Saturday, November 28
Columbus, Ohio
5:30 P.M. ET
Michigan State University
2-0-1, 1-0-0B1G
3
at
2
Ohio State
0-3-0, 0-3-0B1G
1
2
3
OT 1
F
Michigan State
0
2
0
1
3
Ohio State
0
1
1
0
2
Photo by: Ric Kruszynski
Spartans Top No. 10 Ohio State in OT, 3-2
11/28/2020 9:49:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nicolas Müller's goal with just over a minute to play in overtime gave the Michigan State hockey team a 3-2 win over No. 10 Ohio State on the road Saturday in its Big Ten opener. Charlie Combs (power play) and Adam Goodsir also scored for MSU as the Spartans (2-0-1) outshot Ohio State, 45-22.
While Ohio State (0-3) opened the scoring just over seven minutes into the second period, the Spartans responded with two goals later in the stanza. With the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker, Ohio State tied the game in the waning seconds of regulation, but Müller's perfect shot from the left circle in the 3-on-3 overtime gave the Spartans the victory.
"I thought we were good in the first, not great, and then we got going and after that we were really, really good," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "It was unfortunate we got twisted on our coverage (on the tying goal), but that has a lot to do with not playing a lot of hockey and not doing a lot of 6-on-5's. We were there, we just didn't get it done, but we regrouped and Drew (DeRidder) made some big saves for us and we found a way. That was a great shot by Nico in overtime. I thought the guys deserved it and it was great to get the extra point."
With the implementation of 3-on-3 overtime, Big Ten overtime wins now count for two points in the conference standings, while an OT loss counts for one point. MSU's Big Ten record is 1-0-0-1-0-0 (W-L-T-OT W-OT L-Shootout W).
In a second period in which MSU outshot OSU, 20-6, it was the Buckeyes that scored first as Grant Gabriele found the back of the net from the slot at the 7:37 mark to give Ohio State a 1-0 lead.
MSU responded with a power-play goal less than three minutes later to tie it as Combs got his first as a Spartan.
"That's the reaction you want. There was a little bit of confidence with that," Cole said.
Josh Nodler cradled the puck on the left side, just off the wall, and fed a perfect pass to Combs, whose low, sweeping shot from near the slot got under the pads of goaltender Tommy Nappier. Dennis Cesana also earned an assist on the goal.
Michigan State grabbed its first lead with 3:52 to play in the second when Goodsir got his first of the season. Linemate Mitchell Mattson threw the puck from the right side toward the net where it bounced to Goodsir, who used his forehand to tuck it under a sliding Nappier.
A 5-minute major penalty to OSU's Logan Ahac with 6:52 to play gave the Spartans a chance to extend their lead, but they weren't able to convert.
With 27 seconds to play and Nappier on the bench for the extra skater, Travis Treloar was able to get open for a one-timer in the left circle to tie the game.
DeRidder came up big in the overtime, robbing Tate Singleton's try from all alone in front of the net just over a minute into the extra session.
The Spartans' winning goal came when they were able to gain control with Tommy Apap skating the puck out of the MSU end. Apap got the puck to Müller in the neutral zone, who carried it into the OSU end along the left side and let go a perfect shot from the faceoff dot that zipped over the glove of Nappier and into the far corner of the net.
After 40 shots on goal in game two vs. Arizona State last weekend, Saturday marked the first time Michigan State has put up at least 40 shots in consecutive games since November 2013.
The two teams will close the series on Sunday with puck drop set for 5:30 p.m.
While Ohio State (0-3) opened the scoring just over seven minutes into the second period, the Spartans responded with two goals later in the stanza. With the goaltender pulled for the extra attacker, Ohio State tied the game in the waning seconds of regulation, but Müller's perfect shot from the left circle in the 3-on-3 overtime gave the Spartans the victory.
"I thought we were good in the first, not great, and then we got going and after that we were really, really good," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "It was unfortunate we got twisted on our coverage (on the tying goal), but that has a lot to do with not playing a lot of hockey and not doing a lot of 6-on-5's. We were there, we just didn't get it done, but we regrouped and Drew (DeRidder) made some big saves for us and we found a way. That was a great shot by Nico in overtime. I thought the guys deserved it and it was great to get the extra point."
With the implementation of 3-on-3 overtime, Big Ten overtime wins now count for two points in the conference standings, while an OT loss counts for one point. MSU's Big Ten record is 1-0-0-1-0-0 (W-L-T-OT W-OT L-Shootout W).
In a second period in which MSU outshot OSU, 20-6, it was the Buckeyes that scored first as Grant Gabriele found the back of the net from the slot at the 7:37 mark to give Ohio State a 1-0 lead.
MSU responded with a power-play goal less than three minutes later to tie it as Combs got his first as a Spartan.
"That's the reaction you want. There was a little bit of confidence with that," Cole said.
Josh Nodler cradled the puck on the left side, just off the wall, and fed a perfect pass to Combs, whose low, sweeping shot from near the slot got under the pads of goaltender Tommy Nappier. Dennis Cesana also earned an assist on the goal.
Michigan State grabbed its first lead with 3:52 to play in the second when Goodsir got his first of the season. Linemate Mitchell Mattson threw the puck from the right side toward the net where it bounced to Goodsir, who used his forehand to tuck it under a sliding Nappier.
A 5-minute major penalty to OSU's Logan Ahac with 6:52 to play gave the Spartans a chance to extend their lead, but they weren't able to convert.
With 27 seconds to play and Nappier on the bench for the extra skater, Travis Treloar was able to get open for a one-timer in the left circle to tie the game.
DeRidder came up big in the overtime, robbing Tate Singleton's try from all alone in front of the net just over a minute into the extra session.
The Spartans' winning goal came when they were able to gain control with Tommy Apap skating the puck out of the MSU end. Apap got the puck to Müller in the neutral zone, who carried it into the OSU end along the left side and let go a perfect shot from the faceoff dot that zipped over the glove of Nappier and into the far corner of the net.
After 40 shots on goal in game two vs. Arizona State last weekend, Saturday marked the first time Michigan State has put up at least 40 shots in consecutive games since November 2013.
The two teams will close the series on Sunday with puck drop set for 5:30 p.m.
Team Stats
MSU
OSU
Shots
45
22
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
4
7
Penalty Mins
8
25
Faceoffs Won
43
20
Game Leaders
+/-
-1
Goals
1
Sh
7
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
5
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
1
Players Mentioned
D
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