey before coming to MSU as well.

Anastos said he felt the all-freshman line was becoming stale — only scoring six points combined in the last 14 games together — making him switch things up.

“We’re going to try some different things, I thought the freshmen group had grown a little bit flat and so we thought we’d mix it up,” Anastos said. “They really haven’t generated the same number of scoring chances in recent weeks and I think they’re growing a little frustrated.”

MacEachern wasn’t aware of the line switch-up until Saturday before the game. With the lack of practice, he said it took a little bit of time before adjusting to his new linemates, but said he learned from the Spartan veterans.

“It’s a lot different, I mean I go from playing with Thomas, where both me and him are freshman to playing with four-year guys so there was a lot more experience there and they know what they’re doing,” MacEachern said. “I just tried to take it in and learn as much as I can.”

Anastos said nothing is set in stone, as he plans to test out multiple line combinations this week in practice.

“I don’t know what we will do this week,” Anastos said. “We’re going to try some different line combinations and experiment with that a little bit and by Friday, make a decision on who we’ll play together.”

However, one line that shouldn’t see any changes is the forward line of freshman Joe Cox, sophomore Michael Ferrantino and junior Matt Berry. The line has a combined 28 points in the last 13 games, and combined for eight this past weekend at Penn State.

Regardless of who is playing with who, MSU has struggled to find the back of the net, averaging 2.17 goals per game. That stat ranks last in the Big Ten and No. 54 out 59 teams in the country.