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MSU hockey falters late, falls to Michigan in NCAA regional final

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9 hours ago

April 2, 2024

Michigan State's Gavin O'Connell shoots during the Spartans' NCAA tournament regional final against Michigan on Sunday in Maryland Heights, Missouri.

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. – Michigan State’s hockey staff bought the very best of Michigan a lot this season. The Spartans would gladly commerce a kind of wins for this one.

Going through off for the sixth time, MSU and Michigan took the ice in an NCAA match regional ultimate in suburban St. Louis, this time a visit to the Frozen 4 on the road.

With the sport deadlocked with simply over seven minutes remaining, the Wolverines discovered two targets in 12 seconds to take the air out of the Spartans and avenge 4 straight losses, knocking MSU out of the NCAA match with a 5-2 win.

“It was a very good faculty hockey recreation and I do not suppose the rating displays it,” MSU coach Adam Nightingale stated. “It sort of bought away from us in the long run. … However congrats to Michigan. They’ve had a very good push right here and we have now tons of respect for his or her program.”

Michigan advances to the Frozen 4 for the third straight 12 months, the place the Wolverines will face No. 1 total seed Boston Faculty on April 11 in St. Paul, Minnesota.

FOLLOW THE MADNESS: NCAA match brackets, scores, schedules, groups and extra.

MSU’s season involves an finish with a 25-10-3 report after profitable the Massive Ten common season and match championships, the latter in time beyond regulation in opposition to Michigan, and profitable this system’s first NCAA match recreation since 2008.

“This season meant every thing to me, and we actually needed to play within the Frozen 4, however everybody on this staff, across the staff, the employees, all meant the world to me,” MSU fifth-year senior Nico Muller stated. “To play for the Michigan State Spartans was an honor, and we got here up quick this 12 months, however I am 100% sure that the fellows that keep will get it carried out.”

RELATED: Sofa: The story of this Michigan State hockey season isn’t the way it ended. It is what’s been began.

Michigan ahead Dylan Duke crashed the web on a large angle and was capable of slide a puck previous MSU freshman goaltender Trey Augustine for the Wolverines’ go-ahead objective.

“Simply bought a pleasant go within the impartial zone took a (defender) huge and simply reduce to the web and was lucky to have the ability to bury that one,” Duke stated of what turned out to be the game-winner.

On the following face-off, Michigan ahead Frank Nazar caught MSU on a 2-on-1, the place he made a between-the-legs go to sophomore ahead Gavin Brindley, who blasted a shot previous Augustine.

“I will be the primary one to inform you, I did not make a adequate play there,” MSU sophomore defenseman Matt Basgall stated. “I gave him a large angle and he took it. It is a staff recreation, however I may have carried out higher on these performs.”

Duke would add a late power-play objective to make it a 5-2 ultimate, and the junior was named the Most Excellent Participant of the Maryland Heights regional. MSU freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov was the lone Spartan skater to make the All-Regional staff.

Michigan scored seven targets within the third interval of its two NCAA match video games this weekend, together with a 4-3 win over North Dakota on Friday.

“I believe for those who watched our staff early within the 12 months, we had a few tough third durations,” Duke stated. “We talked about studying from them, for moments like this. We discovered all 12 months … and it confirmed the previous two nights.”

Tied 1-1 coming into the third interval, Michigan defenseman Marshall Warren discovered open ice deep in the fitting circle, and Michigan’s Jacob Truscott was capable of funnel the puck his method, the place Warren beat Augustine to provide the Wolverines a 2-1 benefit.

MSU would reply halfway via the third on the facility play, when sophomore ahead Joey Larson jumped on a unfastened puck within the slot and fired a one-timer previous Michigan goaltender Jake Barczewski to stage it up.

“It is a hockey recreation, a recreation of momentum, and a recreation of bounces,” MSU graduate ahead Reed Lebster stated. “They gave the impression to be going (Michigan)’s method there on the finish. We made a push on the finish, however the bounces have been simply going their method on the finish.”

Michigan was the sooner staff to begin, however an early penalty gave the Spartans an opportunity to attain first. MSU freshman ahead Gavin O’Connell redirected a degree shot from sophomore defenseman Matt Basgall and the puck slipped previous Barczewski to place MSU in entrance.

Michigan tied it early within the second interval on a 3-on-2 rush. Ahead Dylan Duke slid a go over to defenseman Ethan Edwards, who fired a one-time shot previous Augustine.

MSU scored each of its targets on the facility play and restricted Michigan’s NCAA-leading energy play to 1-of-6 on the night, together with a giant 4-on-3 kill within the first interval. Particular groups typically win in match video games, however regardless of MSU’s successes in these areas, it in the end could not discover sufficient offense at even power.

“I believe ending our possibilities, (Michigan)’s goalie performed properly however we had some actually beauty, particularly within the second interval,” Nightingale stated. “Credit score to (Barczewski), I do not suppose he is gotten sufficient credit score for making some massive saves. I can consider a handful the place we have been proper within the slot and he got here up massive. We generated sufficient to attain, but it surely’s about ending at that time.”

Michigan was with out star sophomore defenseman Seamus Casey — a first-team All-Massive Ten choice who had seven targets and 38 assists for the Wolverines this season. MSU was with out junior defenseman David Gucciardi, who scored in Friday’s regional semifinal win over Western Michigan.