A loss for words.

That was the reaction to Michigan State hockey’s 4-3 overtime loss to Wisconsin in the Worcester Regional of the NCAA Tournament. MSU led for much of the game after falling behind 1-0. But a push from the Badgers forced overtime.

Wisconsin defenseman and captain Ben Dexheimer took the only shot of overtime, a long one that sunk right past junior goaltender Trey Augustine. It ended the Spartans’ season (26-9-2) and a chance at the first Frozen Four under coach Adam Nightingale. 

“I don't think I've been a part of a game like that,” Nightingale said after the game. “I don't know how you talk to the guys after. I don't have words to help the guys feel better. The only thing I can tell them is, thank you.”

MSU’s final game was the epitome of a hard-fought tournament game. It lost a core member of its offense when senior center Charlie Stramel exited the game with an injury about halfway through the first period. It prompted other players to step up, and they did. 

Senior center Tiernan Shoudy took 40 draws throughout the game. He took 16 in his game against UConn on Thursday. MSU finished the game with a 41-39 faceoff advantage, going 2-2 on the power play.

The Spartans trailed 1-0 when Stramel exited the game, but they eventually responded with two quick goals from junior winger Gavin O’Connell and junior defenseman Patrick Geary. 

“At that moment, if we had a panic in our team, that potentially could have been the case, and I actually thought I saw guys dig in,” Nightingale said. “The byproduct is we asked a lot of guys, for a long period of time.” 

Wisconsin started to wear at MSU with six minutes left in regulation and Augustine faced flurries of shots on all sides. With 4:47 left, defenseman Luke Osburn beat him on the left side.

“A ton of young guys got more ice time too, and they stepped up in a big way,” Shoudy said. “Just an unlucky bounce in front of the net there, right on their guy's tape.”