MSU looks to regain game day intensity
Senior defender Brock Shelgren looks to make a play Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans defeated Alaska 3-0.
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Last weekend’s sweep of Alaska put the No. 13 Spartans in a good position to finish the season on a high note and offers momentum going into the weekend series against No. 18 Notre Dame.
MSU (18-12-4 overall, 13-10-3 CCHA) played well enough — notching victories by the score of 3-2 and 3-0 — but head coach Tom Anastos was concerned with the drop off of mental intensity from the weekends prior, when the Spartans faced off against then-No. 10 Ohio State and then-No. 4 Michigan.
“I thought we had a bit of an emotional letdown in the first game Friday night, which we anticipated,” Anastos said. “I don’t think it’s reasonable to expect that the emotional level would have been the same as the previous weeks.”
He added that with a first-round bye on the line, he thinks the team will be more emotionally prepared to play come Friday night.
On their level
One issue the Spartans have had this season is playing down to the level of teams in the midst of a slide. The Spartans were swept by unranked Miami (Ohio) at home the first weekend of January and had some trouble with then-No. 19 Lake Superior State later in the month.
Against Ohio State, who had lost or tied eight in a row, MSU fell behind 2-0 in the first game before pulling out a 6-3 win.
“Our history hasn’t been great with teams that are coming out of a funk,” Anastos said. “They seem to get better when they played us.”
Currently the Fighting Irish are in a free fall, having dropped five straight games and nine of their last 12. In the past two weekends, they have scored only two goals while allowing 15.
“I think we’re going to see almost the same thing we saw with Ohio State (a couple weekends ago),” junior defenseman Torey Krug said. “I think we’re going to see a desperate team this weekend, and obviously, they’re one of the most talented teams in the country. So with their work effort and their talent, I think we’re going to have quite a storm to weather.”
On the campaign trail
In the past couple weeks, the MSU Athletics Department has thrown itself behind the candidacy of Krug for a spot on the All-American team.
As it stands, Krug is tied for the CCHA scoring lead and he has the opportunity to be the first defenseman since 1986-87 to win the conference scoring title.
“I think it’s a pretty amazing accomplishment if it were to happen, especially in today’s game,” Anastos said.
Krug’s play this season also has him in the running for CCHA Most Valuable Player, something junior forward Kevin Walrod recognizes would be big not only for Krug, but also would have a positive impact on the university.
“That would be huge for the program, especially with the new era we have going now,” he said. “It’s great to have anyone up for that (kind of award) in any sport.”
