After suffering a challenging 6-2 loss to the Buckeyes in the first night of the series, Michigan State’s hockey team sought redemption on Senior Night, aiming to secure a comeback win in their final home series of the season. The Spartans delivered a strong performance, defeating Ohio State 5-2 with three crucial goals in the second period.
Eager for puck possession, the Spartans showcased quick and effective attacks, displaying clean passes, takeaways, and strong setups for shot attempts. Despite a penalty on senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis in the first period, Michigan State managed to kill off the penalty and maintain offensive pressure. They opened the scoring with a goal from sophomore forward Karsen Dorwart, assisted by sophomore forward Daniel Russell.
Ohio State responded, tying the game at 1-1 just before the end of the first period. However, Michigan State regained the lead in the second period, with freshman defenseman Patrick Geary scoring to make it 2-1. A five-minute major penalty against Ohio State provided the Spartans with a significant advantage, and freshman forward Gavin O’Connell capitalized on the power play to extend their lead.
The dominant play continued, leading to a fourth goal from sophomore Isaac Howard. Despite a penalty kill towards the end of the second period, Michigan State entered the third period with a 4-1 lead.
The third period saw Ohio State narrowing the gap with a goal, but the Spartans maintained their control. A bench penalty for Michigan State was successfully handled, and a tripping penalty against Ohio State resulted in a productive power play for the Spartans. A well-executed passing sequence involving Howard, O’Connell, and Russell secured the fifth goal, sealing a 5-2 victory.
In a symbolic moment, senior goaltender Jon Mor entered the net for the final 40 seconds as the Spartans celebrated their decisive win. Looking ahead, Michigan State is set to face the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison, with both games streamed on Big Ten Plus, as they compete for the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten.