EAST LANSING — The No. 3-ranked Michigan State hockey program looked to bounce back after a disappointing weekend against Wisconsin, coming into Munn Arena on short rest to face a tested Colgate program that had won three of its past four games.
The Spartans looked on a mission to put the two losses to the Badgers behind them, scoring three goals in the first eight minutes against the Raiders on Wednesday, Nov. 26, sending a message from the jump in an eventual 5-2 series-opening win.
“I liked our start tonight. I think we got to our game right off the bat and executed at a high level,” MSU coach Adam Nightingale said. “We talked to the guys and asked them to be better in some areas, and I thought they were, for sure. We got a group that understands it’s not about the scoreboard, it’s about getting better and I think our guys were dialed in.”
MSU sophomore defenseman Owen West started the scoring just under four minutes in, firing a shot from the point that beat Colgate goaltender Reid Dyck. It was West’s first collegiate goal after recording five total assists in 42 career games.
Just 55 seconds later, MSU would double its lead on a nifty passing play. Defenseman Maxim Strbak jumped on a loose puck in the offensive zone and quickly fired a pass to sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi. Everyone on the ice thought Vansaghi was going to shoot, but instead he delivered a pass through the crease to a wide-open Ryker Lee, who settled the puck and put it into an empty net for his fifth goal of the season.
“(Vansaghi) doesn’t get enough credit for how smart a player he is. Everyone sees how hard he works and what a physical specimen he is,” Lee said. “But he sees the game really well and makes some really special plays out there. It’s been super fun playing with him.”
MSU’s second line was involved on the third goal as well, with Lee chipping the puck forward to Vansaghi to spring the Spartans on a 2-on-1 break. Vansaghi slid a pass to linemate Eric Nilson, who fired past a sprawling Dyck to put MSU up 3-0.
The Raiders would respond later in the first period when a shot from forward Jack Brandt ramped off an MSU defenseman’s stick and over the shoulder of Spartan freshman goaltender Melvin Strahl.
Strahl made his second career start and first home start with the Spartans, having last faced the Badgers on Nov. 22. Strahl made 29 saves on the evening, while his counterpart, Dyck, stopped 37 Spartan shots.
“I felt pretty good, getting my second game of the season. The guys in front of me did a great job and kept it clear,” Strahl said. “I stay ready for my opportunities. Everybody works and competes so hard, so just coming in every day and having that mindset and culture helps a lot.”
Junior forward Tiernan Shoudy had the only tally late in the middle frame, deflecting a shot from forward Tommi Mannisto past Dyck with just under two minutes remaining. MSU senior forward Charlie Stramel scored his sixth goal of the season late in the third period to make it 5-1 before Colgate’s Simone Dadie scored 22 seconds later in response.
MSU junior defenseman Patrick Geary and Colgate forward Ryan Sullivan were both ejected for fighting in the third period and given game disqualifications. B
oth players will be ineligible to play in the final game of the series at 4 p.m. Florida, Nov. 28.
Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State hockey rebounds with 5-2 win over Colgate
Reporting by Nathaniel Bott, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
