{"id":78018,"date":"2024-12-13T03:36:52","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T09:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/3out-three-things-to-know-as-no-3-michigan-state-heads-to-no-1-minnesota\/"},"modified":"2024-12-13T03:36:52","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T09:36:52","slug":"3out-three-things-to-know-as-no-3-michigan-state-heads-to-no-1-minnesota","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/demo.wztzfm.com\/wp\/3out-three-things-to-know-as-no-3-michigan-state-heads-to-no-1-minnesota\/","title":{"rendered":"3&Out \u2013 Three things to know as No. 3 Michigan State heads to No. 1 Minnesota"},"content":{"rendered":"

For the first time in eight weeks, Michigan State<\/a><\/strong> hockey can go back to feeling like a hungry hunter again.\u00a0The No. 3-ranked Spartans spent two weekends as the nation\u2019s top-ranked team, but will now travel to Minneapolis to face the new No. 1, the hottest team in college hockey, Minnesota.<\/p>\n

The Spartans and Gophers will play at 8:30 p.m. on Friday (BTN), and 6 p.m. on Saturday (BTN+).<\/p>\n

Michigan State<\/a><\/strong> (12-2 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten) is coming off a split at Wisconsin last weekend, which dropped the Spartans from No. 1 to No. 3 in this week\u2019s USCHO.com poll.<\/p>\n

The Gophers (15-2-1, and 8-0) swept No. 6 Michigan<\/a><\/strong>, 6-0 and 2-0 last weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Three things to know about the Spartans and this series, heading into the weekend:<\/p>\n

1. CHARLIE STRAMEL IS HAVING AN IMPACT<\/h2>\n

Charlie Stramel<\/a><\/strong> (6-3, Jr., Rosemount, Minn.) is having an increased impact on the lineup, centering the No. 1 line, using his big frame to bump his way to effectiveness, with skill to match. The Wisconsin transfer was a consistent force last weekend against the Badgers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought he was the best guy on the ice, both nights, for both teams,\u201d said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale<\/a><\/strong> after practice earlier this week. \u201cHe\u2019s playing physical, really good on the penalty kill, really good on the power play. Yeah, we\u2019re excited about him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stramel (pronounced STRAY-mul) was an NHL First Round Draft pick in 2023, taken No. 21 overall by the Minnesota Wild. However, his production with the Badgers fell off a bit last year, with only three goals and five assists on the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stramel has already eclipsed last year\u2019s numbers, in just 14 games, with four goals and seven assists. He ranks second on the team in points with 11.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nightingale coaches Stramel for two years at the USA National Team Development Program prior to taking the job at Michigan State in 2022.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I know him well,\u201d Nightingale said. \u201cHe\u2019s just playing to an identity. He\u2019s got to play a power game. If he tries playing cutesy, that\u2019s not his strength. He has to lead with power. He definitely has skill, but physicality is a big part of his game.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the long reach, and his ability to defend, he\u2019s got a really good stick. That makes a huge difference.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a reason Minnesota took him in the first round. He does a lot of things to help you win a hockey game.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last weekend was a homecoming of sorts for Stramel, playing against his former team. This weekend, he will be back in his home state. Michigan State could use another forceful weekend from him.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. MINNESOTA, STRONG ON D<\/h2>\n

Minnesota\u2019s shutouts against Michigan last weekend were no fluke. The Gophers have some tough obstacles for defensemen. All six Gopher defensemen are problematic for an opponent. Their three defenseman pairings might be the best in the nation, top to bottom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know that you\u2019re going to find a better one in college hockey,\u201d Nightingale said of Minnesota\u2019s defensive corps. \u201cThey have depth there, and they have some offense back there, and I don\u2019t think they get the credit for how well they defend.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sam Rinzel<\/a><\/strong> (6-5, Soph., Chanhassen, Minn.) was Second Team All-Big Ten last year. The Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in the First Round, No. 25 overall, in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He\u2019s not alone as a standout.<\/p>\n

Ryan Chesley<\/a><\/strong> (6-1, Jr., Mahtomedi, Minn.) was also Second Team All-Big Ten last year. He was drafted in the Second Round, No. 37 overall, by the Washington Capitals in 2022.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Luke Mittelstadt <\/a><\/strong>(5-11, Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn.) was honorable mention All-Big Ten last year. He was drafted in the Seventh Round by the Montreal Canadiens in 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cChesley (6-1, Jr., Mahtomedi, Minn.) can really shoot it and Mittelstadt is a really good defenseman and adds to the offensive side,\u201d Nightingale said. \u201cSo they have depth back there.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey also defend. They\u2019re long and their coaching staff does a good job of teaching them how to play real hockey. If you go in there and just hope for offense, you\u2019re probably not going to get it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey make it hard. It\u2019s hard to generate against them. If it turns into a track meet, they\u2019ve got some guys that can execute. You have to be smart.\u201d<\/p>\n

