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Behind the Mask is the only podcast devoted entirely to MSU men’s hockey. Impact 89FM hockey beat reporters talk about the latest in Spartan hockey and give their weekly game picks.
Three, two. Welcome back everyone to episode two of Behind the Mask. I'm your host, Oscar Henderson, alongside my cohost Jack Fowenkel and Gabe Sousa. We have a big show for you guys today. We have a lot to talk about.
Speaker 1:We could not get to you guys, unfortunately. We had a bit of sickness from Gabe Sousa. So we unfortunately had to reschedule for this weekend, but obviously a big weekend. Last weekend with the sweep at BU. Guys, how'd you guys think about that series, and how you guys doing this past week and a half, I'd say?
Speaker 2:Well, I'll be honest. I'm doing a lot better. You know, woke up that morning and had a 101 fever. I was like, ah, this one's not gonna get done. But, you know, after that BU series, I was feeling great.
Speaker 2:I mean, we looked very strong. We looked like the number one team in the nation as we were properly titled, and I'm excited for this upcoming Penn State series as well.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I was fired up. I, went on a trip to Traverse City for fall break and, got to watch both games, and, we did look like the number one team in the country. That made me really happy. And it made me really happy because, like, my biggest thing was, they don't overreact after this New Hampshire loss.
Speaker 3:You know? To everybody that was saying, oh my gosh, you know, this team is not gonna be what we thought. Everybody just slow down. Yep. It happens to everyone, and we proved in Boston that we are the number one team in the country.
Speaker 3:And we proved it last weekend too in a dominating effort of North too.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Definitely. The polls definitely loved the big win at Boston University after that series. They were ranked number one in both polls, for the first time this season. And, obviously, with the sweep over Northern Michigan this weekend, they remained number one as well.
Speaker 1:Going into the top three as well, it was three Michigan teams Mhmm. As well all in the top three. Still, all three Michigan teams in the top three in this week's rankings. So the state of Michigan is, doing pretty well in college hockey to say, to say it slightly. Go ahead.
Speaker 2:Hey. I mean, no. I had really nothing else to add. I mean, we're gonna talk about, Northern Michigan. They certainly were not in that.
Speaker 2:I believe they moved to o and eight on the year after that Michigan State series. But, no, yeah, it's cool to see the state of Michigan running college hockey right now. I suspect Western might start to slip a little bit here. We'll see if they can continue to be what the team they were last year, but, it's cool. Michigan on top right now.
Speaker 3:Yeah. It's cool. I watched the the Michigan Western Michigan get the first one of that series, and, Michigan's legit. And I think that they're a little, like, undervalued to start the year, but, their new goalie is top notch, and they've, reloaded with some good talent. And I think that, you know, everybody thought Penn State was gonna be the team to beat in the big 10, which choose to say that they won't be come the end of the season.
Speaker 3:But, Michigan's up there too, and I'm, really looking forward to see what they can do.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So let's go into this weekend, obviously, talking about the series we had against Northern Michigan. We are gonna talk about the Western Michigan U of M series a little bit later on, but let's talk about this first game here as Michigan State beats Northern Michigan four nothing in what was a pretty convincing games. MSU, obviously, led a shutout 24 of 24 saves for Trey Augustine, an absolute shutout night for him for probably the best goalie in all of hockey right now. Mhmm.
Speaker 1:And, you know, what did we like from this? What did we see? Obviously, Martone and Russell led the way both with two points. The team had a lot of penalties as well. That is gonna be a trend, in this one, it looks like.
Speaker 1:They they they really love playing physical, it looks like. And so I wanna get your guys' thoughts on the game, what you saw, and what you liked the most from MSU in this four nothing shutout.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I mean, well, first of all, I think teams need to start respecting Porto Martone a little bit more. His first goal of that game, which was the first goal of the contest, a puck was dumped in, and he had two n NMU defenders just leave him kinda open. And Martone has backs in that. He turned around.
Speaker 2:No one on was on him. He's like, I'm gonna let this fly.
Speaker 1:That's why he kinda it was kind
Speaker 2:of a shock in his eyes to see that he was that open, and he was able to score. Remind of the Lucas Raymond goal, if you guys remember that against the Montreal Canadiens where he sniped that. But, yeah. I mean, what the biggest takeaway I had from this game was obviously Northern Michigan is not, you know, the best team in college hockey right now per se, but and the defensive experience, like, compare that defensive performance compared to New Hampshire, that was like night and day. One thing I'll touch on is game one, two, seven penalties, and it was even worse.
Speaker 2:In game two, I believe it was 12. Yeah. And but the first game, they didn't let up a power play goal. So I guess if there's a positive there, there's that. And, that this team can outscore their mistakes, right, especially game two where they had thirty five minutes of penalties.
Speaker 2:Right? That's over half the game. I'm no mathematician, but that's not great. And, they're able to outscore their troubles, which is a good sign to see.
Speaker 3:Yeah. You're right. I, I like this game for Michigan State, not only because they wanted to shut out in Augustine and played perfect, and this team looked really good defensively, but also because they didn't overlook this Northern Michigan team. I think Michigan State can sometimes try to fall in that trap of playing down to their competition, and, they definitely did not do that. They got off to a hot start in the first period.
