It is not often in post season play where a team can say they were out played, nearly doubled in shots on goal, and say they won the game 2-1. That is the case for the Spartans this year as they scored just enough behind the Mike Richter Finalist, Trey Augustine, to move on to Saturday’s game. Saturday’s puck drop against Wisconsin is slated for 4:30pm (barring any glass replacement) and will be available on ESPN 2.
Wisconsin and MSU are quite familiar with each other as the teams split this season
2-2 with the road teaming each game. Wisconsin defeated Dartmouth in round one 5-1, three of those goals were empty netters. The game was tied 1-1 late into the third before Wisconsin scored the go ahead goal with around 8 minutes left in the period. Dartmouth pulled their goalie with over 4 minutes left and went for broke. Obviously, it didn’t work out for Dartmouth as Wisconsin put them away.
Wisconsin goalie Daniel Hauser looked solid against Dartmouth but MSU’s fire power is much stronger. MSU will need to clean up the unforced penalties. Lindstrom had 2 and Stramel had 1 that can easily be cleaned up by playing more disciplined. Earlier in the season Wisconsin took advantage of MSU penalties thanks to their power play leader, Christian Fitzgerald, and defeated the Spartans at Munn. Wisconsin has the ability, similar to MSU, to rack up a bunch of goals really quick. The Spartans are always better when they strike first and strike early. If they do, they will need to continue to push and put pressure on Wisconsin and keep them on their heels. MSU’s penalty kill lines played very well against UConn and seemed to have a solid game plan in taking away UConn’s speed. The Spartans will be looking for sharp transitional passing and eliminate turnovers as they try to gain the zone.
On the defensive side, MSU will need to have active sticks to break up passes by skaters like Quinn Finley and Gavin Morrissey. Morrissey has a knack of distributing to open skaters and if MSU can disrupt that flow it will be advantageous. Geary did a fantastic job against UConn doing this very thing. MSU fared well on face offs against UConn and will need to continue that against Wisconsin. The Badgers are very good on face offs, specifically Morrissey. If MSU can control the puck after whistles and get it out of the zone it will allow Augustine to relax. He was holding onto pucks against UConn because MSU was likely to win the face off and get the puck out. Speaking of Augustine, I’d really like to see him eliminate rebounds. I have not seen him as strong with the glove as he was against UConn but the rebounds created second chance opportunities and gave UConn their one goal.
Wisconsin has one of the most explosive offenses in the tournament and MSU is one of the best at controlling the ice. This matchup is more like two number 1’s facing off. Something obviously has to give. If MSU can play clean and keep Wisconsin off the power play, they will have the ability to control the ice and play their style of hockey. Hauser is good, but he is not Augustine and he can be worn down. MSU needs to get shots on the net and keep the pressure on. They cannot get bated into foolish scuffles. Wisconsin is 25% on the power play and MSU is leading at 35% on the power play. So, both teams will be fighting to control this game to play their styles.
I’m still waiting to see MSU get back to their late January/early February look. They were playing strong, dominant hockey. They have one of the very best rosters in hockey and it is time to start playing like that. 3 more wins. Let’s go get ‘em! Go Green!