3. NICKLAS ANDREWS, RATCHETING UP FOR SPARTANS<\/h2>\n

Graduate defenseman Nicklas Andrews<\/a><\/strong> is in his first and last year with the Spartans, but he is making a steady impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Andrews has been paired with senior David Gucciardi<\/a><\/strong> to give Michigan State a strong, responsible, veteran set of blue liners in the rotation.<\/p>\n

Andrews \u2013 a transfer from Colorado College who was named after Detroit Red Wings legend Nicklas Lidstrom<\/a><\/strong> \u2013 leads the Spartans in plus-minus at +12, with Gucciardi tied for second at +8.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Saturday night at Wisconsin, Andrews (5-10, Gr., Canton, Mich.) made three plays in a matter of seconds which set up Joey Larson\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> game-tying goal in the third period.\u00a0<\/p>\n

+ He made a quick d-to-d (defenseman to defenseman) pass to Gucciardi to transform a turnover into a quick zone entry opportunity.<\/p>\n

+ Seconds later, after Wisconsin gained possession and tried to clear the zone, a hustling, heady Andrews was there to pinch in, stifling the Badgers\u2019 left wing from getting a breakout pass.\u00a0<\/p>\n

+ Andrews created a loose puck, then quickly recovered it and passed to Larson, who finished for a goal.<\/p>\n

Credit Andrews with an assist, and so much more on that crucial game-tying moment. Michigan State went on to win in overtime.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been a great addition,\u201d Nightingale said. \u201cHe has obviously played a lot of college hockey but the way play is different than where he played before.\u201d<\/p>\n

He was a major acquisition from the transfer portal, helping replace Artyom Levshunov, who moved on to the NHL after one season with the Spartans last year. No Spartan is as talented as Levshunov was last year, but Levshunov would make rookie mistakes occasionally. Andrews is beyond rookie mistakes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a Michigander,\u201d Nightingale said. \u201cHe understands what Michigan State is all about. He\u2019s got a calming presence back there.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe bad news is we only have him for five more months so we\u2019ll take advantage of it but he\u2019s been a huge addition to the back end.\u201d<\/p>\n

RED SAVAGE, \u2018THE MOTOR OF OUR TEAM\u2019<\/h2>\n

Michigan State captain Red Savage works the corner, last year against Michigan. Photo by Matthew Dae Smith | USA Today Network<\/p>\n

When Michigan State <\/a><\/strong>lost to Boston College on Oct. 11, Nightingale criticized his team for trying to play \u201ctoo cutesy\u201d with the super-skilled Eagles. Michigan State came back the following night with a 4-3 victory, playing a more responsible, gritty brand of hockey.<\/p>\n

After the loss to Wisconsin last Friday, Nightingale had a similar message for his team heading into Saturday.<\/p>\n

Michigan State played well midway through that game despite falling behind 2-0. Rather than \u201cchase the score,\u201d as Nightingale described it a night earlier, the Spartan stuck to Nightingale\u2019s commandments, and it led to a comeback victory in overtime.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNow we have to make sure the things we learned don\u2019t happen again,\u201d Nightingale said. \u201cThere\u2019s a certain way we have to play if we\u2019re going to be a good hockey team. If we deviate from that we become pretty average pretty quick. I think our guys understand that and it\u2019s our job as coaches to get it out of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

That might not be the last time that lesson gets voiced this season. Having senior captain Red Savage back in the lineup full-time will help. He missed Friday\u2019s game at Wisconsin with an undisclosed ailment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cHe really drives the identity we want to play with,\u201d Nightingale said. \u201cHe\u2019s hard, he\u2019s competitive. He is a little bit of the motor of our team. When he\u2019s in our lineup it makes a huge difference. We definitely missed having him in the lineup on Friday, but that\u2019s hockey and every team goes through moments when you\u2019re missing some guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

Savage (5-11, Sr., Scottsdale, Ariz.) was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the Detroit Red Wings. He is tied for fourth on the team with four goals.<\/p>\n

Savage plays left wing on Michigan State\u2019s No. 2 line, centered by Karsen Dorwart, with Larson on the right wing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think when we play our game, we\u2019re the best team in the country,\u201d Savage said after Tuesday\u2019s practice. \u201cWe definitely got away from it Friday night. We were able to rebound and get back to our culture. We\u2019re not the most skilled team in the country, but when we play the way we\u2019re supposed to, we can beat anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re obviously a really good team. Their No. 1 in the country now. It\u2019s really important to us to go in there and prove to ourselves and everyone else that we can play with anyone out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

What happened on Saturday at Wisconsin that Savage didn\u2019t see on Friday?<\/p>\n

\u201cFriday, it felt like there was a lot of individuality out there, a lot of looping, not a lot of stopping on pucks, not a lot of playing through people,\u201d Savage said. \u201cSaturday, the first couple of shifts we brought a lot of intensity and played physical and I think that put them on their heels a little bit and we were able to build our ground game off of that and transform into a good hockey game.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The post 3&Out \u2013 Three things to know as No. 3 Michigan State heads to No. 1 Minnesota<\/a> appeared first on On3<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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