However, an early collapse — allowing two goals on the Nittany Lions’ first two shots within the first 1:40—put them in a deep hole. Despite a late push, MSU fell 3-2, collecting just one point on a weekend when every point mattered most.

“It’s tough, we’re at games 31, 32, in the season,” junior defenseman Matt Basgall said. “The results become more and more important as we go on. Pretty frustrating, but nothing we can do about it now, we’ve just got to move on. There’s time to do special things the rest of the season. The first 32 games don’t mean anything anymore.”

No team ever wants to lose. Taking a tough loss, despite the chance at a third period comeback on the senior night for the Spartans stings more. The red-hot Nittany Lions made sure to spoil the victory. Despite the loss, the celebration still commenced. 

For senior forward Tanner Kelly, senior defensemen David Gucciardi, graduate defenseman Nicklas Andrews, and captain Red Savage, Saturday’s game marked the end of their careers at Munn Ice Arena. Savage, a captain in just his second season, has battled through injury and left a lasting impact on the program.

“Couldn’t be happier for those four,” Nightingale said. “I think the concept of leaving a place better than you found it, you look at the two that have been here their whole career, no doubt they’ve done that and they’re a huge piece of it. I couldn’t be more thankful to coach them and the other ones that have come in.”

As the Big Ten standings tighten, the uncertainty grows.

“I think last night wasn’t great, but tonight I think we did a lot of good things. You’ve got to look at the positives there and looking ahead, just control what you can and just win your games. It’s pretty simple,” junior forward Karsen Dorwart said. 

With Minnesota sweeping Ohio State at Mariucci Arena and MSU picking up just one point against Penn State, the Golden Gophers jumped to first place in the conference, two points ahead of the Spartans.

The most meaningful games happen at the end of the season, with every team in the Big Ten fighting tooth and nail for points for their own reason. For the Spartans, it’s a shot at a title repeat and a bye week in the tournament, for the Nittany Lions it’s a shot at clinching home ice as they would host the Michigan Wolverines instead of travelling to a hostile environment at Yost Ice Arena.

For MSU to clinch back-to-back Big Ten regular-season titles for the first time in program history, a sweep over Notre Dame is essential. But they’ll need help—Penn State must also pull off another upset over Minnesota in one of the toughest environments in college hockey. If MSU splits with the Irish, Penn State would need to sweep Minnesota to keep the Spartans’ title hopes alive.

With everything on the line, MSU will head to South Bend for the most crucial series of the regular season, facing Notre Dame on Friday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 1, at 6 p.m. Both games will stream on Peacock.