The Spartans are off to Happy Valley this weekend for a big series against Penn State. Friday’s game is at 6pm on B1G+, while Saturday’s game is outdoors at Beaver Stadium at 1pm on BTN. The outdoor game is expected to draw quite a crowd and the Spartans are no strangers to playing outdoors. The Spartans enter the series in third place with 30 points as Penn State and Michigan are ahead of them with 31 points. A sweep of Penn State this weekend would set up a pivotal and most likely conference crown
to the winner of the MSU vs Mich series. Getting six points this weekend is the absolute goal and would allow for a tad bit of continuing to control your own destiny. After facing PSU and then Michigan, the Spartans will finish the regular season with series against Notre Dame, OSU and Minnesota with two of those three series at home. OSU can help the Spartans out if they can manage to take one from Michigan this weekend which if all goes well would put the Spartans in first with four series left. As we get closer we’ll sift through the various scenarios MSU needs to three peat, but right now they can control a lot of that by sweeping PSU this weekend.
When last these two teams met, the Spartans took 5 of 6 points with an OT win in game one and a blowout in game two. I’m looking for a couple of blowouts to ease my stress but I think these games may be tight. Augustine has been playing very well over the last 4 games. He also was solid against PSU earlier this season. He is going to need to be another force and reach a next level in the video game the next couple of weeks and if he does, he will be setting the Spartans up with exactly what they need. MSU will need to stay out of the box again, which they’ve improved on in recent weeks. If they are shorthanded, they need to deliver textbook PK’s and limit the passing lanes. Gavin McKenna ranks 10th nationally in assists and MSU will need long sticks to break up his game. Matt DiMarsico and JJ Weibusch are two others to keep an eye on besides McKenna. They are the top two goal scorers for PSU.
I will continue to preach this, but the Spartans need to set the tone, play their game, be on the attack and get shots on goal. When they jump on a team earlier it pays off. The Spartans found a way to win last week when the top line in game one didn’t register a point. That’s a rarity with the Stramel, Russell and Martone line. Martone has been a little quiet as of late while Russell continues to be Russell and Stramel is having a career year. I expect Martone to be more active in this game and find the back of the net. Romani and Lee as well as Männistö have been putting up some points consistently. Lee or Romani, doesn’t matter who, but if one scores it is usually another good sign for the Spartans.
I also think that you may get some physical play out there, especially Saturday. It is going to be cold and there’s no telling what the ice conditions will be like. Last year at Wrigley the ice was in rough shape and it slowed the game down. A slowed game can bring some big hits from guys like Geary and Vansaghi. I don’t mind the physical play as long as it doesn’t put the Spartans at a disadvantage. I personally love an outdoor game and the ambiance it creates. It will be a new experience for a handful of the Spartan young guys and newcomers. A guy like Russell will definitely help those guys out in letting them know what to expect and how to calm the nerves.
I’m hopeful for sweep but the Spartans will have their hands full as PSU is a very good team. I will also be pulling hard for the Buckeyes this weekend which are words I rarely say. This will be the spot for game time discussion for the series. Let me know in the comments what you expect this weekend. Go Green!
