Three Spartans faced their former program as No. 3 Michigan State hockey welcomed the United States National Team Development Program Under-18s for an exhibition game on home ice, skating to a 4-2 win despite a lineup missing multiple regulars due to World Juniors and other absences.
"I liked our start," head coach Adam Nightingale said. "I thought for some of the guys, like a couple [defensemen] that were playing forward, I thought they did a good job for us. I liked our first 10 minutes; I thought we got a little light on our sticks. And I thought the rest of the game, our guys did a good job."
Freshman forward Austin Baker, a product of the USNTDP, banked a shot off goaltender Luke Carrithers’ pads 4:16 into the game to score his first goal in a Spartan jersey and give MSU a 1-0 lead. Sophomore forward Nathan Mackie assisted after winning a puck battle behind the net.
Freshman netminder Melvin Strahl held strong early, forcing wide shots and making four saves before forward AJ Garcia banked a goal in to even the game 1-1 at the 12:48 mark.
Shortly after, freshman forward Anthony Romani nearly responded from the left side of the net, but Carrithers made the stop. With one minute left in the period, the Spartans had another chance to take the lead, but Romani missed a pass from senior forward Charlie Stramel as he cut through the slot.
MSU controlled the puck for much of the first period, often sparked by physical play from sophomore defenseman Colin Ralph. The Spartans outshot their opponent 16-8, though the USNTDP held a 14-7 faceoff advantage entering intermission.
The Spartans took a 2-1 lead at the 4:32 mark when senior forward Daniel Russell connected with Romani in the neutral zone, and Romani carried the puck in alone, beating Carrithers.
After defenseman Tyler Martyniuk, an MSU commit, was sent to the box, the Spartans had a chance to extend their lead on the power play. Freshman forward Cayden Lindstrom buried a one-timer at 9:33, assisted by Romani and senior defenseman Matt Basgall.
The USNTDP generated several chances in the second period, mainly off the stick of Garcia, who missed an odd-man rush and later hit the post.
The Spartans killed off a late penalty to take a 3-1 lead into the final intermission. MSU outpaced the USNTDP 28-11 in shots and closed the gap in faceoffs, trailing 23-21.
