Spartans manage to survive a very odd weekend and come out with 2 points. The team looked sluggish, sloppy and filled with mental errors. Struggled with puck control and just didn’t seem themselves. They now sit 4 points away from a three peat as they head to Minnesota to close the regular season.
Friday night’s game at Munn was a classic version of Jekyll and Hyde. The team that showed up on the ice was not like anything we’ve seen recently. To say they were outplayed in every aspect is an understatement.
They were given a wake up call, one that will hopefully serve its purpose come tourney time. One game. One game is everything. One game is the result of going home or playing tomorrow. Fortunately, there are still a few regular season games left to get back on track, take the conference and prepare for two tournaments.
The Spartans were out shot, the lived in the penalty box and struggled to kill a couple of them. The struggle started after MSU was unable to connect on a power play at 11:07 for hooking. I suppose we could say it unraveled when MSU was in the box after 28 seconds of game time, but I digress. The power play was short lived as MSU was called for another and it started OSU off on a three goals in about 4.5 minutes of time. MSU is usually the team that does that onslaught, not typically the recipient of it. From that point on, it was a large hill to climb.
The second started out better as MSU had looked to at least put some shots on goal and attack Eberly. OSU had some nice blocks to keep pucks from even getting to goal but once again, a penalty slowed it down and OSU was able to connect on its second power play goal of the night putting the Spartans down 4-0. Romani got the spartans on the board late in the period but momentum was once again stifled with another trip to the box to almost take us to the end the of period.
The Buckeyes came out strong to start the third and spent almost three straight minutes in the Spartans zone and managed to get another goal to put the game at 5-1 with 17 left. It was just not the night for MSU, who couldn’t get anything going in the third. Untimely penalties have been a weakness of this team all year. Karabela and Montes showed why they were offensive team leaders as both had a great 2 goals each game. Nightingale was not happy with the officiating and how they were talking at MSU players. He mentioned how the calls are what they are but you are not coaching my team.
Saturday had a lot of emotions for the Seniors in their final regular season game at Munn. You could feel a bit of irritation on the ice from MSU who wanted to go out and set a tone. MSU did just that as they went on the power play within two minutes of the puck drop and Ryker Lee slapped one home. Classic to the series, the Spartans immediately had to go on the penalty kill for a boarding by Lindstrom. MSU was able to kill it as well as another penalty a couple minutes later that looked questionable to me. OSU tied it up with a bit of pressure and then took the lead with another goal over Augustine’s right shoulder. MSU started to get something going when they went on the power play. Hit the post on one before Martone made a beautiful play to even things up. That is how it stayed after one.
Period two started off with a lot of neutral zone play for the first seven minutes with the Spartans having more chances but just unable to connect. Midway through OSU challenged for a major penalty and lost. Never been a fan of challenging for majors in hockey. OSU was the first to break the scoreless period with a wide open pass from Burnside to Rozzi, who just beat Augustine. Frustrating period where it looked promising for MSU only to get out shot and Trey not looking like Trey. The Spartans headed into the third down 3-2. Silver lining….they stayed out of the box!
The third started with one of my favorites, a little Nutcracker music for the refs entrance. Well played Munn. Another period of back and forth. Stramel had a chance and just missed too high. Nothing was seeming to go the Spartans way. MSU finally got a call and went on a power play. Romani slapped his 14th of the season from the top of the circle and tied it up. The intensity was climbing as we hit the four minutes left mark still knotted at 3. MSU had a late surge but ultimately couldn’t connect and the game went to overtime.
Overtime had a lot of positioning but MSU had the best two opportunities. Lee switched out for Romani and was fed the puck on the break and just missed. Spartans had one more chance as time expired. Game goes to a shootout with Russell and Stramel both connecting. Eberly and Augustine both trading saves until the 13th guy, Colin Ralph connects.
Disappointing weekend for MSU who were looking to stay hot, wrap up the conference with 6 points and ended up with 2. The conference three peat is still attainable but it will not come easy. I guess we as Spartan fans should know, nothing comes easy for MSU, it all needs to be earned the hard way, the Spartan way. Congrats to the Seniors who helped change this program and turn it around we’re proud to have you as Spartans for life. Now finish this year on top and go out champions.
