The Matchup: Wisconsin vs. Michigan State
Dates: Friday-Saturday, December 11-12, 6/1:30 PM CT
Location: Munn Ice Arena
Ice Surface: 200’ X 85’
TV: Friday/Saturday CN900 (in Michigan)
Radio: WIBA AM 1310
Video Stream: BTN2go.com/BTN2go app
Audio Stream: Badgersportsnetwork.com (Free)
All-Time Series: 49-46-3 (MSU leads)
Last Meeting: 3-0 MSU over Wisconsin
About Michigan State
Record: 4-9-2 (0-2-0 in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Tom Anastos (15th season – 65-84-18)
Notable: Michigan State opened up Big Ten season play with a road series at a good Penn State team. Penn State swept the Spartans with ease, out-scoring MSU 10-3 over the course of two games.
Stat Leaders:
Points: JT Stenglein (8)
Goals: Stenglein and Mackenzi MacEachern (7)
Assists: Mason Appleton and Michael Ferrantino (10)
Save Pct.: Jake Hildebrand (.900)
Goals Against Average: Jake Hildebrand (3.18)
About Wisconsin:
Record: 3-6-5 (0-1-1 in Big Ten)
Head Coach: Mike Eaves (14th Season – 262-211-62)
Notable: Head coach Mike Eaves entered the season on thin ice with UW athletic director, Barry Alvarez, with a lackluster start to the season, Eaves may be coaching for his job as the Badgers travel to Michigan State.
Stat Leaders
Points: Grant Besse (12)
Goals: Luke Kunin and Ryan Wagner (5)
Assists: Seamus Malone (9)
Save Pct.: Matt Jurusik (.895)
Goals Against Average: Matt Jurusik (3.29)
Quick Analysis:
With one weekend down in the Big Ten season both Michigan State and Wisconsin find themselves on the bottom half of the standings looking up to perennial powerhouses Penn State, Minnesota and Michigan.
The Badgers who managed to get a draw in one of their games against Michigan look like a team on the brink of figuring it all out. The team has generated decent offense behind junior Grant Besse and newcomers Seamus Malone and Luke Kunin.
MSU has been leaning on more of their veterans to get them through games with junior Jt Stenglein and Mackenzie MacEachern paving the way for the Spartans.
Both teams, however, have struggled on defense both letting up an average of over three goals a game. This series could turn into a shoot out if both teams’ defenses continue their struggle.
The key to this matchup comes down to the defense and goalies. Freshman goalie, Matt Jurusik, has looked more confident as the season progresses but with only three wins to his name, he looks to validate his hard work on the road.
Prediction:
I like the Badgers in this series. Besides Arizona State, who the Badgers swept, Michigan State is one of the weaker teams the Badgers have seen this year. Wisconsin has shown they can skate with the nation’s best. Now they look to prove they can beat the Big Ten’s average.
Friday- Wisconsin 4 MSU 2
Saturday- Wisconsin 5 MSU 1
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