Speaker 3:Looked really, really good. Their power play looked great, against Northern Michigan. And, yeah, that, four nothing win was, something to be really proud of, and then they backed it up. But I will say, yes, Gabe, that cleaning it up on the penalty aspect is gonna be a big deal because you can't have that many penalties against higher quality opponents. And as we get closer to conference play, that needs to be something that coach Nightingale needs to fix or have his guys work on is sort of alright.
Speaker 3:Listen. We love energy. We love the aggression. Just don't get penalized for it because that can ultimately hurt us against teams that are good or that are gonna be better quality than the ones we played last week.
Speaker 2:Well, it's hard to overlook this team as well. Rick Conley, athletic director for Northern obviously coached Michigan State from 2002 to 2011, I believe. Yeah. National champions team and Adam Nightingale for two years.
Speaker 1:So
Speaker 3:Yeah. So it's it's it's always fun to find those connections. Yeah. I'm sure that he was pretty pretty, I wonder how he felt about that. Obviously, he's a Northern Michigan guy now, but, he's a national championship winning coach at that team.
Speaker 3:So I'm sure he's pretty fired up to see us, do well, would you say? Yeah. Of course.
Speaker 1:I think so. I'd say so. But, yeah, you guys are right. Looking at the penalties too, a lot of them, you know, weren't a lot of very physical, you know, fighting NMU penalties either. A lot of them were just very, you know, in play, you know, cross checking, hooking, stuff like that.
Speaker 1:Just really stupid penalties that you should not really, you know, rack up and, you know, NMU didn't really have that many on their end too. So it was, they look, you know, very experienced in every other facet of the game, it feels like, except for keeping themselves out the box, which they do look like the fourth youngest team in the nation in that case right now. So it'll be interesting to see how they clean that up. And, again, it's gonna be the same theme going into game two here, which was a little bit closer of a win Mhmm. For Michigan State going into the fourth or third period, excuse me, tied two two, I believe, with Northern Michigan.
Speaker 1:But then finally, could not Northern Michigan just finally could not give keep up with MSU finally in that third period. MSU with four unanswered goals there, started with the Daniel Russell power play, and then just all started from there. I wanna give a huge shout out in this game to what I think was sort of lacking from this team last year a little bit was just consistent fourth line play. I mean, we had Tommy Ministo get announced today. He was one of the big 10 hockey stars of the week, and he absolutely deserved it because he had a phenomenal performance in that second game.
Speaker 1:It's a really lead the way for MSU in that win, recording four points along with Tiernan Shouty too, both of them having two assists and two goals.
Speaker 2:Well, I have the pleasure. Of course, Jack Stager gave me a press release today, so I'll be writing a story on Manisto's.
Speaker 1:There you go.
Speaker 2:And, no. I just wanna talk about him real quick. I mean, he's been up there with Riker Lee, the most entertaining player to watch on the team this year. I mean, his hustle, his grit, I just love to watch. So during the twenty twenty four, twenty five season, he recorded 11 points.
Speaker 2:Right? Right now, he's on pace for 39 this year. Talk about a leap forward. And, obviously, his five goals this year so far to his last year, I believe he had three total.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And, that's five, I believe, is the fifth best in the nation goals. I could be wrong on that, but it's cool to see the leap forward he took this year.
Speaker 3:Yeah. You're absolutely right. And, actually, in the second game against New Hampshire, he had this play where he kinda skirted all the way out in front of the defense and drew a penalty. He almost scored, wasn't able to score, but he drew a penalty that ultimately led to a Michigan State goal. And at that moment, was like, okay.
Speaker 3:This guy is legit. Mhmm. And I was talking to this Canadian recruiter guy that outside Monice Arena, and he was we were just talking about the team because he travels all around the country in the Big Ten and talking about, hey, who's who's the player to watch on this team? And before the game, he told me, hey, Manisto, check. I tell you.
Speaker 3:Manisto this year is gonna take a big step forward. So shout out to Peter. Mhmm. He was a big he called that. He called Manisto's, breakout season, so congratulations, my friend.
Speaker 3:But to know, he's been phenomenal in that game. Both games, really. Ministo played really well. And just like he's taken a leadership role for this team that, you know, when the seniors are not there, he he can step up, and I think that's, it's really been a, it's been nice to see.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I mean, like you guys said, he's, took in a huge leap. I know last year, you saw a lot of the flashes of what you saw this year, with, you know, the great play, the, coast to coast plays that he was able to make. He just couldn't quite finish off those plays really consistently as much as he is now. And now he's finally getting that shot that he has, and they're finally starting to get behind the net.
Speaker 1:So it's it's it's great to watch, and, you know, he is really stepping up in that fourth line role, I think, and really just helping out with the team and, you know, carrying such that, a big role in, how they won this game, excuse me, the other the weekend. But, yeah, dude,
Speaker 2:it was a it was
Speaker 1:a great performance from him. He is, a big piece of this team. Mhmm. He's been, again, a very low key, I feel like, part of this team too. Not a lot of credit, I feel like, year in, year out for how much he's contributed to the team.
Speaker 1:And now you're starting to see he's starting to get that credit a little bit.
