Games 3-4: Michigan State (1-0-1, 0-0 B1G) vs. No. 10 Ohio State (0-2, 0-2 B1G)
Dates | Times: Saturday, Nov. 28 | 5:30 p.m. // Sunday, Nov. 29 | 5:30 p.m.
Location: Columbus, Ohio | Value City Arena
Web Stream: BTNPlus.com & BTN + app
Radio: TCF Bank Spartan Media Network | MSUSpartans.com & MSU Spartans app | Local: Sat. - WVFN 730-AM // Sun. - WJIM 1240-AM
Game Notes: Michigan State | Ohio State | Big Ten
On The Fly…
• Michigan State opens Big Ten play by heading to Ohio State to meet the Buckeyes on Saturday and Sunday at Value City Arena.
• MSU went 1-0-1 in its season-opening series vs. Arizona State (Nov. 19-20), while OSU went 0-2 at Minnesota (Nov. 23-24) to begin its year.
• Junior goaltender Drew DeRidder was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week on Wednesday after posting his first career shutout and turning away 52 of 53 shots in the opening series vs. Arizona State.
• The Spartans posted a .583 winning percentage in the faceoff circle in the opening series, which currently ranks third best in the nation … Tommy Apap, who ranked second in the conference in faceoff winning percentage last year, led MSU in the dot vs. ASU with a .622 winning percentage.
• The one total goal allowed by the Spartans is tied for the fewest of any team in the nation that has played at least two games … The one goal allowed is also the fewest surrendered by the Spartans in the opening two games of the season since 2005-06 when MSU topped Wayne State, 5-1, and North Dakota, 3-0, respectively.
• Christian Krygier scored his first career goal in the Spartans' season-opening tie and wound up being on the ice for all three MSU goals in the series.
• Not only did Christian Krygier score his first career goal against ASU, but fellow junior Mitchell Mattson also picked up his first career tally – the game-winner – in the 2-0 victory over the Sun Devils.
• Senior Mitchell Lewandowski's goal in game two was the 44th of his career … Lewandowski entered the season in the top 10 among NCAA active career leaders in a trio of categories, including: second in goals with 43; tied for first in game-winning goals with 10; and ninth in points with 88.
• Graduate transfer forward Charlie Combs put up a total of 36 goals in his three seasons at Bemidji State, which is the 10th highest career total among all players in the NCAA entering the season.
• Junior defenseman Dennis Cesana and Lewandowski were both voted by the league's head coaches to the Preseason All-Big Ten Teams ... Cesana was voted to the first team, while Lewandowski was selected to the second team.
• Michigan State is welcoming 10 newcomers, including nine freshmen and one graduate transfer … It's the Spartans largest group of newcomers under Danton Cole and largest since they had 11 (all freshmen) in 2016-17.
About the Buckeyes
OSU is welcoming nine newcomers in 2019-20, including six freshmen and three transfers … Senior goaltender Tommy Nappier was voted to the Preseason All-Big Ten Second Team after earning All-Big Ten honorable mention last season … He posted a .981 save percentage and 2.59 GAA in the opening two games vs. Minnesota … OSU's top returning scorers are juniors in Quinn Preston (15-11--26) and Gustaf Westlund (12-14--26), both of which earned preseason All-Big Ten honorable mention accolades.
The Series
The Spartans had four tight meetings – all losses – with Ohio State last season – a one goal and three two-goal games, all of which included empty-net goals. MSU leads the all-time series, 91-49-13, including a 40-25-6 mark in Columbus. The teams have split five of the last six regular-season series played in Columbus.
Mitchell Lewandowski leads all active Spartans in points vs. Ohio State with eight (4g, 4a) in 14 games.
Spreading it Around
Nine different Spartans picked up a point last weekend, while two juniors – Christian Krygier and Mitchell Mattson – both recorded their first career goals. Freshmen Kyle Haskins and Kristof Papp both picked up their first career collegiate points with assists, while graduate transfer Charlie Combs also earned his first helper as a Spartan.
The Start of a Busy Stretch
This weekend's series marks the start of a busy stretch for the Spartans as they'll play six games in a span of 12 days. This includes four games in a stretch of seven days (Dec. 3-4 vs. Minnesota; Dec. 8-9 vs. Wisconsin), all of which will come at Munn.
DeRidder Starts Strong
Junior goaltender Drew DeRidder, who was voted to the All-Big Ten Freshman team two seasons ago, got 2020-21 off to a solid start as he turned away 52 of 53 shots in going 1-0-1 vs. Arizona State. DeRidder's 30 saves, which included 16 in the final period, of the 2-0 win earned him his first collegiate shutout. On Wednesday, DeRidder was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week, marking the first time he had received the honor since Dec. 2018.
While DeRidder made four appearances last season in backing-up John Lethemon, perhaps his best start of 2019-20 came vs. Ohio State on Feb. 21 where he made 33 saves in a 1-0 loss at Munn.
New Faces
Michigan State welcomes its largest freshman class (9) and total newcomers (10) in the Danton Cole era. The group includes four defensemen in Aiden Gallacher, Nash Nienhuis, Powell Connor and Cal Dybicz; two goaltenders in Pierce Charleson and Jon Mor; and four forwards in A.J. Hodges, Kristof Papp, Kyle Haskins and grad transfer Charlie Combs (Bemidji State).
Apap and Miller Elected Captains
Seniors Tommy Miller and Tommy Apap will both serve as captains this season, while fellow classmate Mitchell Lewandowski and junior Dennis Cesana were elected assistant captains. For Apap, it is second straight season wearing the 'C,' while it's the first time Miller, Cesana and Lewandowski have been elected to leadership positions.
Apap was voted MSU's most improved player last season after recording career highs in goals (7), assists (5) and points (12). The native of Bloomfield Hills is a force in the faceoff circle as he ranked second in the Big Ten last season in winning percentage (.587), while leading the league in total faceoff wins (389).
Top Returners
While the Spartans lost 43% of their scoring with the departure of last year's senior class, they do return two of their top-three point producers in junior defenseman Dennis Cesana (7-15--22) and senior forward Mitchell Lewandowski (8-12--20) … Cesana (second team) and Lewandowski (honorable mention) are the Spartans' returning All-Big Ten selections from last year.
Consider This
The Spartans are 19-5-5 when scoring first over the past two seasons and are 1-0-1 so far in 2020-21 … MSU is 14-2-1 when leading after one period over the last two seasons, including 8-1 last year, and is 1-0 to start the new year.
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Spartans off to No. 10 Ohio State to Start B1G Play - Michigan State Athletics
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