Michigan State split the opening series of the regular season with New Hampshire at home last week, falling 4-3 in game one before bouncing back to eliminate the Wildcats 2-0 in game two. The Spartans allowed just 13 shots on goal as a junior goaltender in the series finale recorded his seventh career shutout. Senior (1-2-3) and freshmen (0-3-3) were Michigan State's points leaders last week.
Michigan State is 62-51-6 all-time against current Hockey East programs (may include practice results).
Boston University leads the all-time series 9-8. MSU is 1-3 when playing on the road. The two teams have not met since October 24, 2014, a 1-0 Spartan loss in Boston. Michigan State has one additional win in exhibition action in 1997-98.
Michigan State's last win over BU came on 10/26/13, a 3-1 win at Munn Ice Arena. Brent Darnell, Joe Cox and Greg Wolfe scored for the Spartans. MSU's last win in Boston came in the first-ever meeting between the teams on 12/30/1958, a 3-2 win at the Boston Invitational.
Boston University is 2-0-1 after a 1-0-1 weekend against Colgate. The Terriers skated to a 2-2 tie with Colgate on Saturday, but won the shootout. They defeated Colgate 6-2 in game one. BU opened the season with a 4-2 win over LIU on October 4.
Boston University ranks 8th in Division I in power play goals (4), #9 in scoring (4.00/game), #11 in power play percentage (.308) and scoring defense (2.00/game) #12 in scoring margin (2.00) and penalty kill percentage (.929), #15 in faceoff winning percentage (.534) and #24 in penalty minutes per game (10.00).
Forward Cole Eiserman leads BU in goals (5) and is second in the nation in goals/game (1.67). Ryder Ritchie leads the Terriers with four assists (#10 nationally). Goaltender Mikhail Yegorov is #23 nationally in save percentage (.933) and #19 in goals against average (1.95).
Michigan State moved up to No. 3 in the USCHO.com poll this week and to No. 4 in the USA Hockey poll, up from last week's consensus No. 2 ranking. The Spartans finished last season as the sixth team in both national polls.
The Spartans return 14 letterwinners from a year ago and welcome a highly anticipated group of 13 newcomers.
was selected as the program's 80th captain and will wear the "C" on his chest this season. Basgall's assistant captains are seniors eldest and junior . Shoudy wears the "A" for the second straight season, while Stramel and Geary are captains for the first time.