Spartans ready for Buckeyes in B1G Tournament

Photo by Michael Caples/MiHockey

 

By Stefan Kubus –

Tom Anastos will his young, No. 5-seeded Michigan State Spartans (5-9-6, Big Ten) into Thursday’s B1G Hockey tournament quarterfinal matchup against No. 4 Ohio State (6-9-5, Big Ten), a team MSU battled to either overtime or a shootout in three of four regular-season meetings.

And despite being a young club, the Spartans have gained plenty of experience over the course of the season, having dealt with injuries and adversity along the way, too. With the up-and-down season for the Spartans, Anastos said his team is in a great position heading into the tournament.

“I really like where we’re at. We’ve been a little bit up and down, but for the most part, we’ve demonstrated that our team continues to get better.

“I think the key to us having success will be our ability to defend well, especially against Ohio State. They can be pretty explosive, they have some pretty good, dynamic, offensive players. We’ve got to take care of our own end, and then create some scoring chances of our own.”

Goaltender Jake Hildebrand led the Spartans in goal all season, and Anastos knows better than anyone else that a hot goaltender can steal a game for you. And in a one-game series against a team that battled them to overtime or shootout in three of four regular season meetings, the Spartans will need Hildebrand’s brilliance between the pipes once again.

“They don’t give you much,” Ohio State head coach Steve Rohlik said. “Their goaltender has been very good all year.”

For the Buckeyes, junior forward Ryan Dzingel – named to the 2013-14 All-Big Ten Hockey First Team – leads the charge. Dzingel, a 2011 seventh-round pick of the Ottawa Senators, led the Big Ten in conference scoring with 23 points and tied the lead with 12 goals.

“The biggest thing that’s improved is just his overall game,” Rohlik said. “He kills penalties, he’s on the ice a lot, he’s more responsible in his defensive end. His game is starting to evolve.

“He’s got a great skill set, but I think he’s buying into the team game.”

Rohlik said he has liked the “compete factor” of his Buckeyes in the final weeks of the season en route to the tournament.

“Our guys never quit,” Rohlik said. “We’ve been down a lot early, we’ve battled back in games, but I think that’s a good sign of a good hockey team.”