Speaker 2:Well, yeah. He was like you said, he was low key. Right? He would be he would, you know, hustle, and he'd be under the radar. But then now you see he's second on the points and team, I believe.
Speaker 2:So he's, he's making a name for himself now for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Definitely. And, again, something that it was, I feel like, lacking a little bit last year was that consistent high level fourth play. It was a lot younger of a fourth line they had last year. This year going with a little bit more experience on there with Manisto, Shouty, and then Austin Baker going in with that extra skater role.
Speaker 1:But they've really, I think, bolstered up that fourth line, and it's, you know, instead of just being a little bit more of a grit and grind defensive line, they've added a lot of explosive offense onto it too and, you know, keeping not without losing that, you know, gritty defense that you need in that fourth line as well.
Speaker 3:Can can I add something for this for the second game?
Speaker 1:Go right ahead.
Speaker 3:I I wanna give a shout out to Melvin Stroll because he he had his first appearance of the season against Northern Michigan. And, you know, backing up Trae Augustine isn't necessarily, you know, the most you know, you're not gonna get a lot of opportunities if Trey Augustine is healthy. So, you know, shout out to him for for being the backup and, choosing Michigan State for for this season. He played well. You know, he she faced 22 shots, allowed only two goals, played played the whole game, and got the win.
Speaker 3:Mean, he made some nice saves too, and it's always reassuring, to me anyway, to to to know that, you know, if, god forbid, anything happens to Augustine or when Augustine leaves, you know, in late December, you know, during the GLI, I'm sure we'll see Stroll a little bit there too. So it's reassuring for me to know that we have we we can have somebody in that, that can, you know, perform in the way that Stroll performed last night. If you know, he he proved that he is, he's a he's a great reserve for this team, and I really look forward to seeing what he can do, not only just, know, the backup Augustine season, but, hey, if he sticks around what he can do for years to come.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And Nightingale was a really big fan of him coming in. I mean, he was ready for him to take the starter role this year, before Augustine was coming back. But and then August obviously, you know, having a guy like Augustine come back, he's gonna take that reign. But Nightingale was a really big fan of him coming out of Sweden.
Speaker 1:He was, I believe, the backup goalie for the World Juniors Classic Sweden team. Yes. So he is he's really good, and he plays out there in the he did play out there in the Swedish Professional League before coming here to MSU. So he's gonna be someone to look out for, like you said, at the GLI, possibly when he goes over when Augustine goes over for the World Juniors. Possibly, he goes again, for Sweden.
Speaker 1:But, yeah, hopefully, we'll get to see him for the GLI and around Christmas break, get to get some action, in that in that net. And then, one thing I wanna also shout out too is I think, you know, the the penalty kill, so far this year, obviously, it's Northern Michigan, so you can't take as much as you can for away from it. But, you know, the way they played against BU, obviously, a a little bit of a mess in that first game against New Hampshire, but, you know, they just spent ever since that game. It has been rock solid. I feel like they've only given up about two or three power play goals, I wanna say so far.
Speaker 1:I don't even know they only gave up one this weekend. I believe only two at Boston at BU. So now they're about at, like, three since that new ham since that first New Hampshire game that they've given up and, you know, however many opportunities they have given teams so far too.
Speaker 2:Well, I apologize. I jumped the gun a little bit, fellas, but this second game, they outscored their problems. I mean, they had they had a lot of mental mistakes, especially late in that third period. I believe it was fifteen minutes of penalties back to back back, something like that.
Speaker 1:Was It was a lot of penalties, especially to start too. Too many players on the ice.
Speaker 2:Obviously, Nightingale is not gonna want them to make this you know, to make these mistakes and continually, like, give their team a disadvantage, especially as we go later on the year and play better opponents. But the fact that this team's able to overcome that adversity and outscore their issues is a good sign, fellas.
Speaker 3:Yeah. It's impressive. Man, I was just looking right now. Michigan State's second in the league second highest in the league, excuse me, in penalty minutes total. Have a 121.
Speaker 3:On the year, Penn State's got a 193. So that's interesting to note too. But, yeah, Sparty's got a hundred and twenty one minutes in penalty minutes, and their penalty kills second to last in the league. It's 73.7%. So that's not great, but that's what happens when you give yourself so many penalties.
Speaker 3:So, you know, I that you may you make a good point that if they lower the penalties, of course, they're gonna raise that up because of the amount that they have.
Speaker 2:So so Penn State's number one in penalty minutes right now?
Speaker 3:That's correct.
Speaker 2:Okay. So that that game in Beaver Stadium might be like a football game.
Speaker 1:Just full contact. Yeah. Get, get James Franklin to visit back for that one. He can get coaching on the sideline. Let's get a Gudowski, for Penn State.
Speaker 1:But, yeah, gonna be excited to see that one. MSU obviously on bye week this weekend before facing off against now number four ranked Penn State. We're gonna talk a little bit about that game next week, but, Penn State, they've looked, a little interesting so far to start the season. Obviously, they had that great series to start at Arizona State and Gavin McKenna making that huge appearance and having that big series. But since then, playing lower quality opponents, they just have not really looked like the Penn State that we sort of thought they were.
