MSU vs. UM: A Home-and-Home Rivalry Rekindled
Michigan State and Michigan begin their rivalry week. The teams will play games 343 and 344 this weekend in what is arguably the most intense rivalry in collegiate hockey. In the series overall, the Wolverines have a 179-139-24 advantage. The Spartans are 47-85-5 in Ann Arbor and 70-55-12 when playing in East Lansing. One goal decided three of the four games between the rivals that were played last season. Michigan defeated MSU 2-1 at home, Michigan defeated Michigan 2-1 and 4-2 at Yost, and Michigan prevailed 4-3 at LCA with just 0.6 seconds left in overtime.
In its most recent game, MSU defeated Penn State 5-0 and 7-3 to record its first-ever road sweep at Pegula Ice Arena. The Spartans have won five straight games (5-0-1) and haven’t dropped a game in regulation since they were defeated 10-1-3 at Boston College on October 27, with the setback coming in overtime against Minnesota. MSU has won 15 games overall, which is more than it had in 9 of the previous 11 seasons.
This week’s B1G second Star of the Week is Artyom Levshunov. At PSU (1-4-5), he had an incredible five-point weekend, including four points on Saturday. Levshunov is tied for sixth place in the Big Ten in points with an average of more than a point per game (6-18-24). Levshunov is the highest scoring freshman defenseman at MSU since AJ Thelen’s 11-18-29 in 2003–04 and current Red Wings blueliner Jeff Petry’s 3-21-24 in 2009–10 seasons.
Gavin O’Connell, Red Savage, and Joey Larson, who have combined for 32, 34, and 66 points in 22 games, scored six goals last weekend, totaling 10 points. Larson finished the PSU game with a 3-1-4 record, bringing his season total of goals to 14 (fourth in the B1G and seventh nationally). His scoring line of 14-12-26 leads MSU, and his seven power play markers rank him first in the B1G and fifth in the country. Savage scored three points during State College, and his 8-15-23 scoring tally, which is career bests in every category, is a career best. O’Connell, meanwhile, has seven assists and ranks second on the club in terms of goals (10, T-10th B1G).
The three oldest forwards on the team are the seasoned trio of Jeremy Davidson, Reed Lebster, and Nicolas Müller. At MSU and UMass, they have together participated in 402 collegiate hockey games. Lebster just finished his most productive offensive weekend with a goal and an assist in both of the Green and White games. After 19 games, he currently has a 5-7-12 scoring line (+9). With two shorthanded goals (ranked fourth nationally), he leads the Big Ten and has one game-winning and one power-play marker. Müller has a 4-15-19 scoring line (+8) and is tied for second place among all Spartans with 15 assists.
Trey Augustine made a successful comeback to the Spartans after winning a gold medal at the World Juniors. In the Penn State series, he stopped 58 of 61 shots, including a 31-save shutout on Friday in his first game back in green and white. With a.919 save percentage, 2.81 GAA, and 13-3-2 record, Augustine leads all B1G netminders in conference games with a.932 save percentage, two shutouts, and an average of 33.16 saves per game. He also stands second in conference games in terms of GAA (2.38).