Saturday, March 16
6:30 pm
Michigan State University
23-9-3
2
vs
1
Ohio State (B1G semifinal)
14-20-4
1
2
3
F
Ohio St.
0
0
1
1
Michigan St.
0
1
1
2
Spartans Advance to B1G Championship With Win Over Ohio State
3/16/2024 10:53:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
East Lansing, Mich. – No. 4/4 Michigan State earned a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ohio State on Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena to advance to next week's Big Ten Championship game. The Spartans are now 23-9-3 on the year, and will make their first Championship game appearance in the 11-year history of the league.
MSU will play fourth-seeded Michigan for the title next week, as the Wolverines won a 2-1 decision on the road at Minnesota in the semifinal nightcap. MSU and Michigan will meet for a league tournament title for the first time since the CCHA championship game in 2002.
A capacity crowd – one that was fueled by the excitement of the first postseason game at Munn Arena since 2010 – was into it from the jump, as both teams came out with high-tempo and hard-hitting play looking to set a tone. MSU broke through in the second period with a goal just 1:23 into the period – on a defensive clearing attempt front out of the zone, the Spartans got a tip and gained possession, with Daniel Russell and Isaac Howard headed to the net. Howard dished it over to Dorwart in the right circle – his shot was tipped at the left post by Russell for the sophomore's 11th of the season.
Senior captain Nash Nienhuis scored the game-winner 2:16 into the final period, just 13 seconds after the Buckeyes had evened the game at 1-1. Max Montes's ninth of the season on a wraparound gave the Buckeyes some life – but Nienhuis's goal from the left hash mark off a nifty feed from the right corner by Tanner Kelly put the Spartans back on top.
The Buckeyes continued to press for an equalizer, but freshman goaltender Trey Augustine was up to the task with his 15 third-period saves. Both teams had 38 saves on the night, and Buckeye goalie Logan Terness was equally excellent – he made 36 stops, including three shorthanded breakaway chances from the Spartans.
The teams each had a goal called back in the game. MSU's was in the second period just two minutes after its first goal, when Jeremy Davidson looked like he had doubled the MSU lead but it was waived off on a goalie interference call. Ohio State had one taken off the board five minutes into the third, when the Buckeyes were deemed offsides after a review.
Michigan State will host the Big Ten championship game next Saturday, March 23 at 8 pm against the Wolverines. The game will air live on Big Ten Network.
STATISTICS OF NOTE
First Period: The teams came out both looking to set a tone, with some big hits and high-tempo action right from the drop of the puck. The Spartans had an early power play where it had a couple of good looks, but had some of its best chances after the media time out, as Red Savage hit the post and MSU had Terness scrambling on the ensuing shift. MSU had a kill late in the frame, but a excellent forechecking – particularly from Karsen Dorwart some time in the offensive zone that while it did not result in a scoring chance, took time off the penalty clock. At the other end, Matt Basgall blocked two shots on the kill and Augustine was forced to make just one save. At the end of 20 minutes, the shots were 13 each and OSU had blocked seven shots to MSU's six.
Second Period: The Spartans relentless forecheck created their first goal, as Damien Carfagna tried to clear the puck out of the Buckeye zone, but Dorwart was able to tip it, allowing his linemates Russell and Howard to collect it in the neutral zone Howard turned on the jets, entered the zone, and dished a pass to Dorwart at the top of the right circle. His shot was deflected by Russell at the left post for the sophomore's 11th goal of the season just 1:23 in the period. The Spartans had thought they doubled the lead two minutes later with a Jeremy Davidson score, but it was taken off the board after the OSU's Guzzo pushed Muller into Terness, and it was ruled goalie interference. Russell was whistled for tripping at the eight minute mark, but it was the Buckeyes who had to play defense while on the power play. Terness was forced to stop three breakaway shots from the Spartans – two from Savage, one from Tiernan Shoudy – to keep the visitors deficit at just one. MSU kept pushing their offense – turning up the heat in the final 90 seconds, where Terness was forced to make four saves and got a blocked shot from his defense. MSU outshot their visitors 14-9 in the period, and OSU had a 7-4 edge in blocks.
