Saturday, March 6
East Lansing, Mich.
2:30 P.M.
Michigan State University
7-17-2, 5-16-1
1
vs
2
Wisconsin
19-8-1, 17-6-1
1
2
3
F
Wisconsin
0
1
1
2
Michigan State
0
1
0
1
Spartans Clipped by No. 5 Wisconsin in Regular Season Finale, 2-1
3/6/2021 6:02:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING – The Michigan State hockey team dropped a hard-fought regular season finale with No. 5 Wisconsin, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Munn Ice Arena. With the game tied 1-1 heading into the third period, Cole Caufield scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 12:11 to go.
Freshman Pierce Charleson started in goal for the Spartans and made 47 saves, while Wisconsin's Cameron Rowe made 40 stops.
"Our guys played a hell of a hockey game," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "Unfortunately it came down to one goal. I thought we played well – it was probably one of our better games of the year. We knew we would have to play next Sunday regardless of what happened tonight. Now there's no reason not play our best game of the year next Sunday."
Michigan State (7-17-2, 5-16-1-2-1-0) will be the No. 7 seed in next week's Big Ten Tournament and face No. 2 seed Minnesota. The single-elimination tournament will take place at Notre Dame's Compton Family Ice Arena.
With the game scoreless through the opening 20 minutes, Michigan State eventually broke through with 6:51 to go in the second when Charlie Combs picked up the puck in the slot and slung it into the top right corner. Tommy Apap set up the play from low in the left circle and puck deflected off Mitchell Lewandowski before reaching Combs.
The assist for Lewandowski marked the 100th point of his MSU career.
The Spartans killed a pair of Badger power plays in the opening period but couldn't make it three straight against the team that entered the game with a power-play conversion percentage over 32. With 16 seconds to go in the second, Caufield beat Charleson from the right circle to make it 1-1.
A turnover deep in the Spartan end led to Wisconsin taking a 2-1 lead. Dylan Holloway was able to get control of the puck and feed Caufield in front of the net, who didn't miss with 12:11 to go in the third period.
The Spartans had several quality chances down the stretch, including a one off the stick of Josh Nodler in the closing minutes from the top of the crease that Rowe snagged with his glove hand.
MSU was 0-for-2 on the power play while Wisconsin was 1-for-4.
Saturday's win for Wisconsin (19-8-1, 17-6-1-1-1-0) gave the Badgers the regular season Big Ten title and they'll be the No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament.
Freshman Pierce Charleson started in goal for the Spartans and made 47 saves, while Wisconsin's Cameron Rowe made 40 stops.
"Our guys played a hell of a hockey game," MSU head coach Danton Cole said. "Unfortunately it came down to one goal. I thought we played well – it was probably one of our better games of the year. We knew we would have to play next Sunday regardless of what happened tonight. Now there's no reason not play our best game of the year next Sunday."
Michigan State (7-17-2, 5-16-1-2-1-0) will be the No. 7 seed in next week's Big Ten Tournament and face No. 2 seed Minnesota. The single-elimination tournament will take place at Notre Dame's Compton Family Ice Arena.
With the game scoreless through the opening 20 minutes, Michigan State eventually broke through with 6:51 to go in the second when Charlie Combs picked up the puck in the slot and slung it into the top right corner. Tommy Apap set up the play from low in the left circle and puck deflected off Mitchell Lewandowski before reaching Combs.
The assist for Lewandowski marked the 100th point of his MSU career.
The Spartans killed a pair of Badger power plays in the opening period but couldn't make it three straight against the team that entered the game with a power-play conversion percentage over 32. With 16 seconds to go in the second, Caufield beat Charleson from the right circle to make it 1-1.
A turnover deep in the Spartan end led to Wisconsin taking a 2-1 lead. Dylan Holloway was able to get control of the puck and feed Caufield in front of the net, who didn't miss with 12:11 to go in the third period.
The Spartans had several quality chances down the stretch, including a one off the stick of Josh Nodler in the closing minutes from the top of the crease that Rowe snagged with his glove hand.
MSU was 0-for-2 on the power play while Wisconsin was 1-for-4.
Saturday's win for Wisconsin (19-8-1, 17-6-1-1-1-0) gave the Badgers the regular season Big Ten title and they'll be the No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament.
Team Stats
UW
MSU
Shots
49
41
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
2
4
Penalty Mins
4
8
Faceoffs Won
24
50
Game Leaders
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
7
A
1
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
5
A
0
Players Mentioned
G
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