Speaker 1:They're still the favorite to win the national championship right now. I believe they have plus 100 higher odds than MSU does right now. I believe
Speaker 2:they're at plus find that interesting too.
Speaker 1:I I I find that very interesting too that, you know, Vegas still believes that Penn State is the betting favorite
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 1:To win the national championship, especially with not only how good Michigan has looked in, but I I'd argue Michigan playing, you know, a lot better opponents too than what Penn State has played so far and just dominating those opponents in the fashion that they have.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Penn State's seven and one right now. Their only loss was to Clarkson to open or to open their their home opener. Excuse me. They lost six to four.
Speaker 3:But since then, they're on a they're on a five game winning streak. They beat Clarkson five two, but then get this. They beat LIU five to four to overtime.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 3:LIU three to one, Stonehill three to two, and then three to two again. So you're right. In term they they still are seven and one. You gotta give them the credit where credit's here. They've won the games.
Speaker 3:They've done enough. But like you said, it's not necessarily in the fashion that we expected. And to have all those home games be against those lower quality because Michigan on the road and played Providence and swept them. So there there's there's that aspect too that, you know,
Speaker 1:they only gave up two goals in
Speaker 3:the whole series. Right. So it's like Penn State's giving up the equivalent amount of goals to Stonehill. No discredit to Stonehill, but, you know, there it's just a it's a different level of competition. And Michigan has looked way better against higher quality opponents than Penn State has against lower quality opponents.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm gonna piggyback off of that real quick because I am quick to jump on putting Penn State on fraud watch as I talked on the green the green and white report. So to start the year, they play Arizona State, and since then, State was unranked has been unranked. Excuse me. And and they have a two these are these records are not including the two losses to Penn State. Okay?
Speaker 2:Arizona State since then, two and two. Clarkson since then, two and two. Long Island, two and three, and then Stonehill, one and four. So they're not only squeaking by small schools. They're squeaking by small schools that aren't performing well.
Speaker 3:Right. Yeah. No. It's it'll be it'll be interesting to watch. And if we if Michigan State comes out and dominates in a couple weeks against Penn State and really, you know, lays down the hammer and proves that we were a significantly better program at this point than they are, it'll be interesting to watch.
Speaker 3:But, yeah, I mean, to be that highly ranked and have I mean, and it wasn't I don't wanna discredit the people that thought Penn State was gonna win the because they have returned. They returned a lot
Speaker 1:of talent.
Speaker 3:Yep. Mean, Aiden Fink is phenomenal, and Demarsico is phenomenal, and, you know, McKenna coming in and, you know, he proved it in the oh, man. Everybody, you know, is gonna be right about this team. They're so good. So, you know, it's not as necessarily like people, you know, rank them high based off of assumption.
Speaker 3:They had reason to. Right? All these people coming back. But, it'll be interesting to see, how they perform in their first true road
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 3:Conference.
Speaker 2:I was just gonna say, I think we're gonna learn more about this series in Columbus than through the first eight games of Penn State season. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah. No. This is a huge game at Columbus too, and Ohio State has looked pretty solid to start the year too. I mean, splitting the series against UConn who came up with a huge win this weekend over BU. So they're gonna be a really solid team, and they were able to get a win in there.
Speaker 1:Obviously, a little bit of struggles against Sacred Heart, but I still think it's a great Buckeyes team that we have. And I think, yeah, we're gonna learn a lot about Penn State when they have to go to Ohio State to Columbus to face off against them.
Speaker 2:It'll be a very
Speaker 1:interesting matchup. I think they should too. And, I mean, the first game going to be on beat big 10 too. So Yep. Going to be a nationally televised game per se.
Speaker 1:Mhmm. Going to, you know, have some eyes on Gavin McKenna who, again, too, it's been interesting to watch him, you know, since that Arizona State series. I feel like this goes, pretty much in hand with, like, the problem with Penn State so far is that he just hasn't quite looked too adjusted yet to the college game. You know? He, you know, started he's been playing on the third line against Stonehill.
Speaker 1:They put him and Fink on the third line because, you know, it's just been struggling a little bit to sort of get going. And it's been interesting to see how, you know, he struggled a bit with the adjustment to the college game, but we're seeing, you know, some of these other CHL guys like Porter Martone, like Caden Lindstrom, you know, just immediately on the fly, and they've just, you know, look like they are way ahead of schedule for what your regular college freshman would look like, you know?
Speaker 2:Well, I mean and McKenna hasn't really had to be that star player yet because that team Yeah. Has a bunch of star players. Obviously, JJ Weebush, he leads the team he leads the nation in goals. Yeah. And then you look at Charlie Serrato, oh, he doesn't lead the nation in goals because his teammate is well, he's leading in assists, assists per game, a face off's one.
Speaker 2:I mean, this guy like, that team is very No.
Speaker 1:They have lot of talent. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean, they lead in so many categories that Gavin McKenna doesn't have to be a star player yet. Yes.
Speaker 1:Yes. That is that is a good point to that is a good point to point out too. But, yeah, gonna be interesting to see how they do. And then, obviously, they have that big matchup against MSU coming to Mon Ice Arena. So possibly maybe a bit of a look ahead series for them in Ohio State, but, I mean, no no no series in the big 10 is much of a look ahead series right now unless you're playing Minnesota, but we're gonna touch on that a little bit later.