Third Period: The teams traded goals in the opening 2:13 of the final period. The Buckeyeys got the equalizer on a Max Montes wraparound at the right post at 2:03 after Augustine lost his stick; it was the ninth of the season for the freshman. On the ensuing faceoff, the Spartans forced it deep into their offensive zone. Tanner Kelly gathered it in the right corner and rocketed it over to the left hash mark for Nash Nienhuis, and his rocket beat a screened Terness. The goal was reviewed but stayed on the board. At 4:22, the Buckeyes were able to deflect the puck past Augustine for what looked like another tying goal, but after a review, the visitors were far offsides on the offensive rush and the Spartans maintained a 2-1 lead. Ohio State looked like it gained a second wind as it pressed into the final 10 minutes, but Michigan State refused to give an inch as the Buckeyes outshot the hosts 16-11. Terness spent nearly two full minutes on the bench at the end of regulation in favor of an extra skater, but Michigan State prevailed in the 2-1 victory.
MSU will play fourth-seeded Michigan for the title next week, as the Wolverines won a 2-1 decision on the road at Minnesota in the semifinal nightcap. MSU and Michigan will meet for a league tournament title for the first time since the CCHA championship game in 2002.
A capacity crowd – one that was fueled by the excitement of the first postseason game at Munn Arena since 2010 – was into it from the jump, as both teams came out with high-tempo and hard-hitting play looking to set a tone. MSU broke through in the second period with a goal just 1:23 into the period – on a defensive clearing attempt front out of the zone, the Spartans got a tip and gained possession, with Daniel Russell and Isaac Howard headed to the net. Howard dished it over to Dorwart in the right circle – his shot was tipped at the left post by Russell for the sophomore's 11th of the season.
Senior captain Nash Nienhuis scored the game-winner 2:16 into the final period, just 13 seconds after the Buckeyes had evened the game at 1-1. Max Montes's ninth of the season on a wraparound gave the Buckeyes some life – but Nienhuis's goal from the left hash mark off a nifty feed from the right corner by Tanner Kelly put the Spartans back on top.
The Buckeyes continued to press for an equalizer, but freshman goaltender Trey Augustine was up to the task with his 15 third-period saves. Both teams had 38 saves on the night, and Buckeye goalie Logan Terness was equally excellent – he made 36 stops, including three shorthanded breakaway chances from the Spartans.
The teams each had a goal called back in the game. MSU's was in the second period just two minutes after its first goal, when Jeremy Davidson looked like he had doubled the MSU lead but it was waived off on a goalie interference call. Ohio State had one taken off the board five minutes into the third, when the Buckeyes were deemed offsides after a review.
Michigan State will host the Big Ten championship game next Saturday, March 23 at 8 pm against the Wolverines. The game will air live on Big Ten Network.
STATISTICS OF NOTE
- Nash Nienhuis potted the game-winner 2:16 into the final period, his eighth goal of the year and 20th point. Nienhuis entered his senior campaign with seven career goals.
- Nienhuis's game-winner was his fourth of the season, tying him for the team lead and third in the Big Ten.
- Trey Augustine made 37 saves in the winning effort and improved to 4-1 against Ohio State in his career.
- Daniel Russell scored his 11th goal of the season to get MSU on the board in the second period.
- Karsen Dorwart's assist on the Russell goal was the fourth straight game he has recorded a point, the longest current streak on the team.
- Isaac Howard's assist on Russell's goal was his team-best 24th of the year.
- Tanner Kelly assisted on the Nienhuis game-winner, pushing him to 15 points on the season.
- Ohio State blocked 19 shots to MSU's 11 in the game. Matt Basgall led all players with four blocks on the night.
- The teams combined for just six penalty minutes in the game – MSU took two minors and OSU one. Neither team scored on the power play.
- MSU had never won a Big Ten Tournament game in the first nine seasons of the league's existence. MSU is now 3-2 in the postseason tournament since Adam Nightingale became head coach.
