Saturday, March 4
South Bend, Ind.
4:30 pm
Michigan State University
17-17-2
4
at
2
Notre Dame
16-15-5
1
2
3
F
Michigan St.
0
2
2
4
Notre Dame
1
0
1
2
Win At Notre Dame Forces A Sunday Game Three
3/4/2023 7:44:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
South Bend, Indiana.. – No. 20/20 Michigan State scored its most-ever goals in a Big Ten Tournament game and got the monkey off its back by securing its first-ever Big Ten Tournament victory, downing No. 19/17 Notre Dame 4-2.
The teams will now play Sunday to decide this best-of-three series, with the puck dropping at 6 pm at the Compton Family Ice Arena.
The determined Spartans – who dropped a 1-0 decision on Friday despite outshooting the Irish 36-21 (18-2 in the third period), stuck to the same script they brought into the weekend – a high-tempo, aggressive-forechecking, grind-it-out style that had the Irish in chaos for several stretches throughout both games. Michigan State (17-17-2) was the dominant team in the first period, but still entered the intermission trailing 1-0 on the strength of a Solag Bakich goal that was generated on a two-on-none during a Spartan line change.
Michigan State finally got on the board midway through the second period on a goal by Jeremy Davidson on the power play off a nice cross-ice feed from Nicolas Müller, and took its first lead of the series on a Matt Basgall tally with just over three minutes remaining in the period. In the third, the Spartans left little doubt, scoring twice in the first 5:34 – from Nash Nienhuis and Karsen Dorwart – to match its largest lead (three goals) over the Irish this season. As the home team pushed to get back into it, they pulled goalie Ryan Bischel while skating on the power play, which led to a 6-on-4 goal by Jack Adams at 13:34.
After getting some confidence with a goal on the power play, Notre Dame kept Bischel on the bench for most of the final five minutes of regulation, but MSU's defense was not having any of it – MSU combined for five saves and four blocked shots in that final five minutes to secure the victory and ensure a third game on Saturday.
MSU converted on its only power play chance in the second period, while its penalty kill was 2-for-3, allowing only the 6-on-4 goal.
Dylan St. Cyr made 31 saves, including 12 in each of the final two periods. Bischel, who earned the 36-save shutout on Friday, stopped 28 shots for Notre Dame, 16 of which came in the first period. His team blocked 28 shots in front of him, compared to 15 for MSU.
STATISTICS OF NOTE
PERIOD SUMMARIES
First Period: The Spartans came out with similar jump to Friday's game, and forced Bischel to be sharp early, particularly on a rush when he stopped Tiernan Shoudy's initial shot and also the putback attempt by Tanner Kelly. By the 11-minute mark, MSU owned a 14-1 edge in shots on net, creating chaos in their offensive zone. As the teams got below the five-minute mark, the Irish got the break they needed on an MSU change, as Trevor Janicke hauled the puck into the offensive zone and passed off to Solag Bakich, and the senior finished the cross-slot pass for his third goal of the season. Nicolas Müller was whistled for interference with just over two minutes remaining in the period, putting the Irish on the power play - but Notre Dame could not find an insurance goal before the final buzzer.
Second Period: Notre Dame had the better of play over the first eight minutes of the second period, which included Notre Dame's second power play chance of the night. After Christian Krygier got out of the box, the Spartans went back to its pressure, and got its first power play chance at 7:26. In the second half of the man advantage, Muller delivered a pinpoint pass from the right point to Jeremy Davidson below the left dot, and Davidson finished it for his eighth goal of the season and a tie ballgame. It was the first shot on net in the period for MSU, as the Irish took their turn in dominating the shot counter. MSU got a jump after finally breaking through with a goal, and took its first lead of the series at 16:37. Daniel Russell handed the puck off to Tiernan Shoudy, who bullied his way into the slot and dished off to Matt Basgall on the right side, and Basgall's offering rang off the left post before finding its destination for the blueliner's fourth goal of the season – and more importantly, and MSU lead. MSU was outshot 12-7 in the period, but it was a 10-0 lead for Notre Dame at the halfway point before the Spartans regained their mojo.
