Three quick takeaways from the Spartans’ series loss against No. 4 Minnesota
The MSU hockey team huddles together before a game/ Photo Credit: MSU Athletic Communications
February 20, 2021
EAST LANSING— After losing their fourth overall game to No. 4 Minnesota this season, the Spartans’ season is on the brink of being lost. With only five games left in the regular season, the Spartans are currently 7-12-2, the worst record in the Big Ten. I break down what needs to change in order for MSU to make a late season push:
1. Slow starts will be this team’s demise
Whether it’s their abysmal record in series openers (1-8-2) or coming out flat and getting in a deep hole early like Saturday night against the Gophers, the Spartans’ slow starts are dooming their seasons.. Simply put, Michigan State isn’t good enough offensively to o win games where they go into the first or second intermission down on the scoreboard
2. Michigan State needs to start scoring power play goals in order to compete and win games
Spartan forward Nicolas Müller said it best; if Michigan State can get its power play attack going, they can beat anybody on any given night. Outside of three games where the wheels just seemingly fell off, the Spartans have been in a position to win every game, but they just never seem to find that late goal to take the lead. After tonight’s 5-1 loss to No. 4 Minnesota, the Spartans are the second-worst team in the country in power play percentage at a measly 7.03%. If the Spartans are able to go over 20% on the power play the rest of the season, they are not only capable of beating anybody, but they’re also likely to pull off an upset or two.
3. Drew DeRidder deserves better
Spartan junior goalie Drew DeRidder has been far and away the best player for Michigan State this year. Former goaltender John Lethemon was regarded as one of the best goaltenders in the country last season in net for the Spartans, and outside of three games, DeRidder’s offensive supporting cast let him down and skewed the stats with large losses. Overall, DeRidder has been just as good if not better than Lethemon last year, and if the Spartans give DeRidder more goal support like what Lethemon was afforded last season, he could carry them to a deep postseason run.
