Club hockey swept by MSU

The club hockey came away from this weekend’s sweep by Michigan State with a better feeling than previous weekend sweeps.

However, it took four consecutive losses for the team to gauge its strengths and weaknesses after entering the weekend with a full lineup for the first time in weeks.

Michigan State, No. 1 in the Central Division of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, swept both games this weekend. Central lost 8-1 Friday in East Lansing and 2-1 in Mount Pleasant.
The weekend before, Saginaw Valley State beat Central in both games, 6-5 in overtime and 11-4 the next day.

Sophomore defenseman Murphy said he noticed Michigan State applied more pressure than other teams Central has played this season. The pressure in all zones led to Central’s indecisive execution, leading to turnovers and odd-man rushes.

“We haven’t really been tested like that,” Murphy said. “The reason we came out so flat is because – Michigan – they’re bad. DePaul wasn’t very sharp. Saginaw Valley was good … Yesterday, that was the first game that we really, really played a good team.”

Central coach Mike Jakubik said he does not like to think of the losses against Michigan State as “good” losses, but the games revealed the team’s abilities against a top-ranked opponent. The games tested Central’s juggling lineup after senior forward Mike Lesnau played his first games of the season against Saginaw Valley. His return created a ripple effect through the rest of the lines as forwards had to be moved down to accommodate Lesnau.

“(Saturday) we came out and played like we did in the first (Friday),” Jakubik said. “We stuck to our gameplan throughout the whole game. Everyone knew the rule; played defense first and back-checked.”

More injuries

Freshman Alec Sherman left Friday’s game because of an injury. Jakubik said Sherman’s foot was either broken or bruised but, nevertheless, he stood alongside Jakubik behind
the bench on Saturday.

Sherman, a 6’4’’ 225-pound defenseman, is highly regarded by teammates as a physical player. Murphy said Sherman’s absence impacted the defensive core and affected the team’s physical gameplan against Michigan State.

Murphy also talked about goaltender Zach Knaus and his play against Michigan State over the weekend. Knaus started both games and made 23 saves Saturday, despite screens and the MSU strategy of often placing two forwards in the slot.

“(Friday) we kind of left him out to dry,” Murphy said. “He’s a great, great goalie … He played a hell of a game.”

Murphy said Knaus’ composure is influential.

“I was in front of the net; I went to go lift a kid’s stick and he got the shot off,” Murphy said. “I looked between my legs and I didn’t see Knaus behind me. They got the shot off and I thought ‘Man, they scored.’ I went into the corner with my head down and I turned around and seen Knaus in the corner with the puck in his glove.”