Third Period: MSU kept grinding away as it headed into the third, and added a bit of breathing room when Nash Nienhuis took a pass from Jeremy Davidson and scored his fourth of the year from the right circle. Just over two minutes later, it became a 4-1 game when Daniel Russell picked up his second assist of the night and fed his linemate Karsen Dorwart, who carried the puck below the right circle and wristed a shot past Bischel from the sharp angle. MSU took a penalty at 13:02 (Davidson for cross-checking), and pulled its goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage, which led to a Jack Adams power play goal which made it 4-2. Trying to avoid a game three, Notre Dame parked Bischel on the bench with five minutes to play, trying to pull closer. The Spartans, however, did not yield – they killed off essentially a five- minute man advantage for the home team, as St. Cyr made five saves and the Spartans blocked four other shots (two blocks by Christian Krygier). Notre Dame outshot MSU 13-9 in the period with seven minutes of man advantage time, but could only solve St. Cyr once in that span.
The teams will now play Sunday to decide this best-of-three series, with the puck dropping at 6 pm at the Compton Family Ice Arena.
Relive all four of @MSU_Hockey's goals from their win today vs Notre Dame. ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/V8MnBuypVt
— Michigan State on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) March 5, 2023
The determined Spartans – who dropped a 1-0 decision on Friday despite outshooting the Irish 36-21 (18-2 in the third period), stuck to the same script they brought into the weekend – a high-tempo, aggressive-forechecking, grind-it-out style that had the Irish in chaos for several stretches throughout both games. Michigan State (17-17-2) was the dominant team in the first period, but still entered the intermission trailing 1-0 on the strength of a Solag Bakich goal that was generated on a two-on-none during a Spartan line change.
Michigan State finally got on the board midway through the second period on a goal by Jeremy Davidson on the power play off a nice cross-ice feed from Nicolas Müller, and took its first lead of the series on a Matt Basgall tally with just over three minutes remaining in the period. In the third, the Spartans left little doubt, scoring twice in the first 5:34 – from Nash Nienhuis and Karsen Dorwart – to match its largest lead (three goals) over the Irish this season. As the home team pushed to get back into it, they pulled goalie Ryan Bischel while skating on the power play, which led to a 6-on-4 goal by Jack Adams at 13:34.
After getting some confidence with a goal on the power play, Notre Dame kept Bischel on the bench for most of the final five minutes of regulation, but MSU's defense was not having any of it – MSU combined for five saves and four blocked shots in that final five minutes to secure the victory and ensure a third game on Saturday.
MSU converted on its only power play chance in the second period, while its penalty kill was 2-for-3, allowing only the 6-on-4 goal.
Dylan St. Cyr made 31 saves, including 12 in each of the final two periods. Bischel, who earned the 36-save shutout on Friday, stopped 28 shots for Notre Dame, 16 of which came in the first period. His team blocked 28 shots in front of him, compared to 15 for MSU.
STATISTICS OF NOTE
- MSU wins its first-ever Big Ten Tournament game after a combined 0-13 through the first nine seasons of the league. Adam Nightingale becomes the first MSU coach to win a Big Ten Tournament game, in his second try.
- MSU is now 3-2-1 against the Irish this season and earned its first regulation win in South Bend since Feb. 28, 2020 . MSU won in overtime at CFIA on Dec. 20, 2020 (4-3, OT) and Dec. 11, 2021 (1-0, OT)
- MSU's 17 wins is tied (with the 2014-15 team) for the most since the Spartans had 19 wins in 2011-12 (19).
- MSU's 17 wins is the third-most ever for a first-year head coach, (Rick Comley 23, Tom Anastos 19).
- MSU had 32 shots on net after 36 on Friday. Notre Dame blocked 15 shots on Friday and 28 in tonight's loss. The 28 blocked shots is a high for an MSU oppponent this year, the most since Ferris State blocked 25 in the Great Lakes Invitational semifinals.
- Nineteen of the last 21 games between these teams have been settled by two goals or less, and eight have been one-goal games (five have been ties).
- MSU blocked 15 shots in Saturday's game, including a career-best five from sophomore David Gucciardi
- Jeremy Davidson scored his eighth goal of the season midway through the second period, an equalizing tally which came on the power play. He ended up with a two-point night after setting up a goal in the third period.
- Matt Basgall gave Michigan State its first lead of the series with his goal in the second period, off a pass from Tiernan Shoudy.
- Nash Nienhuis gave MSU a second goal by a blueliner with his goal less than four minutes into the second period, his fourth of the season. Four goals is his career best.
- Karsen Dorwart joined the double-digit goal scoring club with his 10th of the season, which made it 4-1.
