Just about seven minutes into the game, MSU logged a penalty for interference on Artyom Levshunov to give Michigan Tech a slick breakaway, but freshman goalie Luca Di Pasquo was quick to block the puck and hold it for an outstanding save. Unfortunately for Michigan State, the Spartans couldn’t hold off the Huskies lit the lamp for the first goal on their power play.

The Spartans held strong on their shot attempts and rebounded with absolute ease, but they were not able to put a puck to the back of the net, even being above with shots on goal 16-9, the score remained 1-0 with the Huskies up after one.

With the second period underway, the Spartans came out ready to challenge the Huskies for another period. Tempers quickly flared and the pushing and shoving matches began. 

The Spartans finally nabbed their first power play 5 minutes into the second as a hooking call was made on the Huskies, giving the green and whites power play their opportunity to shine, which they did as sophomore forward Joey Larson finally put the Spartans on the board for their first of the game. The goal was assisted by junior forward Red Savage as well as senior forward Jeremy Davidson who tallied his third point of the tournament.

Michigan State ended up with another penalty kill after a cross checking minor was called on senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis, but the team was able to hold their opponents off putting them at 1-1 on the penalty kill for the night. 

With less than a minute to go in the second, Larson was able to put his second goal of the night to the back of the net as he put the Spartans up 2-1 heading into the final 20 minutes to go in the championship game. His second goal was assisted by fifth year forward Nicolas Müller and sophomore defenseman Matt Basgall.

Michigan State continued to put the puck to the net as they outshot the Huskies 15-1 throughout the second period and played dominantly yet again in their zone as they were ready to come into the third and dominate as they did in the first two.

While the Spartans did their best to defend and protect the goal, just two and a half minutes into the final period, the Huskies were able to tie the game up and were ready to compete for the title as well. 

The Huskies took the lead almost exactly halfway through the third as a hat trick came for Tech’s Jake Works, but head coach Adam Nightingale was quick to challenge for offsides, but the goal stood putting the Huskies up 3-2.

Just three minutes after the goal from the Huskies came, the Spartans fought back after a long pass from junior defenseman David Gucciardi landed on the stick of Savage, who had a breakaway goal to the net to tie the teams 3-3.

As the clock began to run down the teams fought tooth and nail for that game winning goal, but it was not going to come in regulation as they headed into an overtime game to determine the winner.

The time ran down quickly in overtime as well, and multiple great shot attempts were made, but neither team was able to capitalize in the five minute sudden death, sending the teams into a shootout to determine the winner.

As Michigan Tech went to shoot first Di Pasquo was able to keep the puck out of the net. With MSU next, Dorwart was up to shoot but the puck yet again did not find the back of the net.

Michigan Tech went in for their second shot, which went straight between the legs of Di Pasquo and MSU sophomore forward Daniel Russell was up and could not capitalize again. 

Michigan State’s Larson was next up, but the Spartans yet again could not capitalize as the Huskies took the shootout win over the Spartans and won the championship 4-3.

The Spartans will be back at home at Munn Ice Arena in action on Jan. 5 against the United States National Team Development Program in an exhibition match in hopes of a victory. The puck will drop at 7 p.m. which will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.