Speaker 1:Anyways, yeah. So like I said, MSC was on bi week this weekend, so no hockey happening this weekend. I'm not not too sure what to, you know, say about what we wanna focus on the bi week. You know, looking to this game at Penn State, you know, just wanna get the boys right, I feel like, for Nightingale and just get them in the right mindset. But it kinda just feels like they're there, and I feel like, you know, even with the bit of, a questionable game too against NMU, they still just look really locked in and, like, this is you know, nothing is really gonna waver them, especially having a top five matchup against Penn State.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, honestly, it just with no disrespect to Northern Michigan, of course, that was a bit of a confidence booster for Michigan State, you know, and we saw that they're not gonna undervalue their opponents. I think that BU series really is was more the most important of the season and, the most important series so far. It was good to see the guys get the job done. Obviously, we can learn a lot of stuff from playing worse opponents. Like, we had to clean up the penalties.
Speaker 2:Right? We get penalties against any team. But, yeah, I mean, it's a nice week just to relax, get the boys ready. We can relax too.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Right. Exactly. I think it's a combination of, hey. You know, take a look at this Northern Michigan series.
Speaker 3:We won both games. There's a lot to clean up, a lot to improve on against this team because Penn State, you know, they haven't played up to the expectation that we thought they would, but they're still a top five team and still the favorite to win the big 10 in the, excuse me, the national championship. So I think what coach said, no. Needs to tell the guys is, hey. Get some rest.
Speaker 3:You know? Yep. But but also, you know, keep in mind that, hey. This this series coming up is probably the biggest of the season besides Michigan. So, you know, don't play scared.
Speaker 3:Don't chicken out, Gabe. Don't chicken out.
Speaker 1:If you obviously, we have no cameras right now, but Gabe currently came into the station with a chicken costume on. He's probably Celebrating Halloween a little bit early, but, you know, I like the festive I like the festive spirit. You know? It is I appreciate it. It's a nice it's a nice costume.
Speaker 1:Do you
Speaker 3:have a name for that costume?
Speaker 2:No. I don't. This actually isn't my costume for the year.
Speaker 3:Oh, really?
Speaker 2:Really? This is just kinda like a side outfit I have. I see.
Speaker 1:You got you got multiple. You're gonna go through a rotation this Halloween? Carry the platypus costume.
Speaker 3:Oh, good. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Wow. Are you are you
Speaker 3:pairing up with the doctor Doofenshmirtz?
Speaker 1:Bye week talk. Right? Yeah. You're getting you're your stuff right here.
Speaker 3:It interesting.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah. I love the I love the Halloween spirit. Appreciate that, guys. Jack, what do you go for for Halloween this year?
Speaker 3:So I am if you watched I'm sure you've watched Curious George.
Speaker 1:Sure.
Speaker 3:K. So I am the man in the yellow hat. My girlfriend is, is Curious George.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 3:There you Or Georgette, I guess. I kinda was like, well, you have to kinda be a I guess you can be Curious Georgette.
Speaker 2:But but I
Speaker 3:but the funny part is is so, you know, we're doing two separate nights. I guess her friends are coming up on the on Saturday. So on Friday, I am I'm I'm alone man in the yellow hat. I have no Curious Georgette by my side. So so I I just have to tell.
Speaker 3:I don't know where he's at. He's just somewhere and all. But but, no. I'm just
Speaker 1:I think people will still pick up on Ben. I hope so. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I'm curious. He left you.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah. There you go.
Speaker 3:Too curious. That that would be that would be interesting. But, yeah. No. I'm I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker 3:Halloween's always fun.
Speaker 2:You know?
Speaker 3:Definitely. What about yourself?
Speaker 1:Definitely. I will be going as Piglet. Yes. Me and my roommates, we all got Winnie the Pooh Winnie the Pooh onesies. Excuse me.
Speaker 3:There we go.
Speaker 1:Nice. Yeah. So we got we got piglet. This is what we're going
Speaker 3:for. Yeah. Well done. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Very nice. It is. So comfy too. Yeah. I might like
Speaker 3:So there we go. And maybe the team will come out all dressed up too and celebrate celebrate Halloween.
Speaker 1:I just say it's unfortunate we're not gonna get any, you know, Halloween walk in from these guys. Right. You know, like costume that they could possibly walk in pregame this weekend. But maybe we'll see something for Penn State. Maybe a
Speaker 2:little later. Yeah. Possibly.
Speaker 1:You know? Gonna be interesting to see. But, yeah, we're gonna now move on to some other happenings going on in college hockey. We got a huge series go on here in the state of Michigan as the number two and number three team faced off against each other. Western Michigan and Michigan had a series against each other.
Speaker 1:Western Michigan or Michigan, excuse me, absolutely handed it to WMU in that first game four nothing. Got the store scoring started early. Jaden Perrone, one fifty into the game, got the first goal, and it was all Michigan from there. Michael Hagee scoring a goal, Adam Valentini, and Garrett Shifsky finishing it off with an empty netter. Michigan just absolutely dominated the game.