- Daniel Russell set up the Basgall and Dorwart tallies, his second two-assist game in the last three contests.
- Daniel Russell has reached 30 points, tying Tim Crowder (17g, 13a in 2005-06) and Derek Grant (12g, 18a in 2009-10) for the most as a freshman since Tommy Goebel had 15-17-32 in 2003-04.
- Nicolas Muller had two assists, his seventh game with multiple assists this season. He has a team-best 24 assists on the season, Muller is the first Spartan with 30 points since Patrick Khodorenko had 35 in 2019-20, and the most assists since Taro Hirose had 35 in 2018-19.
- Basgall's goal was the 100th of the season for the Spartans, the first time it has met the 100-goal mark since the 2011-12 season.
PERIOD SUMMARIES
First Period: The Spartans came out with similar jump to Friday's game, and forced Bischel to be sharp early, particularly on a rush when he stopped Tiernan Shoudy's initial shot and also the putback attempt by Tanner Kelly. By the 11-minute mark, MSU owned a 14-1 edge in shots on net, creating chaos in their offensive zone. As the teams got below the five-minute mark, the Irish got the break they needed on an MSU change, as Trevor Janicke hauled the puck into the offensive zone and passed off to Solag Bakich, and the senior finished the cross-slot pass for his third goal of the season. Nicolas Müller was whistled for interference with just over two minutes remaining in the period, putting the Irish on the power play - but Notre Dame could not find an insurance goal before the final buzzer.
Second Period: Notre Dame had the better of play over the first eight minutes of the second period, which included Notre Dame's second power play chance of the night. After Christian Krygier got out of the box, the Spartans went back to its pressure, and got its first power play chance at 7:26. In the second half of the man advantage, Muller delivered a pinpoint pass from the right point to Jeremy Davidson below the left dot, and Davidson finished it for his eighth goal of the season and a tie ballgame. It was the first shot on net in the period for MSU, as the Irish took their turn in dominating the shot counter. MSU got a jump after finally breaking through with a goal, and took its first lead of the series at 16:37. Daniel Russell handed the puck off to Tiernan Shoudy, who bullied his way into the slot and dished off to Matt Basgall on the right side, and Basgall's offering rang off the left post before finding its destination for the blueliner's fourth goal of the season – and more importantly, and MSU lead. MSU was outshot 12-7 in the period, but it was a 10-0 lead for Notre Dame at the halfway point before the Spartans regained their mojo.
First lead of the series for MSU - Shoudy forces his way into the slot and dishes to Basgall, who rings the post before it goes in. 2-1 Spartans. pic.twitter.com/T8ghMzamCH
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 4, 2023
Third Period: MSU kept grinding away as it headed into the third, and added a bit of breathing room when Nash Nienhuis took a pass from Jeremy Davidson and scored his fourth of the year from the right circle. Just over two minutes later, it became a 4-1 game when Daniel Russell picked up his second assist of the night and fed his linemate Karsen Dorwart, who carried the puck below the right circle and wristed a shot past Bischel from the sharp angle. MSU took a penalty at 13:02 (Davidson for cross-checking), and pulled its goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage, which led to a Jack Adams power play goal which made it 4-2. Trying to avoid a game three, Notre Dame parked Bischel on the bench with five minutes to play, trying to pull closer. The Spartans, however, did not yield – they killed off essentially a five- minute man advantage for the home team, as St. Cyr made five saves and the Spartans blocked four other shots (two blocks by Christian Krygier). Notre Dame outshot MSU 13-9 in the period with seven minutes of man advantage time, but could only solve St. Cyr once in that span.
Muller to Davidson to Nienhuis on the goal Hat tip to Middendorf, because we can only give two assists. pic.twitter.com/IgU5yg0k8r
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 4, 2023
Team Stats
MSU
UND
Shots
32
33
PPG
1
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
3
1
Penalty Mins
6
2
Faceoffs Won
25
24
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
2
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
G
/ Men's Ice HockeyIsaac Howard Wins The Hobey | Spartans All-Access
Monday, April 21
Adam Nightingale | Hockey Press Conference | April 17, 2025
Thursday, April 17
Adam Nightingale, Daniel Russell, Tiernan Shoudy Post Game Comments | Cornell
Thursday, March 27
Adam Nightingale, Tiernan Shoudy, Matt Basgall, and Tanner Kelly | NCAA Regional
Wednesday, March 26