Sunday, March 14
Notre Dame, Ind.
4 P.M.
Michigan State University
7-18-2
1
vs
2
Minnesota
21-6-0
1
2
3
OT 1
F
Michigan State
1
0
0
0
1
Minnesota
0
0
1
1
2
Spartans Fall to Minnesota in OT in Big Ten Tournament
3/14/2021 8:38:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
NOTRE DAME, Indiana – Michigan State saw its season come to an end on Sunday with a tough, 2-1 overtime loss to No. 4/5 Minnesota in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament at Compton Family Ice Arena. The Spartans led 1-0 for a majority of the game, but the Golden Gophers tied it with 4:59 to play in the third period and Sampo Ranta's goal at 10:35 of the extra session won it for Minnesota.
Dennis Cesana (power play) scored for the Spartans, while freshman goaltender Pierce Charleson made 48 saves.
"It was a hell of an effort," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "We played two really good teams the last two games – both 2-1 games and pushed them pretty hard to the limit and did a lot of good things. It was a good Spartan effort and they laid it all out there."
Cesana gave MSU a 1-0 lead just past the midway point of the opening period. Mitchell Lewandowski got the puck from Charlie Combs in the left corner and fired a pass across the ice to Cesana low in the right circle. Cesana threw puck toward the crease in an attempt to find Josh Nodler, but the puck deflected off a Minnesota stick and into the net.
Adam Goodsir nearly made it 2-0 four minutes into the second when off a 2-on-1 he tapped a rebound off a shot by Kyle Haskins out of the air, but the puck trickled just wide of goaltender Jack LaFontaine.
Minnesota (21-6) generated several chances in the second period and Charleson was equal to the task every time. His best save of the period came off an odd-man rush when he turned away Bryce Brodzinski from the right circle, then made a diving stick save with his body completely outstretched to rob Blake McLaughlin's rebound attempt from the left side, keeping it a 1-0 game.
Charleson made 25 saves through two periods and stopped the first six Gophers shots of the third period, but Brodzinski was finally able to solve the netminder, scoring from the right circle with 4:59 to play.
The Spartans' best chance of overtime came off a scramble in front with Tommy Apap nearly pushing a loose puck past LaFontaine.
Minutes later, Ranta won it for Minnesota with a shot from between the circles, 10:35 into overtime.
Michigan State (7-18-2) finished with a season-high 28 blocked shots.
MSU was 1-for-2 on the power play and extinguished all three Minnesota power plays.
Dennis Cesana (power play) scored for the Spartans, while freshman goaltender Pierce Charleson made 48 saves.
"It was a hell of an effort," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "We played two really good teams the last two games – both 2-1 games and pushed them pretty hard to the limit and did a lot of good things. It was a good Spartan effort and they laid it all out there."
Cesana gave MSU a 1-0 lead just past the midway point of the opening period. Mitchell Lewandowski got the puck from Charlie Combs in the left corner and fired a pass across the ice to Cesana low in the right circle. Cesana threw puck toward the crease in an attempt to find Josh Nodler, but the puck deflected off a Minnesota stick and into the net.
Adam Goodsir nearly made it 2-0 four minutes into the second when off a 2-on-1 he tapped a rebound off a shot by Kyle Haskins out of the air, but the puck trickled just wide of goaltender Jack LaFontaine.
Minnesota (21-6) generated several chances in the second period and Charleson was equal to the task every time. His best save of the period came off an odd-man rush when he turned away Bryce Brodzinski from the right circle, then made a diving stick save with his body completely outstretched to rob Blake McLaughlin's rebound attempt from the left side, keeping it a 1-0 game.
Charleson made 25 saves through two periods and stopped the first six Gophers shots of the third period, but Brodzinski was finally able to solve the netminder, scoring from the right circle with 4:59 to play.
The Spartans' best chance of overtime came off a scramble in front with Tommy Apap nearly pushing a loose puck past LaFontaine.
Minutes later, Ranta won it for Minnesota with a shot from between the circles, 10:35 into overtime.
Michigan State (7-18-2) finished with a season-high 28 blocked shots.
MSU was 1-for-2 on the power play and extinguished all three Minnesota power plays.
Team Stats
MSU
MINN
Shots
23
50
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
3
2
Penalty Mins
6
4
Faceoffs Won
28
34
Game Leaders
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
-1
Goals
0
Sh
4
A
1
+/-
-1
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
3
A
0
Players Mentioned
D
/ Men's Ice Hockey
G
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice HockeyF
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
/ Men's Ice HockeyAdam Nightingale | Hockey Press Conference | November 11, 2025
Tuesday, November 11
Adam Nightingale Postgame Comments | Penn State
Saturday, November 08
Adam Nightingale Postgame Comments | Penn State
Friday, November 07
Adam Nightingale | Hockey Press Conference | November 4, 2025
Tuesday, November 04