One of the key factors to MSU’s lower offensive production has been the absence of a top scoring line. Junior captain Michael Ferrantino started the season with a scoring touch, scoring eight goals in MSU’s first 16 games, but has not been able to find the net as of late (one goal in last 10 games). Senior forward Brent Darnell caught fire in Big Ten play (five goals in 10 games), but he was sidelined due to injury last weekend.

However, it looks as if MSU might have finally found its primary source for offense. The forward line of sophomore Mackenzie MacEachern, junior Matt DeBlouw and senior Matt Berry tallied 11 points in the two victories over Penn State. Since being paired together nearly a month ago, the trio has posted 21 points in just six games (nine goals, 12 assists).

“They’re three great hockey players,” Ferrantino said. “All three of them are really gifted offensively and play a complete 200-foot game. They’re all really smart, have a great sense for the game, and I think you’re starting to see a little bit of chemistry building. They’ve been together a couple weeks now and they’re really starting to figure each other out and where each other are going to be, and I think it’s really going to continue.”

Anastos was pleased with the effort from the line against Penn State, but knows the potential it has and what complacency might do to it.

“They should be playing with a rising level of confidence, but we have an expectation,” Anastos said. “That’s a very capable line, I think it can be a very dangerous line, and we need them to play in that manner on a consistent basis.”

Even though statistics would tell you they have been producing on a consistent basis, both Anastos and DeBlouw pointed to last weekend as a break-through moment for the three forwards.

“We kept pushing them and I think they’ve been working on their game, and then the puck went in the net,” Anastos said. “Even though I think they’ve scored a little bit in the weeks up until now, I thought they played at a higher level this past weekend than previous to that. So I’m hopeful that they will continue to elevate their game.”

For DeBlouw, he got a sense of what was in store by the way his line skated in practice. Thrown on to a line together for the first time, it was expected that they would need some time to build chemistry.

“This was our fourth weekend playing together, and last week in practice, just knowing what each other we’re going to do and not even thinking about what they were going to do,” DeBlouw said. “I think that really gave us some confidence going into this past weekend and it showed. Our line had a pretty good weekend, but last weekend’s over with.”