“In single elimination games like that, it's a game of inches,” sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi said. “One bad bounce, or one wrong play, or one missed assignment, and the puck can be in the back of your net.”

The loss serves as a reminder of what’s to come in the NCAA Tournament. Every team is hungry, and every team is good. MSU was challenged to respond within the game — and it did. But 60 minutes of effort isn’t always enough to win a hockey game.

Executing the right play, at the right moment has to happen. Like last season, when the Spartans lost 4-3 to Cornell in the NCAA regionals, after a buzzer-beater goal. 

"You've got to be locked in every single time you're out there," Vansaghi said. "You can't have a moment where you're caught drifting or caught watching the play. I liked our effort tonight, and I thought with the effort part, it's something to build off going into the tournament."

Both MSU and Ohio State missed assignments during the game, but both teams fought hard to execute, too. That’s why the score was tied entering each intermission. 

The game-winning goal came right after an MSU line change. It looked like junior defenseman Patrick Geary was going to hop on the ice, but there was a brief hesitation, and sophomore defenseman Colin Ralph did instead. The rest of the Spartans skated to catch up with Ralph, but Ohio State forward Felix Caron scored anyway.

“When you look at when we got scored on, probably not a great line change,” Nightingale said. “When you get into the first overtime, it's like second period hockey, and you got to change, you got to be ready to change, and all sudden, they're coming at you with speed.” 

It would be thoughtless to attribute the loss to that one moment. The line change could have worked, but Caron still could have made the shot. On the other hand, the Spartans could have buried one of their three overtime shots—or one of their 13 in the third period—to win in regulation.

MSU outshot the Buckeyes 38-31. It hit pipes, got blocked, missed wide and was stopped by Ohio State goaltender Kristoffer Eberly. Eberly stopped 36 shots, the second-highest mark of his season.  

“It wasn't good enough,” Vansaghi said. “We played a very good team, but I thought we played good, so it was a close game.”

MSU’s start was on brand for the team at its best. It was fast, physical and detailed. 

Vansaghi scored the first goal of the night, less than two minutes into the game for a 1-0 MSU lead, but the away-from-the-puck moments were strong, too.

Senior center Charlie Stramel lost the opening draw but won every one after for the rest of the period, 6-7 to open the game. It was a consistency that gave the Spartans more offense. 

Every possession was contested. Junior defenseman Patrick Geary used physicality to stop Caron in transition, and freshman forward Ryker Lee raced for the puck, lost it, and stayed on the forecheck.

The effort was exactly what the Spartans wanted to showcase, which led to frustration when the team trailed 2-1 in the second period, and gave up shorthanded chances on a power play.

“We got that power play and we were a little bit hair on fire,” Nightingale said. “That was a good learning experience for our group. It's like, 'Hey, everyone, take a deep breath here.'”

MSU tied the game 2-2 on its second power play of the night. It was a well executed passing sequence from the power-play unit, with freshman forward Porter Martone finishing the goal. 

The Spartans responded throughout the third period, stopping rushes and blocking shots. And in the final minutes of regulation, MSU was the team generating offense.  

“[Martone] had that one timer look there with about a minute left, (junior forward) Griffin (Jurecki) had a really good rebound look, and I thought (junior goaltender) Trey (Augustine) gave us a chance,” Nightingale said. 

By no means did the Spartans play a poor game or lack the effort to advance in the tournament. The fight was there, but a game of inches requires more than just the effort, and Ohio State is a solid team. 

“[Ohio State’s] staff does a really good job of playing organized and detailed,” Nightingale said. “If you want to have success, you have to play real hockey, and I wish we could play them again to be honest with you. I think that’s when you get better.”

This is the first time in the last two seasons that the Big Ten Tournament trophy won’t reside in East Lansing. But the Spartans aren’t done, and they know that. 

MSU is guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament based on its spot in the NPI rankings. It will be the team’s third-straight tournament appearance, after Nightingale led MSU to its first one in 12 years during the 2023-24 season. 

Unlike the past two seasons, the team has felt the sting of single-round elimination. It’s the first time they are entering the NCAA Tournament following a loss, something that could prove valuable.

“I think staying with it, that’s really important for our group,” Nightingale said. “This doesn’t change how we feel about our team. I get it. Everyone will have opinions and I don’t really care about anyone’s opinion, to be honest with you. I know how much these guys put in, how much we have in our room and how much character, and we’ll be ready to go for the tournament.”