Michigan State hockey learned both sides of Big Ten play last weekend, pairing a dominant win with a reminder of how quickly the margin can disappear.
No. 2 MSU hockey resumed conference play last weekend with a split series against Ohio State. On Friday, the Spartans jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead on their way to a 6-2 win, a season high in goals scored. MSU lacked that same grit and execution the following night, falling 2-1 in a performance beneath the team’s standard.
One of the biggest challenges for young hockey players is playing to the standard after a win, Nightingale told the media after the series.
While veteran leadership and talented newcomers have fueled much of MSU’s success this season, Saturday’s loss served as a reminder that growth and response are required in competitive college hockey. Friday’s win showed what the team is capable of when executing at a high level.
MSU moved to 15-5-0 overall and 6-4-0 in Big Ten play following the split. The Spartans return to the road to face No. 3 Wisconsin on Thursday, Jan. 15, and Friday, Jan. 16. Thursday night’s 9 p.m. EST contest will air on Big Ten Network.
Friday, Jan. 9
The Spartans looked dominant in their return to conference play, with freshman forward Anthony Romani opening the scoring Friday night. Freshman forward Porter Martone added another goal seven seconds later, and senior forward Charlie Stramel followed 16 seconds after that to give MSU an early 3-0 lead.
"We executed at a high level," Nightingale told the media after the win. "We scored three goals in maybe 40 seconds, so high execution there."
Martone scored another front-net goal before the first intermission to extend MSU’s lead to 4-0. The winger finished with four points (2-2-4), a career high after missing the previous two games while competing in the IIHF World Junior Championship with Team Canada.
The Spartans took several penalties in the second period, halting their momentum. While MSU has found consistent success this season, second-period lapses have proved costly, including the sweep by Wisconsin earlier this year. Ohio State scored once at even strength and once on the power play, though junior goaltender Trey Augustine held strong in net.
MSU returned to its style of play in the third period, with Stramel scoring again on an assist from senior forward Daniel Russell. Russell recorded three assists, reaching the 100-point mark for his career. He is one of just seven active NCAA hockey players to reach that milestone. Stramel also finished the game with three points (2-1—3), his third-straight game with two goals.
Freshman forward Ryker Lee scored the final goal of the night on an unassisted effort in the third. Lee stole the puck from behind the net and finished with a spinning move that landed on SportsCenter’s Top 10.
While MSU was outshot 32-27, the team led in faceoffs and blocked shots, capitalized on its power play and was 5-for-6 on the penalty kill, contributing to its success.
Saturday, Jan. 10
MSU’s performance was uncharacteristic from the start, with the Buckeyes holding a 14-2 shot advantage by the first intermission. Ohio State finished with a 35-27 edge in shots and a 40-23 advantage in faceoffs. The 2-1 loss snapped the Spartans’ undefeated road record.
"I don't think we were willing to sweat enough, and at the end of the day, that's my responsibility to make sure that the guys understand that" Nightingale said. "We fell pretty far short of that today."
Two bright spots were the Spartans’ penalty kill, 3-for-3 on the night, and Augustine. The netminder stopped 33 of 35 shots for a .943 save percentage.
After a scoreless first period, Ohio State took a 1-0 lead early in the second. MSU’s lone goal came later in the period, when freshman defenseman Matt Lahey forced a turnover that allowed Martone to tie the game on a one-on-one chance.
Martone finished the weekend with five points (3-2-5), while Lahey recorded his first career point with the assist. Lahey made his collegiate debut after missing the start of the season with an injury.
Despite the equalizer, MSU’s offensive struggles continued in the third and the Buckeye’s broke the tie after forward Davis Burnside cut behind a Spartan defenseman for a 1-on-1 shot. The Spartans prevented an empty-net goal after Augustine was pulled but could not find the net.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
Although the weekend ended on a low note, Friday’s performance highlighted what MSU is capable of at its best. The upcoming series against Wisconsin offers an immediate opportunity to respond, especially after the Badgers swept the Spartans on home ice last November.
