“It was back and forth, stuck with it,” coach Adam Nightingale said. “Some timely goals by us for sure, that one with two seconds left in the period was a big one. To come back here, on the road in this type of environment, to tie it up and then find a way to get it done in overtime. I thought it was awesome.” 

Stramel tallied his first collegiate hat trick in the win, finishing with three goals and an assist. Senior winger Daniel Russell also recorded four points in the game, followed by freshman forward Porter Martone with three.

“Sick environment,” Stramel said. “So cool to play in that game and an honor to be a part of it and to get the job done. Like I said, it felt like a playoff environment."

The Spartans improved to 21-5-0 overall and 12-4-0 in Big Ten play with 35 points. Their next game is against No. 1 Michigan on Friday, Feb. 6, at 7 p.m. The rivals will close out the series Saturday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena in the annual Duel in the D.

An early lead

Just as the last game, junior netminder Trey Augustine performed an early save in the first 10 seconds, setting the tone for the rest of the frame. Augustine stopped 31 shots throughout the game and Michigan State’s defense helped prevent transition chances. 

The Spartans got on the board 2:34 into the game on a first-line connection. Martone banked a pass to Stramel as the defense collapsed, allowing Stramel to find Russell in the slot for a 1-0 lead. Russell is no stranger to outdoor goals, having netted an overtime winner in Michigan State’s last outdoor contest, the Frozen Confines.

Each side saw a power-play chance in the first period, both goaltenders performing big stops to carry the Spartans’ 1-0 lead into the second period. 

An eventful second period

Just as the previous night, Penn State converted out of the faceoff. In the first 14 seconds of the second period, forward Aiden Fink evened the score after beating out junior defenseman Patrick Geary. Augustine was still on the alert, however, preventing an odd man rush shortly after. 

The Spartans responded quickly, turning a defensive stop into offense. Sophomore defenseman Owen West intercepted a pass in the defensive zone and sent it ahead to Martone, who missed the shot but set up Stramel for the rebound and a 2-1 lead.

The lead held for just a few minutes as forward Gavin McKenna evened the score yet again out of a won faceoff for the Nittany Lions. 

Both goaltenders faced scrambles and crowded nets. Augustine stopped multiple breakaways including a shot from McKenna, fired at his chest. With four minutes left in the second period, he let one by him. 

McKenna fired a one-timer that was knocked in by Fink for Penn State’s first lead of the game, 3-2. Trailing for the first time in the series, the Spartans maintained their poise, killed off a penalty and went on the power play. The Nittany Lions cleared the puck with 10 seconds left, but that was plenty of time for Stramel.

With two seconds left in the period, Stramel scored from the slot to tie the game 3-3 entering the final intermission. 

“You want to be able to respond within a game,” Nightingale said. “Our conference is so tight and you're playing good teams, so a good one to have in our back pocket, your ability to respond within the game. I thought our guys showed that today.”

Final moments

Penn State broke the tie early in the final period. Forward Shea Van Olm scored on a bullet from the left wing that fooled even the crowd at first — it looked like Augustine had the glove save, but the puck snuck past him. 

Down 4-3, Augustine was forced to prevent more crowded-net shots and Penn State’s offense did a decent job of preventing the Spartans’ offensive set up, until MSU’s captain pulled through. 

Senior defenseman Matt Basgall scored on a one-timer to even the score almost eight minutes into the third period. Penn State challenged the goal for offsides earlier in the sequence, but the goal stood. 

While the Nittany Lions had an opportunity to take the lead on a power play, the Spartans’ penalty kill was detailed and successful. Augustine stopped a quick shot and its rebound, sending the game to overtime.

Both teams took their time early, with Penn State firing the first shot, which was blocked by Basgall. In the third minute, Geary found Stramel in the slot, and he converted, clinching a 5-4 victory and two points in the Big Ten standings.

“I saw the puck was along the wall and Geary was there, kind of two Penn State guys around him,” Stramel said about the overtime goal. “He ended up making a great play in the slot, and then I just tried to fake backhand and get it up top shelf, and it ended up working.” 

Six different Spartans tallied points on the win. After the game, Nightingale acknowledged the team effort that went into Stramel’s hat trick, as well as freshman forward Anthony Romani’s the night before. 

“We got a lot of depth on our team, so I think [hat tricks are] a product of that,” Nightingale said. “We got some guys that can score. It’s starting to go into the back of the net a little more for us. I think earlier in the year we generated a lot, but didn't finish as well as we know we can, and we're going to need that down the stretch.”