On Sunday, Michigan State hockey returned after a three-week break for winter holidays. The Spartans were back, but shorthanded. Porter Martone, Eric Nilson, Ryker Lee, and Shane Vansaghi were all a few states over in Minnesota for the World Junior Championship. However, their draw for the Great Lakes Invitational was Ferris State.
After upsetting defending National Champion Western Michigan to begin the season, the Bulldogs have only won three games since. What did the Spartans learn while down four forwards?
1. Quick Start And Offensively Productive Night
The Spartans started the game quick, with freshman Cole Burke getting a goal in his first career game and one of his first career stints. Before the goal and assists could even be read out by Van Andel’s public address announcer, the Spartans had another freshman, Anthony Romani, put the puck in the net again.
Similarly, in the second period, the Spartans struck with Tommi Mannisto and Charlie Stramel, going up 4-0. At one point, Michigan State was on pace to put up 10 goals for the first time since the 2009 Great Lakes Invitational.
Even at the start of the third period, the Spartans were buzzing on back-to-back powerplays against the Bulldogs. However, they could not capitalize, and Ferris State had their own pair of goals. Charlie Stramel sent one more into the net for good measure before calling it a night.
Down four of their best offensive weapons, including leading scorer Martone, and the best stick handler, Lee, the Spartans had a five-goal night. That is a wonderful sign to see in the face of “manufactured adversity” of being down players for World Juniors.
2. Defensive Lapses Plague Michigan State Hockey, Again
This game was a tough watch for the Spartan defense. From the opening possession, where Patrick Geary losing his footing leading to a breakaway, things were off for the Spartans. This was all without a single defender being away at World Juniors, too. Michigan State’s defense was at full strength, and Geary, Maxim Strbak, Owen West, Sean Barnhill, and Travis Shoudy all had lapses that lead to top-grade scoring chances for Ferris State.
Trey Augustine was making extraordinary saves to keep the Bulldogs out of the score column, and the goaltender finally broke to the onslaught in the second period. However, for the first half of the game, Ferris State was outshooting Michigan State despite trailing by four goals.
While part of that is from an offense that did not have the same experience level and multiple poorly timed turnovers, the defense also had their own self-inflicted mistakes that led to Augustine playing the hero.
This game could have easily spiraled into a repeat of the Cornell NCAA Tournament game in 2024-2025 if it was not for Augustine’s saves. The defense played like they had three weeks off.
3. The New Refrain, Discipline Issues
The comparisons between Tom Izzo and Adam Nightingale are similar. Both are former players that have turned their gritty passion into creating tough teams that are fundamentally sound, and are committed to development over “buying” the best option. Now, it appears that Nightingale’s teams are mimicking Izzo’s in having great fundamentals, but a calling card of “things that must be improved.”
For Nightingale, it is a mix of defensive lapses and discipline issues, much like Izzo’s mix of free throw shooting and three-point shooting.
The Spartans gifted Ferris State multiple golden opportunities. Cayden Lindstrom spent six minutes in the sin bin, and defensemen Owen West, Patrick Geary, and Sean Barnhill contributed their own two minutes. Michigan State found themselves freeing up the ice for the Bulldogs. Thankfully, Ferris State only converted one of those chances.
Even in the few times Ferris State got chippy, it led to the Barnhill roughing minor. The Spartans could not help themselves, and Lindstrom, in particular, struggled. The Columbus Blue Jacket prospect struggled after his second long break before returning to action.
What is next for Michigan State hockey?
The Spartans have a quick turnaround, facing the Michigan Tech Huskies on Monday at 7 p.m. EST to win the Great Lakes Invitational.
