For a second time this year, MSU and No. 1 Minnesota couldn’t settle the game in 60 minutes of regulation play — plus 5 minutes of overtime — and for a second straight time, MSU came out with two points after a shootout victory.
MSU (8-12-4 overall, 2-4-3-3 Big Ten) fought to a 2-2 tie with a shootout victory against the top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (18-2-5, 7-0-2). Junior forward Matt Berry and freshman forward JT Stenglein scored in the shootout, and sophomore goaltender Jake Hildebrand made saves on five of six Minnesota skaters to give the Spartans a 2-1 advantage in six rounds of the shootout.
Two questionable calls by the officials kept the game close, one giving Minnesota the tying goal in the third period and one extending the shootout.
MSU took the early lead on a tap-in goal by sophomore forward Michael Ferrantino with 9:20 left in the first period. Junior forward Matt Berry came out of the left side corner and made a tape-to-tape pass to an open Ferrantino, ready to bury the puck.
The goal extended Ferrantino’s scoring streak to four games.
The Spartans would strike again only 1:34 later on a wrist shot by freshman forward Villiam Haag.
The Sweden native came out of the same left side corner and fired a wrist shot that found the top left corner to give MSU a 2-0 lead.
Freshman forward Thomas Ebbing and senior defenseman Jake Chelios had assists on the goal.
It appeared MSU would head into the dressing room with a 2-0 lead, but like its last outing, the Spartans surrendered a last-minute goal. Minnesota freshman forward Hudson Fasching scored a power play goal on a rebound shot from the point.
Junior forward Travis Boyd and sophomore defenseman Mike Reilly had assists on the goal.
Minnesota dominated the second period, but it was MSU’s stellar defensive play to weather the storm that stood out.
The Spartans killed three Golden Gopher power plays in the 20-minute period, with both goal posts helping Hildebrand keep MSU ahead 2-1 heading into the third period.
Minnesota would tie the game only 5:27 into the third period on a questionable goal.
Sophomore defenseman Brady Skjei shot the puck from the right point just inside the MSU blue line and senior forward Nate Condon apparently redirected the puck through Hildebrand’s legs with his skate to tie the game.
The goal was reviewed by the officials but was upheld.
Skeji and senior defenseman Justin Holl had assists.
Hildebrand finished with 26 saves, not including the five saves in the shootout.
MSU out shot Minnesota 30-28.
Since the game is officially ruled a tie, Minnesota extends its unbeaten streak to 13 games.
MSU and Minnesota will head back to the ice Saturday night for the second leg of the two-game conference series. Face off is set for 8 p.m. and can be seen on Fox Sports Detroit Plus.
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