MSU’s fourth line has an identity crisis.
Injuries, lack of production and other circumstances have led to a seemingly unending revolving door at the end of the top-ranked Spartans’ bench this season.
MSU head coach Ron Mason acknowledged the lack of a true fourth line, but said it’s not necessarily a detriment to the team.
“I don’t know if we have what I would consider to be a fourth line,” Mason said. “Obviously, the line that gets the least ice time is called your fourth line. I think there are a lot of guys that can play in that role and maybe help us.”
Eight Spartans have skated on the fourth line this season, but with very limited results. Combined, the line has produced two goals and no assists in 27 games this season.
But Mason said he’s not worried about the lack of point-scoring on his last line, even though he moved senior left wing Sean Patchell down about two months ago “to generate more offense on the fourth line.”
“I’m not worried about (the fourth line) scoring goals, I just expect them to buy us ice time,” Mason said. “Right now, those guys are coming off the bench and giving us some energy and that’s what I’m looking for.
“I’m not trying to set up a line that’s going to do that, I’m trying to reward the guys that are working hard in practice and deserve an opportunity to play.”
A trio of sophomores, left wing Steve Clark, center Troy Ferguson and right wing Steve Jackson, came into the season looking like a solid fourth line unit after playing together for a majority of their freshman year. But their offensive numbers have been lower than expected.
“Obviously, everyone wants more points, but our line isn’t really expected to go out there and score,” Clark said. “We’re more of a defensive line.”
Ferguson finally scored his first goal of the season Saturday at Joe Louis Arena after notching five last year. Clark has only scored two goals, one against Notre Dame on a power play Oct. 26 and one versus Minnesota on Nov. 24. Jackson scored his only goal of the year on a power play in the same Notre Dame game.
Perhaps one reason for the line’s lagging offensive numbers is that MSU has basically become a three-line team. The fourth line is lucky to get more than one shift per period.
“The fourth line’s not really getting the best opportunity,” Jackson said. “We’re only getting a few shifts a game. It’s tough getting out there on dead legs.
“I’m a totally different player if I’m playing every shift in the grind of the game. But if you’re only playing two shifts a period, one shift a period, it’s tough to be the type of player you are. I guess I just have to wait for my chance.”
Patchell played well on the line with Ferguson and Clark, tallying a goal in seven games, but has since been moved back to the senior line with center Andrew Bogle and right wing John Nail.
Physical sophomore right wing Kris Koski has become a fixture on the fourth line in the past month, but he is still searching for his first point of the year.
“Our line goes out there and tries to get a cycle going in their zone or do something positive and give the other guys a break,” Koski said. “As long as we don’t make any bad mistakes, it’s a good shift.”
Now the original fourth-liners are finding themselves filling different roles on the team.
Clark has basically become an emergency defenseman, while Jackson has been relegated to an “extra forward” in recent games.
On the other hand, Ferguson has flourished on senior right wing Rustyn Dolyny and senior left wing Damon Whitten’s line. He was moved up after a shoulder injury forced junior center Joe Goodenow out of the lineup.
Ferguson has a goal and four assists in 2001 after only tallying one assist and no goals in the first half of the season, spent predominantly on the fourth line.
Despite the lack of playing time, Jackson said the fourth-liners understand their role on the team.
“Coach just wants us to get better. He said that practice is where our games are right now because guys like Clark, me and Koski are going to have to step up next year. I just think we need a little more experience this year so we can perform next year.”
