This past weekend featured a pair of New York Rangers prospects facing off in a top-three matchup, when Malcolm Spence scored his seventh goal of the season to lead No. 1-ranked Michigan past Sean Barnhill and Michigan State 3-0 on Friday night.
The freshman forward buried a beautiful feed for an even-strength goal 5:17 into the first period Friday, to give Michigan an early 1-0 lead over its arch-rival. The goal turned out to be the game-winner in the shutout victory, his first in the NCAA.
Michigan shut out Michigan State on the road for the first time since Jan. 7, 2000. But the Spartans earned a series split with a 3-1 victory at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday.
Heading into the holiday break, Spence is fifth on the Wolverines in goal scoring, and his 12 points in 20 games are 10th-best on the team. Michigan remains at the top of the polls with a 16-4-0 overall record. The Wolverines are off until the new year, with an exhibition against the U.S. NTDP U-18 Team scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 3, before NCAA play continues against Notre Dame on Friday, Jan. 9.
Barnhill was minus-1 in the loss for Michigan State on Friday with one shot on goal. The freshman defenseman was plus-1 in the rematch Saturday, and been solid defensively though 16 games this season. He also contributed three assists heading into the holiday break.
Michigan State is 12-4-0 and remains third in both the USCHO.com and USA Hockey Polls . The Spartans return from the break to take on Ferris State in the Great Lakes Invitational on Sunday, Dec. 28.
Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORKCredit: Frank Becerra Jr. / The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK
Senior captain Brody Lamb had a three-point performance on Thursday evening, when he led the Minnesota Golden Gophers to a 6-3 victory over Ohio State. Lamb extended his scoring streak to three games, recording a goal and two assists for his sixth multi-point game of the season. His first point came on the power play, when Lamb was credited with a secondary assist on Minnesota's first goal to tie the game at 1-1 at 3:50 of the second period. Minnesota took a 2-1 lead at 9:03 of the period, when Lamb earned the primary assist.
After Ohio State rallied to tie the game 3-3, Lamb buried his own rebound after attacking off the rush for his ninth goal of the season at 6:40 of the third period to put his team in front for good.
Lamb also displayed his defensive skills by blocking four shots, and finished plus-3. Lamb's scoring streak came to an end, when Minnesota lost 6-5 in overtime Friday night. He was limited to just one shot on goal with one blocked shot. Heading into the holiday break, Lamb is tied for the team lead in points with 19 (nine goals, 10 assists) through 19 games. Minnesota has an 8-10-1 overall record and returns to action Friday, Jan. 2 against Bemidji State.
Rangers 2024 first-round pick EJ Emery had one shot on goal Friday for North Dakota, when the Fighting Hawks held on to defeat St. Cloud State 4-3 in NCHC competition. The sophomore defender had two blocked shots and a minor penalty for high-sticking.
North Dakota improved to 12-4-0 after a 4-2 win over St. Cloud on Saturday. Emery had one blocked shot with a plus-1 rating in the win. Through 15 games played, Emery has two goals and two assists for four points. North Dakota climbed one spot to fourth in the USCHO poll, and remained 5th in the USA Hockey poll. The Fighting Hawks play Omaha this Friday.
Sophomore Ty Henricks had one assist for Western Michigan, when the Broncos split a pair of games against Minnesota-Duluth in NCHC play. Henricks earned the primary assist on Western Michigan's first goal Saturday, when they rallied for a 3-2 win. The assist was his career best sixth of the season, and Henricks matched his point total from his freshman campaign with 13. Henricks recorded three of those points came back in October during a 5-2 win against Spence and Michigan.
Western Michigan remained seventh in the USCHO poll and dropped one spot to eighth in the USA Hockey poll. The Broncos are 10-6-0 and return from the holiday break on Sunday, Dec. 28 against Boston College in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-Off.
Junior defenseman Drew Fortescue had one shot on goal Friday night, when Boston College defeated UMass-Lowell 3-1 in Hockey East action. Fortescue received a double-minor penalty in the third period for roughing. The Eagles swept the River Hawks by the same 3-1 mark Saturday. Fortescue earned a secondary assist on BC's third goal to bring his stats up to three goals and five assists for eight points through 16 games played this season.
Boston College gained two spots in the USCHO poll, climbing to 13th, and is ranked 12th in the USA Hockey poll. The Eagles are 10-5-1, and next face Western Michigan on Sunday, Dec. 28.
Swedish defenseman Rasmus Larsson was scratched from the lineup for Robert Morris University, when the Colonials split a weekend series against Air Force, losing 4-1 on Friday before a 6-3 victory Saturday. The sophomore transfer has appeared in only five of 16 games this season, last skating against Lindenwood on Nov. 22. Larsson is pointless since transferring from Northern Michigan, where he scored three goals and skated in 29 games for the Wildcats last season. His next opportunity to return to the Robert Morris lineup comes Tuesday, Dec. 30 when the Colonials visit Sacred Heart University.
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