Trey Augustine terrific in 3-3 Michigan State tie at Minnesota; Spartans take extra point in shootout
Michigan State notched one of those Big Ten college hockey moments on Friday that felt like a win, a loss and a tie all in one night. But Michigan State goalie Trey Augustine, and his Spartan teammates, were the ones raising their hands in semi-victory at the end of the game, and deservingly-so.
The No. 3-ranked Spartans officially skated to a 3-3 tie with No. 1 Minnesota, Friday night before 9,713 at the Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.
For Big Ten Conference purposes, the Spartans defeated Minnesota in the post-overtime shootout, 2-0. (The NCAA and the Pairwise Rankings don’t recognize shootout victories. The Big Ten holds shootouts and awards an extra point in the conference standings to the shootout winner).
The NCAA recognizes the outcome of Friday’s game as a tie. But Michigan State’s shootout victory gives the Spartans two points in the conference standings while Minnesota gets one for a shootout loss.
The Spartans had to feel great about Augustine’s performance. Michigan State had to feel good about battling shoulder-to-shoulder with the talented Gophers all night on Gopher ice.
But Michigan State also felt a little empty about not being able to hang onto a 3-2 lead in the third period and allowing a signature victory to slip away.
Michigan State (12-2-1) will play again at Minnesota (15-2-2) on Saturday at 6 p.m. (BTN+).
HOW IT WENT DOWN
Michigan State fell behind, 1-0, :23 seconds into the game, but battled back into the lead at 3-2 when Karsen Dorwart netted his third goal of the season with 4:09 remaining in the second period. Matt Basgall and Isaac Howard assisted for the Spartans.
Minnesota tied the game at 3-3, with 8:54 remaining in regulation when Brodie Ziemer scored on the power play. Minnesota had a man advantage for five minutes after Spartan defenseman David Gucciardi was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for hitting from behind.
The game remained tied for the rest of regulation and five minutes of three-on-three overtime, while both goalies turned in game-saving denials.
In the shootout, Dorwart and Daniel Russell scored for Michigan State. Augustine made two saves, the second of which clinched the shootout victory. There was no need for a third shot attempt for either team.
TREY AUGUSTINE, AMAZING
Augustine is generally regarded as one of the top two goalies in college hockey and is likely the USA’s best goalie under the age of 20. He’s also the youngest starting goalie in college hockey.
Augustine, a sophomore, has had some impressive games as a Spartan, but he probably hasn’t turned in as many highlight saves in one game as he did on this night. He was so quick with his pad saves.
“He definitely has played some good games for us but we’re playing a really good team on the road and we need him to be good, right?” said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. “No doubt, he did a heck of a job for us. I thought their goalie played well also and it was a heck of a hockey game.”
Minnesota out-shot Michigan State 43-32. Augustine made 40 saves, including stops on three breakaways with the game in the balance. Althought he allowed three goals, he was voted the No. 1 star of the night by local media.
“We have to clean up some things, for sure,” Nightingale said. “They are obviously super-talented and play with speed and are well-coached. We have to limit some of those rush chances. It’s hard when you play a team like this, you’re going to get some of those. Try to keep them to the outside and give Trey a chance.”
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Tiernan Shoudy and Tanner Kelly also scored for the Spartans.
Shoudy, a 5-foot-9 fireplug from Marysville, Mich., tied the game at 1-1, with 17:40 remaining in the second period. Basgall assisted on the goal.
Michigan State tied the game at 2-2 when Kelly (5-10, Sr., San Diego) tipped in a pass from Shane Vansaghi with 12:19 left in the second period. Michigan State left wing Red Savage assisted.
Michigan State took a 3-2 lead on a 4-on-3 power play when Dorwart (6-1, Jr., Sherwood, Ore.) snapped a wrister from the left point, while Michigan State center Charlie Stramel screened Minnesota goalie Nathan Airey.
Minnesota tied the game at 3-3 during the five-minute major penalty, with 8:54 left in regulation when Minnesota’s Brodie Ziemer worked around Michigan State defenseman Owen West (5-11, Fr., Pittsboro, Ind.) and gained an avenue to the net. Despite being at a man disadvantage, Michigan State seemed to be in good shape for Ziemer’s rush, with three men at the blue line as he entered the zone. But West was caught reaching too far to the inside, and gave up the perimeter.
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Minnesota continued to pressure with a man advantage after that goal, but Augustine stood firm.
“On the five-minute major, I know they got one goal, but he (Augustine) did a heck of a job there,” Nightingale said. “I’m thankful we have him.”
WHAT IT MEANS
In the Big Ten standings, Friday’s tie is the first blemish for the Gophers (8-0-1) in the Big Ten, with 24 points (.944 point percentage). Michigan State is 5-1-1, with the league’s second-best .786 point percentage (meaning Michigan State has garnered 78.6 percent of game points available. There are three points available in each game. Win outright, and you get three. Win in overtime or a shootout, and you get two points).
In the big picture, Michigan State showed it could battle and hang with a powerhouse team, on the road, after a false start. This shouldn’t come as a surprise from the No. 3 team in the nation, which was ranked No. 1 for two weeks in late November and early December. But it’s still noteworthy to see it in action, especially after Minnesota dispatched then-No. 6 Michigan 6-0 and 2-0 last weekend.
Fighting back from an immediate 1-0 deficit, and a 2-1 deficit in the second period earned some compliments from Nightingale.
“For mental toughness, you can talk about it or read about it in a book, but you have to go through some things,” Nightingale. “It was obviously not an ideal start, and it gets the crowd into it. it was a great crowd here, but that has no impact on the game.”
Dorwart’s goal which gave Michigan State a 3-2 lead during a five-minute power play which began with the Spartans fumbling, stumbling and unable to gain the zone, much less get a shot attempt for three minutes. But Dorwart scored soon after Michigan State got its power play alignment squared away.
“The power play, heck of a job not getting frustrated and capitalized when it mattered most.”
But the spoils of semi-victory weren’t nearly as sweet as they could have been if Michigan State had been able to hold onto its lead in regulation.
Now, the host Gophers will come back strong on Saturday night, with the motivation of a Friday night loser, although they didn’t entirely lose. And the Spartans will try to hold them off, without a true, clean win to show for it from the night before.
