Oxford, Ohio – It could have been the physical dominance at both ends of the ice. It could have been the four goals in the second period that effectively ended sophomore goalie Will Yanakeff’s night.
Oxford, Ohio – From the first day of his hire in March, Tom Anastos has put a magnifying glass on MSU’s stagnant playoff record and made it the goal of the team to turn the corner by securing the program’s first playoff win since 2008. The goal will have to be put on hold for another night as the No. 5-seed Spartans couldn’t stave off the potent No. 4-seed Miami (Ohio) scoring attack led by forward Jimmy Mullin to fall, 6-0, in the first game of the series in the quarterfinals of the CCHA Tournament at Steve Cady Arena in Oxford, Ohio.
At long last, a much-needed break for the No. 15 MSU hockey team. Following a weekend split on the road at Notre Dame, the Spartans (19-13-4 overall, 14-11-3-2 CCHA) have a bye week to catch their breath before meeting Miami (Ohio) in a best-of-three series in the quarterfinal round of the CCHA Tournament.
Down on the bench at Munn Ice Arena, Tom Anastos moves from side to side, barking out orders and stressing each detail in an effort to reinvigorate the MSU hockey program. Making a return to his alma mater where he once played and was an assistant coach under Ron Mason, the challenges are many for Anastos in restoring the shine to one of college hockey’s marquee programs.
For the No. 13 MSU hockey team, reflecting on the series with Notre Dame is all about sorting out the good news from the bad news.
Even before the third period began on Saturday at Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, Ind., the playoff fate was sealed for the No. 13 MSU hockey team.
South Bend, Ind. – On the road Saturday night, Torey Krug did something a defenseman hasn’t done in the CCHA in more than 25 years.
South Bend, Ind. – In a weekend that the No. 13 MSU hockey needed to pick up a pair of road victories to keep pace in the CCHA standings, the Spartans will have to settle for one. Coming off of Friday’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Notre Dame, the Spartans — led by a 27-save performance by sophomore goalie Will Yanakeff — rose to the occasion in the rematch and beat the Fighting Irish, 4-2, Saturday at Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, Ind. With the win, the Spartans improve to 19-13-4 overall with a 14-11-3-2 mark in the conference.
Entering the final regular season series of the year, the No. 13 MSU hockey team must maintain composure with the CCHA Tournament in sight. The Spartans (18-12-4 overall, 13-10-3-2 CCHA) open up a two-game series with Notre Dame (16-15-3, 11-12-3-0) starting Friday (8:35 p.m., CBS College Sports) and close out the regular season Saturday (7:35 p.m., Comcast) in South Bend, Ind.
Last weekend’s sweep of Alaska put the No. 13 Spartans in a good position to finish the season on a high note and offers momentum going into the weekend series against No. 18 Notre Dame.
There could have been a number of things to come off of the tip of Tom Anastos’ tongue when asked about his greatest weakness. But being the polished delegate he is, he was ready for the question but paused before answering.
For their final series at Munn Ice Arena this season, the No. 16 Spartans accomplished what they set out to do, walking away with two wins and six points in the CCHA standings and sending the senior class off on a high note.
For the nine MSU hockey seniors, the largest class since 1977-78, it was important they left a mark for their final series at Munn Ice Arena.
In his final game at Munn Ice Arena, Drew Palmisano could not have asked for a better send-off. In front of a sellout crowd of 6,960, the senior goaltender deflected anything that came his way and recorded his sixth career shutout as he led No. 16 MSU to a 3-0 victory over Alaska.
In a weekend set aside to honor the seniors of the No. 16 MSU hockey team, it’s only a fitting that a senior would get the job done on Friday at Munn Ice Arena. Senior forward Brett Perlini scored three minutes into overtime to go along with freshman forward Brent Darnell’s two goals in the first period to give the Spartans the 3-2 win against Alaska.
In a weekend set aside to honor the seniors of the No. 16 MSU hockey team, it’s only a fitting that a senior would get the job done on Friday at Munn Ice Arena. Senior forward Brett Perlini scored three minutes into overtime to go along with freshman forward Brent Darnell’s two goals in the first period to give the Spartans the 3-2 win against Alaska.
Riding a hot streak that includes three wins in its last four games against Ohio State and Michigan, the No. 16 MSU hockey team will look to take care of business this weekend against Alaska.
Brett Perlini could have left. Playing in 116 games since he stepped on MSU’s campus four years ago, Perlini has added depth and has been a standout leader on offense for the MSU hockey program. But the journey always hasn’t been an easy one.
With the jerseys of hockey legends such as Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Paul Coffey hanging in the rafters, the Edmonton Oilers have built a legacy as one of the great franchises in the NHL.
Whenever someone is skeptical of a woman’s ability to play hockey, chemistry senior Kate Hadley offers a simple invitation.