Spartan Hockey Moves On
· Yahoo Sports
It’s win and move on time for Spartan hockey. After last year’s disappointing loss to Cornell, everyone was on edge as there is no way MSU could lose and waste another season with this team. Even with a multitude of penalties and being drastically outshot, the Spartans come out on top and will move on to Saturday and face the winner of Wisconsin and Dartmouth.
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The Spartans did not come out in this game the way they needed. MSU is a good team when it scores first but that was not the case in period one. MSU had three penalties, two undisciplined ones by Lindstrom, that made getting any momentum going nearly impossible. UConn was not the slightest bit intimidated at playing the number 1 seed and their home ice advantage helped. Muldowney had a powerful slap shot that Augustine gave up a massive rebound on and it was an easy tap in for Heaslip. He was way too far out of the crease to not stuff the rebound. MSU lucked out in killing all three penalties. Augustine had an amazing glove save on the left side to shut it down. Immediately after the kill MSU was gifted a power play themselves on a whistle that usually wouldn’t have been blown. The wizard Ryker Lee tied things up on that power play with a beautiful toe drag from behind the net to pop it in up top and even the score headed into the first intermission. Big element of worry is the 18 shots on goal UConn had to MSU’s 8. Spartans needed to get more offensive pressure and flip the ice. The Spartans did a nice job on face offs as they won 13 of the 21.
The second period started quick and MSU looked better. No real scoring opportunity early but they did a better job of staying out of their own zone. Geary came up big about 1:30 into the period as UConn looked to make a move and Geary had a nice slide on an extra effort play to keep an odd man advantage away from Augustine. Stramel gave UConn another power play with the third undisciplined penalty of the game with a goalie interference. State’s PK managed to stand tall once again and Daniel Russell managed to take off on a break away and a hooking penalty gave Russell a penalty shot but unfortunately, Russell could not connect. Late in the second Augustine had another stellar glove save on the left shoulder. Extra curricular activity after the whistle sent two to the box making it 4 on 4. UConn had a bad turnover that was taken by Martone who found Shoudy who no look passed it right back for a Martone one timer goal. Fantastic pass by Shoudy and the patience of Martone made that play happen. MSU continued to head to the box and force the PK to put in more work. After two MSU was still being drastically outshot 31-17, likely because they also had 14 penalty minutes. That is nearly an entire period of play short handed. Augustine and the PK were keeping the Spartans in it as they headed to the second intermission up 2-1.
As we headed into the third both teams traded some action back and forth with UConn being the only team to get shots on goal. The Spartans had good forechecking and were doing a nice job of eliminating UConn’s speed. As we nearly hit the half way point through the third we had our first penalty. As miracles may happen, it wasn’t on MSU. The 2026 top power play team was unable to get their two goal lead as UConn killed it. MSU looked strong and had opportunities but couldn’t get the puck through. Good effort by Barnhill and Männistö set up Stramel for a point blank shot that he missed high and wide. With 7 minutes left the already intense game got even tenser. Augustine stood up Tattle at about 3 minutes left on a golden opportunity for UConn. Slightly over two minutes left and UConn pulled Muszelik for the man advantage. Last shot one timer by UConn as the clock expired and Augustine stuffed it.
MSU survived a fight against UConn. Augustine had a record 41 saves and it was the most shots MSU had given up all year. He had some very impressive stops and played exactly like his accolades tell you to expect. They did enough to play on but they have to clean up the penalties. This game was won by Augustine and the penalty kill lines. Big shout out to Patrick Geary who had a fantastic game on defense. I know I’m breathing a sigh of relief and am sure you are all too. Honestly, I don’t care how it happens as long as they move on. Go Green!