Speaker 1:Western Michigan was only outshot 32 to 30, but, again, just great goaltending so far for Michigan. Jackie Vankovich has been phenomenal for them so far. And then in the second game, Western Michigan was able to come back handedly and win and win five to two. Excuse me. Once again, Western Michigan this time got the scoring started.
Speaker 1:Liam Valenti on the power play with the five zero nine to start with about fifteen minutes to go left in the first period. Michigan ties it up with seven minutes to go, and then Western Michigan takes it three unanswered goals. Michigan state Michigan, excuse me, responds late in the third period. Can't finish it off, though. This was a very interesting series to watch.
Speaker 1:Obviously, two big favorites, to win the national championship and two very good teams. But I think what my biggest takeaway was from this game so far was, you know, just how good Michigan has been defensively this season and how much better their goaltending is this year. That was, I think, the big missing piece for that team, last year and why they struggled so much just because they couldn't find that goaltending, but they've really found it here with Evankovic.
Speaker 2:Well, Evankovic, do you guys know where he's from?
Speaker 1:I can't. Can't tell you. Could not tell you.
Speaker 2:Well, he's from the same breeding grounds of Porto Martone, Brampton Steelheads OHL. Oh, okay. Feel like feel like there might be a lot of scouts next there.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Going and heading over there.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So Porto Martone Martone comes from the Brampton Steelheads, leads the team in points, 98, I believe. And then Jack, he starts 43 of 71 games. And what's interesting is his save percentage wasn't that good. He had, I think, just above a 900, but Michigan scoops him up, and, they made a great decision there because he's been, he's been the key piece that they've that, you know, they've needed, like you mentioned, Oscar.
Speaker 1:Mhmm. Yeah. It's been it's just been very intriguing to watch this Michigan team. It's very different, I feel like, from a lot of other Michigan teams and just, like, the way they are, you know, a lot better defensively Mhmm. Than they were in years past.
Speaker 1:Obviously, we know how much offensive talent they've had over the last couple of years, but they really just haven't had that goaltending and, you know, consistent deep play. So I feel like really get them over the top some of those times in the frozen four. And but, I mean, this year, it just feels like a completely different story. This looks like a lot more of a complete Michigan team this year, and it's gonna be very interesting to see how much of a force they're reckoned with. Now number two in the country after this, series split, with Western Michigan.
Speaker 1:So it's gonna be it's gonna be exciting to watch what they do, and they have been, you know, very, very impressive so far to start this first start to start this first half of the season.
Speaker 2:Well, the four games this year, the series with Michigan Michigan State might be the best television we watch.
Speaker 3:Oh, yeah. Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 2:And the duel the duel and the d might be my favorite sporting event of the year, of course. I do wanna talk about Will Whitelaw real quick for Western Michigan. He was on Michigan last year, transferred. I won a big revenge game out of him. He unfortunately skated a hundred twenty minutes of cardio out there.
Speaker 2:Didn't record didn't record a single point, but what but what Western has done this year is very impressive. They obviously lost a lot of players last year from the national championship squad, so they had to rely on a bunch of young guys and transfers like Whitelaw. Hampton Skolinski, he's been okay. He hasn't been as good as he was last year. Obviously, small sample size, and he played the number three at that time, number three best team in the nation.
Speaker 2:So he'll be just fine. I think Western's gonna be just fine, but that was a fun series to watch. It makes me even more excited for this, Michigan State series.
Speaker 3:Yeah. It makes me, think, you know, the Michigan Michigan State series, if Jack Evankovich can keep up what he's doing now, this could be like a matchup with the two top goaltenders.
Speaker 2:That's what I thinking.
Speaker 3:Like, you know, I think that that wasn't going into the season. Well, it's never been like a Michigan Michigan State goaltending battle. It's always usually been one-sided. But Yeah. This this literally could be if he keeps it up, and and his eight percentage right now is, you know, 93.7%.
Speaker 3:He's playing incredible. And so if he keeps that up, it could totally be like, hey. Both of these goaltenders are the top two goaltenders in the country. Let's see. It's usually, you know, you think about firepower between the matchups.
Speaker 3:It could totally be a, you know, one nothing, two nothing, two one game if both
Speaker 1:of these
Speaker 3:goaltenders keep it up.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. It's gonna be very interesting to see. And especially with, you know, how high powered those offenses are against each other, it's going to be interesting to see what type of game Yeah. Those turn out to be, when they face off against each other. Let's, move on to another, big game that happened as Denver and BC faced off against each other in Boston on Friday.
Speaker 1:Denver came out and dominated Boston College who has been very skittish to start the year so far. Only two two and one right now, but they have had really tough schedule to start. Obviously Yeah. Had that series against Minnesota, had a game against Quinnipiac, and now having to play against Denver. But this Denver game, you know, like I said, just Denver really handed to him.
Speaker 1:BC was able to keep it close, but after that second period, Denver just scored three unanswered, and it was pretty much gone from there.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean, this Boston team very right now is very hard for me to read. They lost they lost a lot of good guys. Right? They lost they lost Ryan Leonard to the Capitals this year. He had 49 points in 37 games last year.