- Next week, MSU will look to capture its first-ever Big Ten postseason title and will play for a conference championship for the first time since 2006.
- Munn Arena hosted a postseason game for the first time since 2010, and MSU earned its first postseason win at home since the 2008 season, when it dropped a best-of-three quarterfinal series to Northern Michigan (5-1, 1-2, 2-3 OT).
First Period: The teams came out both looking to set a tone, with some big hits and high-tempo action right from the drop of the puck. The Spartans had an early power play where it had a couple of good looks, but had some of its best chances after the media time out, as Red Savage hit the post and MSU had Terness scrambling on the ensuing shift. MSU had a kill late in the frame, but a excellent forechecking – particularly from Karsen Dorwart some time in the offensive zone that while it did not result in a scoring chance, took time off the penalty clock. At the other end, Matt Basgall blocked two shots on the kill and Augustine was forced to make just one save. At the end of 20 minutes, the shots were 13 each and OSU had blocked seven shots to MSU's six.
Second Period: The Spartans relentless forecheck created their first goal, as Damien Carfagna tried to clear the puck out of the Buckeye zone, but Dorwart was able to tip it, allowing his linemates Russell and Howard to collect it in the neutral zone Howard turned on the jets, entered the zone, and dished a pass to Dorwart at the top of the right circle. His shot was deflected by Russell at the left post for the sophomore's 11th goal of the season just 1:23 in the period. The Spartans had thought they doubled the lead two minutes later with a Jeremy Davidson score, but it was taken off the board after the OSU's Guzzo pushed Muller into Terness, and it was ruled goalie interference. Russell was whistled for tripping at the eight minute mark, but it was the Buckeyes who had to play defense while on the power play. Terness was forced to stop three breakaway shots from the Spartans – two from Savage, one from Tiernan Shoudy – to keep the visitors deficit at just one. MSU kept pushing their offense – turning up the heat in the final 90 seconds, where Terness was forced to make four saves and got a blocked shot from his defense. MSU outshot their visitors 14-9 in the period, and OSU had a 7-4 edge in blocks.
Go to the net, they say. Good things happen when you go to the net.
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 16, 2024
Russell tips this home for the 1-0 Spartan lead. pic.twitter.com/4p6plHDD0X
Third Period: The teams traded goals in the opening 2:13 of the final period. The Buckeyeys got the equalizer on a Max Montes wraparound at the right post at 2:03 after Augustine lost his stick; it was the ninth of the season for the freshman. On the ensuing faceoff, the Spartans forced it deep into their offensive zone. Tanner Kelly gathered it in the right corner and rocketed it over to the left hash mark for Nash Nienhuis, and his rocket beat a screened Terness. The goal was reviewed but stayed on the board. At 4:22, the Buckeyes were able to deflect the puck past Augustine for what looked like another tying goal, but after a review, the visitors were far offsides on the offensive rush and the Spartans maintained a 2-1 lead. Ohio State looked like it gained a second wind as it pressed into the final 10 minutes, but Michigan State refused to give an inch as the Buckeyes outshot the hosts 16-11. Terness spent nearly two full minutes on the bench at the end of regulation in favor of an extra skater, but Michigan State prevailed in the 2-1 victory.
Nienhuis rips this one from the hash to put MSU back on top just 13 seconds after OSU scores the equalizer. Kelly out of the corner with the apple. pic.twitter.com/1sygNEbemA
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 17, 2024
Team Stats
OSU
MSU
Shots
38
38
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
1
2
Penalty Mins
2
4
Faceoffs Won
36
36
Game Leaders
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Ice Hockey
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyD
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice Hockey Adam Nightingale | Hockey Press Conference | October 14, 2025
Tuesday, October 14
Adam Nightingale Postgame Comments | New Hampshire
Friday, October 10
Adam Nightingale Postgame Comments | New Hampshire
Thursday, October 09
Adam Nightingale | Hockey Press Conference | October 7, 2025
Tuesday, October 07