Here's a breakdown of the game:
- While the Spartans dominated play throughout the night, the game did not look like it was heading for a 10 goal blow out after the first period. The Trojans trailed 2-0 heading into the intermission. USC did not look explosive per se, but the defense was active and broke up centering feed after centering feed and blocked plenty of shots.
- The Trojans had no answer for the Spartans first line all night. Combined, they scored half of San Jose State's goals. Captain Mickey Rhodes assisted on 6. Andy Dickerson and Sam Cimino each had a hat trick and a pair of assists. They played with incredible chemistry all night. The Spartans speed on that line and on their team overall killed USC.
- Meanwhile, USC showed absolutely no offensive chemistry. The first line was a patchwork combination of new and old Trojans with Landsinger, Helmer, and Frazier. That line looked like they were simply not on the same page all night. The second line of Comisar, Mach, and Ernst seemed to disappear into the background of the game. Only the Trojans' checking line of McClanathan, Szentveri, and Mason had any remote success.
-But the real problem for the Trojans came on the other end of the ice. While the Spartans choked off USC's offense in the neutral zone, the Trojan defense played hesitant, giving SJSU free entry into their territory. There was little physicality and the Spartans skated circles around USC. One of Cimino's goals came when he took the puck from behind USC's net and essentially walked into the low slot area.
- Goaltender Zack Keith had his second straight off game. To be fair, the majority of the goals were absolutely not Keith's fault, but several specific ones clearly were. Keith came out of the net to sweep away a puck from an oncoming Sam Cimino,. He badly misplayed the puck, Cimino scooped it up and fired it into the net. Later, a slapshot from the point made its way through Keith into the top corner without a screen in front. I hate say it because he's a fantastic guy, but the bottom line is that in Keith's two games starting, the Trojans are 0-2 and Keith's GAA (goals against average) is 9.
- Because of this, Phil Adams will have a chance to outright win the starter's role with another flashy performance in Saturday's game.
- The Trojans' two goals came from hard nosed plays in front. Scott Mason found a rebound off of a Matt Lewis shot and forced the puck in with SJSU goaltender Allesandro Mullane breathing down his neck. His first career goal as a Trojan. Pinching in from the point, Michael Gawlik found a rebound from a Max Szentveri attempt on goal.
- Joshua Frazier had a rough first game of his season. Just 20 seconds into the game, Frazier took a hooking penalty. During the second period, Frazier took a series of absolutely ridiculous hits. One of any of them would have been enough to shake up a player. He was hit five or more times with vicious check after vicious check. At least three of them happened on one ridiculous shift. To his credit, Frazier got up and continued skating after each hit, but man did he take some abuse.
- The penalty kill struggled for USC all night, allowing 4 powerplay goals.
- USC is now 1-3 overall and on a 3 game losing streak. Getting swept could be either incredibly demoralizing or a true wakeup call, but winning could be particularly difficult tomorrow.
OFFICIAL TROJAN SCORING
1st Period
No Scoring
2nd Period
Mason - 1 (Lewis)
3rd Period
Gawlik - 1 (Szentveri, Mason)
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