Speaker 2:They lost a guy named Gabe Perrault who had 48 points in 37 games. Obviously, I'm pulling for my guy, not too many Gabes out there in the professional sporting world. But, what's weird to see too is those both guys were sophomores, obviously, drafted to the NHL, but they couldn't retain any of their young guys. And, some of their guys that they had that were supposed to fill those roles will vote. He skated in every game last year, and Teddy Stiga, he had 30 points in 36 games.
Speaker 2:You know, I thought they're gonna take that leap, and so far they haven't this year. I was actually reading an article from a Boston College reporter, and, he said he said, you know, we're a balanced team right now. I was like, well, these guys are balanced below par.
Speaker 1:Have Fair.
Speaker 2:They have no. Seriously. They have a couple guys. They're getting points per game, but most of the guys are playing together, which is subpar. Yeah.
Speaker 2:As for Denver, you know, they're sixth in the nation with a three two one record. I saw they have the schedule of doom and despair this year, fellas. Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Their conference, I I will say is, you know, it it is it has gotten now with Western Michigan being the powerhouse they are, it has gotten to be really tough. And, yeah, like you said, they have a lot of really tough out of conference games at Boston College, have a series against Maine, have to play Western Michigan four times this year.
Speaker 3:And they lost to Northeastern.
Speaker 1:Yes. They already lost to Northeastern too.
Speaker 3:Advantage of those games. And if you can't win those, it could be a toughie.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So that was a big upset too. Didn't score a single goal on Northeastern either. One nothing shutout for Northeastern. Shout out them to little bit of a nice little rink they got over there too.
Speaker 1:I'm pretty sure that game was at Northeastern, if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 2:So You know what I will say too? I know it's a little bit off topic, but Northern Michigan's atmosphere actually surprised me. For their for their team to not have a win during the year, I really liked watching that game because I think they have a cool rink, and they have good fans. Yeah.
Speaker 3:And check out check out broadcast max on TikTok or Instagram. He's their student broadcaster, their hockey student broadcaster. His call when they won the game.
Speaker 1:Down goes Denver. Down goes Denver.
Speaker 3:It was pretty cool. So if you're intrigued about that and wanna take a look at some other student broadcasters around the country, Broadcast Max is, he he does good stuff over there.
Speaker 1:There you go. Alright. Moving on to the other big game that happened this weekend. We had Yukon face off in a series against BU. They were able to split it with the BU terriers.
Speaker 1:This Connecticut team, they're three and three right now, but it feels like a very sneaky three and three. They are, you know, putting some together some pretty impressive wins that they have. Obviously, some, you know, questionable losses they have too at Colorado College and couldn't quite finish the series sweep against Ohio State and BU, but this has been a a a pretty nice team and a force to be reckoned with. And even with that game they won against BU, it was in very, very convincing fashion to getting up eight points Mhmm. Or eight goals, excuse me, against BU, which was, you know, not not something very many teams I thought would be able to do against Yagerov this year.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I mean and he got pulled, I believe, in that second game late, and, I think BU will be fine. They have a 500 record right now, but they have I mean, as of right now, you think that they're three quality losses. Right? Obviously, Michigan State twice, and they they look like, well, we look like the best team in the nation.
Speaker 2:And then UConn, obviously, they're a top 10 team now. I believe they're number nine in the nation. So despite, you know, that eight to four game was a little bit of surprise, but, you know, that happens every so often. Right? And I think they're gonna be they're gonna be fine.
Speaker 2:They have three quality losses, but they do have to perform for the rest of this year. Yeah. I agree.
Speaker 1:Don't that's all I got. I was gonna say, I mean, I really just you know, looking at how things have started to shake out this year, I just, you know, I really feel like you're not gonna see a lot of five loss, seven loss teams anymore, coming into the tournament as one seats. I feel like you're gonna see a lot of eight, nine, possibly 10 loss teams who are gonna be the one seats, and then you go after that. I mean, because of how the transfer portal and Yep. You know, the CHL has sort of affected college hockey, again, I think we're really seeing the results of that floor being raised on what the talent is in this in the collegiate pool right now, and it's gonna, I think, cause a lot of teams to have you know, it's gonna cause a lot of those great teams to not look as great on record and, you know, more just have to get that eye test and, you know, look impressive.
Speaker 2:Well, what I was gonna say is like the you said mentioned the floor. It's I think it's really the skill gap gets gets closer and closer with these CHL guys. You know, who would you say is Michigan State's best player right now? Well, maybe Augustine probably, but skater Martone. Right?
Speaker 2:Yeah. He's from CHL, freshman CHL. What about Michigan? Number two team in the nation right now. Who's their best player?
Speaker 2:Vonkovich. Right? And he's with
Speaker 1:I mean, maybe Hagee,
Speaker 2:but Maybe. Maybe. But Maybe. But my point is alright. Let's say let's say he's one of their top players.
Speaker 2:Right? It's these new guys from the CHL. Right? And so it's allowing not only for, you know, these young guys get an opportunity to prove themselves, whatever, but also the smaller schools that we see taking down these Goliaths throughout the year.
Speaker 3:Yeah. And that's gonna become like is when is it just not gonna be the smaller school? When is it just gonna be just expected? Right? Like, that it's a shock.
