The No. 16 MSU hockey team’s hopes of receiving an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament came to an end Sunday afternoon when the brackets were announced.
As the season likely has come to a close for the No. 16 MSU hockey team, two players have big decisions looming. Junior defenseman Jeff Petry and junior forward Corey Tropp might decide to leave school early to join the NHL teams that own their rights.
The No. 10 MSU hockey team couldn’t have drawn a worse opponent in the quarterfinals of the CCHA Tournament.
After such an impressive start, the No. 10 MSU hockey team’s season is likely over much earlier than many would have thought.
With its NCAA Tournament hopes on the line, the No. 10 MSU hockey team was controlled by Michigan for the second straight game as the Wolverines defeated the Spartans, 5-3, on Saturday at Munn Ice Arena. The win gave U-M the series victory in the CCHA quarterfinal matchup and likely ends the Spartans’ season, barring an unforeseen at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Spartans’ most dynamic offensive threat came out of the tunnel after warm-ups and skated for about 30 seconds in front of the MSU bench before heading back into the locker room. An MSU athletics communications official said Tropp stepped on a puck during warm-ups.
Home ice advantage, tournament seedings and season records were put aside Friday night at Munn Ice Arena as the Michigan Wolverines gave MSU an old-fashioned whooping, routing MSU 5-1 in the quarterfinals of the CCHA Tournament. The Spartans likely will need to win the final two games of the best-of-three series to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
It’s finally playoff time. The Spartans will host a best-of-three quarterfinal series March 12-13 — and March 14, if necessary — after the first-round winners are reseeded.
Although the Spartans posted an impressive regular season, everything is on the line as the CCHA Tournament approaches. MSU still is a bubble team trying to earn an at-large bid into the 16-team NCAA Tournament. And they likely will need a deep run in the conference playoffs to receive an invite to the “big dance.” Here’s a look at the Spartans’ regular season grades as they prepare for the CCHA Tournament:
Following the MSU hockey team’s disappointing four-point weekend, hockey reporter Alex Difilippo analyzes the series’ impact on the Spartans’ NCAA Tournament chances and the upcoming CCHA Tournament.
Bowling Green, Ohio – The game was packed full of energy and end-to-end action throughout, but after the teams played to a 2-2 tie through regulation and overtime, the Falcons won the ensuing shootout, 1-0.
During Senior Night at Munn Ice Arena senior forwards Nick Sucharski and Jay Sprague each recorded goals as the No. 12 MSU hockey team got back into early season form to rout Bowling Green, 5-2.
Anthony Pollreisz, an Alaska native and MSU senior who has led the hockey student section for three and a half years, will cheer at his last home regular season game Friday. Pollreisz has become a fixture at Munn Ice Arena, initiating cheers and performing his signature dance each home game.
This season’s class of four seniors has been part of the highest of highs (2007 National Championship) and the lowest of lows (everything about last season).
The No. 12 MSU hockey team is trying to keep an even keel entering the final weekend of the regular season. At this point, the worst thing the Spartans can do is overlook the Falcons.
If the Spartans can get one game of their home-and-home series this weekend against Bowling Green to a shootout, MSU will clinch a spot in the top four in the CCHA standings and receive a first-round bye and home-ice advantage in the second round of the CCHA Tournament.
Following the U.S. men’s hockey team’s 5-3 defeat of Canada Sunday night, all the talk on ESPN, MSNBC and Twitter was about goalie Ryan Miller.
Friday’s bus ride home from Big Rapids wasn’t fun for the No. 12 MSU hockey team. The Spartans had just played one of their worst games of the season, losing 4-1 to No. 14 Ferris State. MSU looked completely out of sync, and after the game, head coach Rick Comley called out his team’s work ethic.
Needing a victory to once again pull even with Ferris State in the CCHA standings, junior forward Dustin Gazley scored the game-winning goal in the middle of the third period to push MSU past the Bulldogs, 3-2. Saturday’s crucial victory made up for the Spartans’ sluggish 4-1 loss Friday to Ferris State. The Spartans close the regular season with a home-and-home series next week against CCHA bottom dweller Bowling Green.
MSU’s bye-weekend caused the No. 12 Spartans to come out of the gates flat and out of sync, eventually leading to a 4-1 loss to No. 14 Ferris State at Ewigleben Ice Arena.