Spartans battled back, survived overtime, and won a 13-round shootout thriller, snatching revenge in a memorable instant classic.
“It’s a little nerve-wracking.” said Tiernan Shoudy on a 13-round shootout following one of the most epic battles of the season.
The Spartans edged out Ohio State, getting their revenge after Friday’s beatdown, in one of the most unforgettable games I’ve seen in a long time. Michigan State battled back twice to tie it, survived a frantic 3-on-3 overtime filled with golden chances on both ends, and finally outlasted the Buckeyes in a 13-round, edge-of-your-seat shootout. The unlikely hero? Colin Ralph, who buried the decisive goal to seal it.
Here’s how we got there.
With a chip on their shoulders, the Spartans came out determined to set the tone early. Senior and freshman united for the game’s first goal. Matt Basgall sent a pass from the left-side blue line over to Ryker Lee. Immediately after receiving the perfect feed from the captain, Lee unleashed a scorcher past the goaltender — and nearly through the net — for his 12th goal of the season. Basgall earned his 14th assist of the year, while Porter Martone picked up his 22nd.
The puck flashed red and yellow on its way in, like a basketball in NBA Jam — and Lee was on fire. A perfectly placed rifle tucked just under the crossbar, above the goaltender’s glove. Not even a cat would have had the reaction time to catch it. An early 1-0 lead was exactly what the Spartans needed.
Ohio State pushed back hard. The Buckeyes had multiple power-play opportunities in the first period, but Trey Augustine looked like his old self again — calm, poised, and sharp. That was until Riley Thompson beat him for the 1-1 equalizer. Augustine came out aggressively to challenge, but Thompson’s precision found the net. It was his 10th goal of the season, assisted by Chris Able (6) and Jake Karabela (17).
Then came a costly giveaway in the Spartans’ own zone. Max Montes found a wide-open Niall Crocker, who lifted the puck up and over Augustine’s shoulder for his second goal of the season. Montes recorded his 12th assist, and Davis Burnside earned his 15th. Just like that, déjà vu crept in. In a span of one minute and eleven seconds, Ohio State flipped a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead before the first period even ended.
But this time, Michigan State responded — something they couldn’t do the night before.
When the Spartans need a spark, you can often look to one of the best freshmen in the country. Flying up the middle, Martone took a pass from Matthew Lahey and appeared ready to wrist one to the top right corner. Instead, he pulled it to his backhand and flipped it elegantly over the outstretched pad of the Ohio State goaltender. Just like that, the Spartans stopped the bleeding and tied the game 2-2 before intermission.
The second period settled down. Both teams generated quality looks, but the goaltenders stood tall. That calm held until just over two minutes remained.
Ohio State battled the puck free low in its zone and transitioned quickly. Sam Deckhut recorded his second assist of the season, moving the puck along the right-side wall into the Spartans’ zone. Deckhut slid it to Burnside, who notched his second assist of the night and 16th of the season with a quick touch pass to Jake Rozzi. Rozzi slipped the puck through Augustine’s five-hole for his first goal of the season, giving the Buckeyes a 3-2 lead heading into the third.
On senior night, the Spartans weren’t finished.
In the third period, Anthony Romani delivered. From the blue line, Romani sent a rocket that found its way into the top corner for the game-tying goal — his 14th of the season. Owen West earned his seventh assist for getting the puck to Romani, while Eric Nilson added his eighth. It marked Michigan State’s second power-play goal of the night, as the Spartans went 2-for-3 with the man advantage.
And so, 3-3 it stood as regulation expired.
The game moved to 3-on-3 overtime, where Michigan State entered 3-2 on the season, while Ohio State came in at 2-6-1 in extra sessions. The Buckeyes controlled possession for long stretches, using every available second without a shot clock to work for the perfect look. Still, both teams had chances.
None bigger than Romani’s. Fresh off the bench, he split the defense on a breakaway but missed the net on his final attempt. Seconds later, he found himself on another breakaway, this time with a Buckeye draped all over him, unable to get a clean shot off.
Overtime solved nothing.
So, to the shootout we went.
Daniel Russell led off for Michigan State, deked right, pulled the puck back across his body, and buried it. Augustine matched the energy by denying Ohio State’s first attempt. Ryker Lee followed but was turned away on a toe-drag move. Augustine stoned the Buckeyes’ second shooter.
Romani was denied by the goaltender’s left pad. Burnside answered on the other end to tie it. Martone missed wide in the fourth round, but Augustine’s glove — which seemed to grow ten sizes — kept it even.
On senior night, Charlie Stramel danced in front before going top-shelf backhand for the go-ahead goal. Ohio State answered in similar fashion.
Round after round, it continued.
Nilson was stopped. Augustine returned the favor. Gavin O’Connell was denied by Eberly’s left pad. Augustine again answered. Tiernan Shoudy was turned aside in the eighth; Ohio State missed the net. Captain Matt Basgall couldn’t sneak one through in the ninth; Augustine shut the door once more.
Through ten. Through eleven. Through twelve.
Matt Lahey, the 6-foot-6 Maple Leafs draft pick, lost control on his attempt in the twelfth, but Augustine poke-checked away Ohio State’s chance to end it.
Finally, in the 13th round, Colin Ralph stepped up. He showed patience beyond his years, waited out the goaltender, and slid the puck low into the net.
All that remained was one final save.
Augustine delivered.
Thirteen rounds. Countless heartbeats. An unbelievable, unforgettable senior night.
The Spartans earned two critical points after battling back twice. They now sit two points behind Michigan for a share of first place and three points back of an outright conference title. With Michigan’s regular season complete, the path is clear: a win and an overtime result next weekend in Minnesota could be enough to finish the job.
If Saturday night proved anything, it’s this — the Spartans aren’t done fighting yet.