MSU hockey takes down No. 16 UMass-Lowell, 4-3: Analysis and reaction

Lansing State Journal sports reporter Nathaniel Bott breaks down Michigan State hockey's 4-3 win over No. 16 UMass-Lowell on Thursday night.

What happened

MSU's second series of the season started Thursday against a ranked UMass-Lowell squad coming off a series split with Miami (Ohio). In a tense 3-3 game midway through the third period, MSU got a golden opportunity when forward Tanner Kelly was hooked on a breakaway, spurring the officials to call a penalty shot.

And Kelly took full advantage. The sophomore retrieved the puck from center ice and worked right to left, and as he approached the net, quickly shifted to his backhand and elevated his shot over the stick of Lowell goaltender Gustavs Davis Grigals to give MSU a 4-3 lead with eight minutes to play.

MSU maintained its lead from there despite some late challenges. Lowell pulled Grigals for an extra attacker, and after defenseman Nash Nienhuis took a penalty, MSU had to ward off a 6-on-4 Lowell advantage for the final 29 seconds. After a few blocked shots, the final buzzer sounded and MSU earned a ranked victory to improve to 2-1.

Lowell opened the scoring just under three minutes into the first period, but MSU ramped up the offensive pressure as the period continued. And with just under six minutes to play, MSU got on the board. Defenseman Matt Basgall took a shot which captain and forward Miroslav Mucha redirected past Grigals.

Mucha, whose family from Slovakia was in attendance, made sure his parents and relatives saw a show. Just 42 seconds after his first goal, Mucha took a one-timer from the top of the right circle that beat Grigals again for a 2-1 MSU lead.

With momentum heavily on the Spartans' side, MSU's offensive zone presence continued to be overwhelming, and defenseman Christian Krygier found himself in the slot, picking up a loose puck and firing MSU's third goal in just 1:34 later past Grigals.

Lowell got a power-play goal early in the second period and then tied with the Spartans just 1:14 into the third on a sharp-angle goal from forward Scout Truman.

MSU outshot the River Hawks 25-22, and graduate goaltender Dylan St. Cyr earned his second win of the season after making his third straight start in net. MSU sophomore defenseman David Gucciardi also made his debut and was plus two, with two shots on net.

What it means

It's an important first home win for the Spartans, and it comes against a ranked team that will put MSU in a good position in the Pairwise rankings, which determine who makes the NCAA tournament. It's a long way from diving into a potential postseason for MSU, but nonetheless it'll look good.

Lowell struggled in its first series against Miami (Ohio) and MSU was clearly the aggressor in the first 20 minutes. MSU's stretch from about the 10-minute mark through its three goals in the opening frame was the best MSU has looked this season, as the River Hawks were on their heels.

MSU struggled to get things going offensively in the second period, but outside of one Lowell goal, the River Hawks did too, with just five shots per side in the middle period.

MSU was the better team throughout most of the third, despite giving up the tying goal early on a shot that surprised St. Cyr from a sharp angle.

Kelly's game-winning goal was important for more than just the obvious reason. The sophomore played well through stretches in his first season, but it took him almost halfway through Big Ten play to get his first collegiate goal. He could be an important piece for MSU's offense, and seeing him draw a penalty on a breakaway and then showcasing a skillful move to give the Spartans the lead at a critical time is a clear sign of growth.

Gucciardi looked great, despite being on a minutes limit after missing the opening weekend due to an illness. He's MSU's most skilled defenseman and looked like it Thursday, even with the missed time.

St. Cyr made his third straight start, and, although junior goaltender Pierce Charleson might get the start Friday, it seems like the staff has St. Cyr slated as the primary goaltender for this team.

What they said

MSU coach Adam Nightingale, on the game overall: "It was a good win for our team, and I really like the way we started, even going behind we never panicked. Then I thought we took some penalties and it disrupted the flow of the game a little bit, but I thought we played with a lot of poise in the third. We are a team that's learning how to win and this is one that we'll bank and look forward to playing again tomorrow."

Nightingale, on Gucciardi making his debut: "We're excited about having him back in the lineup, and I think it says a lot about David that he played that way in his first game of the year against a really good team in a competitive game. He can be a really good player for us. He can really skate, he's a hockey junkie, and we think he's just going to keep getting better and better as the season goes on."

Kelly, on his penalty shot game-winner: "I wasn't thinking too much and I just came down and saw what was available and made the best move that I could. It felt good to get that one, and it's not something you practice too often, but just everyday skills work before and after practice prepared me for a situation like that."

Mucha, on getting two goals with his family in attendance: "It was awesome, and when they are able to make it over here from Europe I'm very grateful. I'm happy we got the W for them. It worked out for them to come this weekend with the football game, and to get my first two goals with my parents there, I'm glad it happened and there was a lot of good effort out there from the guys."

What's next

MSU will host Lowell again Friday night with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The Spartans' 2007 national championship team will be honored during the second intermission.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU hockey takes down No. 16 UMass-Lowell 4-3: Analysis and reaction