Michigan State hockey battles to draw with Minnesota, earns extra point in shootout

The Michigan State hockey team never led in its series opener with Minnesota on Friday night in Minneapolis, but it did enough to keep pace with the high-flying Gophers and earn a crucial two points in the Big Ten standings.

Minnesota outshot MSU 47-28, but MSU responded to each of Minnesota's three goals with one of its own – none bigger than sophomore forward Tiernan Shoudy's redirect goal with 3:27 remaining to tie it at 3-3.

Both sides had dangerous chances but failed to score in the 3-on-3 overtime session, sending the game to a shootout. The Spartans outscored the Golden Gophers 2-1 in the shootout to earn the extra point.

Minnesota opened the scoring with forward Connor Kurth early in the first period. But MSU answered in the middle frame on the power play on the third goal in as many games for sophomore forward Joey Larson.

Minnesota's leading scorer, Bryce Brodzinski, gave the Gophers a 2-1 lead in the third period at the tail-end of a five-minute power play. But the Spartans responded again as senior defenseman Nash Nienhuis would equalize less than two minutes later.

Shoudy's goal came just over two minutes after Minnesota regained the lead, deflecting a point shot from junior defenseman David Gucciardi, who returned to the lineup after missing the last six games.

MSU goaltender Trey Augustin, last week's Big Ten First Star of the Week, fought off two breakaways in overtime before standing tall in the shootout. He finished with 44 saves.

MSU and Minnesota will face off again Sunday at 2 p.m. in a game that will be televised on the Big Ten Network.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU hockey draws with Minnesota, earns extra point in shootout