Michigan State drops to No. 17 in latest USCHO Poll amid five-game losing skid
Michigan State has won just one game since Thanksgiving weekend.
Michigan State has won just one game since Thanksgiving weekend.
The Spartans continued to struggle with penalties in their fifth straight loss, but Nightingale remains optimistic and said the team is not done learning yet.
The Spartans have another shot to break their losing streak as they return home to Munn Ice Arena to face No. 5 Penn State next Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
MSU has a chance to improve its penalty kill percentage – among other woes – in a rematch with the Buckeyes on Saturday at 4 p.m., which will be the final meeting of the regular season between the teams.
The Spartans will have the opportunity to split the series tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m.
Michigan State swept Ohio State in East Lansing two months ago, but a three-game losing streak has dropped MSU behind Ohio State in the latest USCHO poll.
Kamil Sadlocha has rejoined the Buckeyes, but it is unclear whether or not he will play this weekend versus Michigan State.
The Spartans hit the road this week as they return to conference play versus Ohio State in Columbus on Dec. 6 and 7.
The Spartans have just a few days to dust themselves off, put the GLI losses behind them and prepare for a top-15 team on the road.
The Spartans will return to Van Andel tomorrow to face Michigan Tech in the third-place game at 3:30 p.m.
A win over Ferris State would send MSU to the GLI Championship game on Wednesday, where it would face the winner of Michigan Tech versus Western Michigan.
Michigan State has moved up in the rankings every week since entering in the beginning of November.
The Spartans have already matched their win total from last year and an ultra competitive split with Michigan is a sign of a positive change.
Dylan St. Cyr made a pair of robberies in the second period that helped MSU fend off Michigan.
Both teams will head to Yost Ice Arena tomorrow night as the Spartans look to sweep the Wolverines.
The Spartans hope to bounce back after getting swept by Minnesota last weekend.
Michigan State is hoping to end a six-game losing streak to its in-state rival. The Wolverines lead the rivalry series 176-138-24.
Michigan State's women's club hockey team is attempting to raise money to fund travel expenses for a non-conference series at Arizona State. A strong performance would greatly boost MSU's chances at qualifying for the ACHA Nationals in March.
Next up for MSU: No. 6 Michigan (11-6-1, 3-5 Big Ten) in a home-and-home series.
With a first-year head coach and 12 new faces on the roster – half being freshmen – this series reminded the Spartans and their fans that rebuilding a program doesn’t happen overnight.