Speaker 3:This team goes down. This team goes down. This team goes down. But, Cornell University, here's another fun fact Yep. Is ranked now.
Speaker 3:They're they're twentieth in the country.
Speaker 2:Saw this.
Speaker 3:I saw this. And Cornell has yet to play a regular season game. They are zero zero and zero, and due to all of
Speaker 1:the Cornell, dude.
Speaker 3:Due to all of the losses from all these teams, they're able to find themselves in the top 20 now. But they have a chance, like we just talked about, to go on the road and beat Massachusetts.
Speaker 2:They have played two games this year. Yes. Against Against
Speaker 3:the national team,
Speaker 2:if I'm not mistaken? Yes. Nash US national team, u eighteen, and the Czech University Selects. So there you go. Dallas.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So that was good enough. That was good enough to get them that spot.
Speaker 3:I love us. Let's go.
Speaker 1:I love that. Shout out to the Czech National team for giving giving some great NPI, I guess, to Colgate right there. Alright. We're gonna have one more thing we're gonna talk about here. We have what we thought was gonna be a fully dominant big 10.
Speaker 1:Well, it turns out we have, like you said, a couple frauds possibly Sure. In our conference. And right now, it is looking like the Minnesota Golden Gophers might have to be on very high fraud alert right now going on two, five, and one Yep. Right now to start the season. Obviously, some tough games that they've had in there Yeah.
Speaker 1:Going against BU, having to play this series against North Dakota who, you know, was a bit of a question mark going into this year, obviously having a new coach, but they've looked pretty good to start the year. And, you know, and now they have this disaster of a weekend against UMD, losing o three and then one to four, only putting up one goal against Minnesota Duluth was, it was it was not good. And look. Minnesota Duluth is a great team. Yeah.
Speaker 1:But when you're, you know, getting beat by your in state opponent in state rival like that, when you're Minnesota, it's not a good look. And I it's just so interesting to watch how this team is playing this year, and it really feels like they just have not been able to cope with the amount of talent they've lost last year.
Speaker 2:Well, you look at that two, five, and one rank, Kurt, and you're like, how can these guys still be ranked? This Minnesota team is number 19 in the nation right now, and that seems impossible. Could you guys imagine if a football team was two, five, and one and ranked in the top? Like, that would
Speaker 3:This is insane.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah. It's like Texas still being in the top 20
Speaker 2:right now.
Speaker 1:It's like I know.
Speaker 2:Dude, that that North Dakota loss must mean a lot to the or to win. Win. Sorry.
Speaker 3:Excuse me.
Speaker 2:Win. Yeah. Yeah. Must mean a lot. But, I mean, shout out to Minnesota Duluth.
Speaker 2:I mean, they got the job done
Speaker 1:right now.
Speaker 3:Both other Minnesota teams, Duluth and, Minnesota State now jumping ahead of Golden Gophers.
Speaker 1:They got, I mean, again, UMD is off to a great start this year. Like I said, seven and one. I mean, Scott Sandalyn has been a long a long time coach there. He has really got that program running very well. And, yeah, they were able to take down Minnesota at Minnesota too, which is just it's gonna be tough, and especially going into conference play now at two five and one.
Speaker 1:They're forty third in NPI right now. It it they have such a long way to go, I feels like. And it it it the road, like I said, just does not get any brighter once you start conference play.
Speaker 2:I will say
Speaker 1:And you still have a lot of excuse me. Sorry. A lot of, a lot of, like, critical out of conference games too. They still have to play Denver as well Mhmm. In December in November.
Speaker 1:Excuse me.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Well, I was just gonna touch on that. Yeah. They're they do have an opportunity here coming up. They play Wisconsin who has been okay in the Big Ten, certainly not the best Big Ten team, and then they have the unranked Notre Dame after that series.
Speaker 2:So they have a chance to prove themselves and prove that record. Certainly, they have Penn State then Denver, like you just touched on. That's gonna be interesting to watch. But, I mean, they have plenty of opportunities to make themselves, you know, earn their ranking, but, the Golden Gophers haven't looked too hot this year, fellas.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I agree. Like you said, they do have a lot of opportunities. Obviously, playing in the big 10 is a big help for them as well. You know, very unfortunate that Luca DePasquo, a former MSU Spartan, has not gotten off to as great of a start this year as I thought he was going to.
Speaker 1:He's been splitting the games with Nathan Arie so far, and they just haven't quite found some consistent goaltending yet. But, yeah, they're gonna maybe possibly have to have a, PSU last year type season in big ten conference play if they wanna make their way to the tournament. So it's gonna be interesting to see them, and we will keep up with them as well throughout the season. But that'll do it for us here on behind the mask. Thank you all so much for listening to us.
Speaker 1:Again, Michigan State on bye week this weekend, so we will not have any games. But, again, next weekend, they face off against number four ranked PSU as Gavin McKenna and Aiden Fink come to town to face off against the number one ranked Spartans. Hopefully, still number one ranked at the time, but that'll do it for us here on behind the mask. I'm Oscar Henderson alongside my cohost, Gabe Sousa and Jack Vonwinkle. Thank you all so much for listening.
Speaker 1:Have a great day.