College Hockey Series of the Week: No. 6 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Wisconsin

Fasten your seatbelts because this week’s edition of College Hockey Series of the Week has a lot on the line. The No. 6 Michigan State Spartans (21-8-3) will head to Madison to battle for the Big Ten regular season title against the No. 4 Wisconsin Badgers (24-8-2).

With the Big Ten crown on the line, let’s take at the standings heading into this high-stake matchup.

Currently holding 49 points, the Spartans find themselves two points up on the Wisconsin Badgers who have 47 points.

Michigan State currently holds the all-time series record vs. Wisconsin with a 66-63-4 record.

This series will provide the victor with a first-round bye in the tournament while the other prepares for the No. 6 to be decided.

Starting with the Spartans, Joey Larson leads the forward group in goals and points with 15 goals and 30 points. Artyom Levshunov has been one of the best young blueliners in the game, tallying 30 points of his own with 22 assists.

Isaac Howard’s playmaking and slick hands have also allowed him to collect 30 points and 22 assists on the year.

The quintet of Karsen Dorwart, Red Savage, Nicolas Muller, Gavin O’Connell and Daniel Russell make the offense that much scarier as all five players have 22 points or more.

Trey Augustine has shaped up a solid freshman campaign between the pipes with a 19-7-2, a 2.95 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage.

This group loves to score as they have scored the sixth-most goals in the country with 127. They are also third in the nation with their powerplay, clicking at 27.7%.

Looking at the Wisconsin Badgers now, they are also a team that has a deep depth chart.

Cruz Lucius has played at a point-per-game pace with 30 points in 30 contests. With 12 goals on the season, Lucius is tied for the team lead in the category.

Behind him, David Silye, Simon Tassy, Mathieu de St. Phalle, Owen Lindmark and Christian Fitzgerald all carry 21 points or more on the year.

On the back end, Ben Dexheimer has put together an impressive sophomore season with 26 points in 34 games.

Notably the most important piece of this squad is goaltender Kyle McClellan, who looks like the best goalie in the NCAA. With a 22-8-1 record, McClellan had put together an extremely impressive 1.90 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage.

Wisconsin has scored a total of 114 goals which is ninth-best in the nation. Add that to a team that’s only let in 64 goals all year, which is third-least in the NCAA.

The Badgers’ penalty kill is a second-best 89%. They play stubborn defense that not many teams have successfully cracked.

This series will start March 1 at 9 p.m. EST and wrap up the next day at 9 p.m.

Anthony Desher is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email acd5698@psu.edu.