MADISON, Wis. – Michigan State’s No. 6-ranked hockey team is facing off against No. 4 Wisconsin on Friday night at the Kohl Center in Madison.
With a regulation win, MSU would clinch an outright Big Ten title for the first time in program history.
MSU swept the Badgers when the two sides met at Munn Ice Arena in mid-November.
Follow along for updates.
First period
19:13 – Junior defenseman Daniel Laatsch whistles a shot from point through traffic in front of MSU goaltender Trey Augustine to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead just 47 seconds into the game.
14:32 – MSU settled in through the first five minutes after giving up an early goal, and as freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov gained the zone, he fired a shot that went right through the glove of Wisconsin goaltender Kyle McClellan.
It’s an uncharacteristic mistake from McClellan, who boasts a .932 save percentage and a 1.90 goal against average.
11:11 – Wisconsin defenseman Anthony Kehrer trips up MSU forward Tommi Mannisto, leading to the first power play of the game.
With six seconds left in the power play, MSU forward Joey Larson commits a hooking minor and the Badgers earn a power play as well.
13:11 – Both teams fail to capitalize on the power play as MSU defenseman Maxim Strbak and Wisconsin forward Simon Tassy exchange some shoves in front of the MSU net.
Wisconsin is outshooting the Spartans 12-4 in the first period.
1:49 – At center ice, two Wisconsin players collided, leading to graduate senior Reed Lebster picking up the loose puck, springing a 2-on-1 break for the Spartans.
Lebster dished it over to senior forward Jeremy Davidson, who blasted a one-timer past McClellan to give MSU a 2-1 lead late in the first period.
19:20 – Sophomore forward Tiernan Shoudy cross-checked Wisconsin forward Charlie Stramel in the Badgers’ offensive zone, leading to a power play chance that could carry over into the start of the second period.
Augustine, after giving up a goal on the first shot of the game, has kept MSU in it, making 18 saves, including big-time ones during Wisconsin’s power play chances.
MSU has capitalized twice on two Wisconsin turnovers in the first period while putting seven shots on net.
Entering the second period, MSU has 1:21 to kill in Shoudy’s cross-checking penalty.
MSU Goals: Levshunov (9) from Larson (16); Shoudy (9) at 5:28. Davidson (9) from Lebster (11) at 18:11.
3:10 – MSU and Wisconsin are back on the ice for the middle frame, and the Spartans were able to kill off the remaining time in Shoudy’s minor to return to full strength.
MSU forward Isaac had a great chance moments later, but his shot just went wide.
10:29 – Strbak delivered a huge hit on Wisconsin forward Mathieu De St. Phalle along the boards in the neutral zone.
After a lengthy review, Strbak is assessed a major penalty for boarding with no game misconduct. Wisconsin will head to a full five- minute power play.
12:33 – St. Phalle, who received the brunt of Strbak’s major penalty, gets some revenge, tipping a point shot from defenseman Ben Dexheimer past Augustine to tie the game at 2-2.
MSU will have just under three minutes left to kill in Strbak’s major penalty for boarding.
15:57 – Strbak’s penalty is complete, and St. Phalle’s game-tying goal is the only damage. Augustine makes four saves during the man advantage, and the Spartans return to full strength
MSU and Wisconsin will head into the final 20 minutes all tied up at 2-2 on St. Phalle’s game-tying power-play goal.
MSU is being outshot by the Badgers 34-14 through two periods while getting beat in the face-off circle 33-18.
2:27 – MSU and Wisconsin are back on the ice, both looking to break the deadlock in the final frame. MSU freshman forward Gavin O’Connell almost makes it happen on a 2-on-1 rush, but McClellan makes the save.
5:25 – Wisconsin’s Sawyer Scholl heads to the box for roughing on MSU’s Tanner Kelly after the whistle. Spartans head to the man advantage looking to take the lead.
8:07 – MSU generates a couple of shots on McClellan, but has its most threatening chances blocked as the Badgers were able to kill off the Scholl minor.
But, Kehrer commits a slashing minor just seconds later and MSU returns to the power play. Augustine makes a huge breakaway save on Tassy midway through the power play to keep it level.
12:50 – Lebster jumped on a loose puck and gained the offensive zone, crashing the net before sliding a shot between McClellan’s legs, putting MSU just over seven minutes away from a Big Ten regular season title.
Daniel Miller is a sports fanatic who lives and breathes athletics. His coverage spans from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis for sports enthusiasts.
