The stat sheet doesn't always show it, but Shane Vansaghi is the type of player every team in college hockey would love to have.

Michigan State's sophomore forward is big, physical, smart, skilled and consistent. And he makes winning plays all over the ice.

Every elite team has a player like Vansaghi.

MSU coach Adam Nightingale is well aware of Vansaghi's importance to the No. 3-ranked Spartans (11-3, 4-2 Big Ten), who are preparing for a huge rivalry series with No. 1 Michigan this weekend.

"Shane's been really good, he's an everyday guy. You know exactly what you're going to get from him," Nightingale said. "He's a winning person and a winning player. He's been a little bit snake-bitten when you look at the points or whatever, but he's been about as consistent a forward as we've had.

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