Ohio State Hockey Previews No. 3 Michigan State
• The Spartans are sponsoring their third annual Spartans Full Strength program in the month of November. The month-long observance puts a spotlight on cancer awareness and honor those who have been affected by the disease. The Spartans are pairing with the Dr. Stephen Swistak Memorial Fund for this year’s initiative – Swistak was a four-year MSU letterwinner who passed from esophageal cancer in 2015.
The players and coaches will wear Spartans Full Strength pins/helmet stickers throughout the month of November in addition to several opportunities to honor cancer survivors, caregivers, and those who have fought the disease during MSU’s home games.
THE ORIGINAL SIX
What you need to know about Spartan Hockey
• MSU and Ohio State have met 170 times in series history. The Spartans are 48-23-7 against the Buckeyes in East Lansing and hold a 100-57-13 mark in the all-time series. The teams met five times in the 2023-24 season, and MSU was 4-1 in those games. Michigan State is coming off a bye week – MSU has played three weekend series, one exhibition, and had a bye weekend over the first five weekends of the hockey season.
• While MSU’s offense – 18 goals in six games (3.00) is fourth in the Big Ten, the Spartans lead the league in scoring defense, allowing just eight goals (1.5 per game) – that is first in the B1G and eighth nationally.
• Daniel Russell and Isaac Howard are tied for the team lead in goals (4), and a +6 rating, and are tied for fourth in the Big Ten in goals per game (0.67). Three of Russell’s four goals have stood as game-winners, and he is the national leader in that category. Howard also shares the team lead in assists (4), and sits atop the scoring column with eight points, followed by Russell (4-3-7). Howard ranks fourth in the Big Ten in points per game (1.33).
• Sophomore defenseman Maxim Štrbák is tied for the team lead in assists (4) with Isaac Howard, and has a +3 rating and 11 blocked shots in six games. Only junior Matt Basgall (12) has more blocked shots, and Basgall ranks fifth in the Big Ten in that category, (with two less games played than the skaters in front of him).
• MSU split its netminding duties in the Canisius series – Trey Augustine earned his first shutout of the season and fourth in his career in the first game, 3-0. His 15 saves was not only his fewest in a shutout effort, but also his fewest in a full game in his career. Luca Di Pasquo earned the Saturday start at Canisius and made 18 saves in the 4-1 victory. A week prior, Di Pasquo played the final 40 minutes of the Windsor exhibition, stopping nine shots. Augustine played the first 20 minutes and made four saves as the duo combined for the shutout.