Michigan State hockey forces OT with late goal, but falls to Minnesota, 6-5

During two entertaining games this weekend, No. 7 Michigan State and No. 8 Minnesota lived up to their rankings and looked like evenly matched hockey teams.

It played out that way on the scoreboard, too.

On Sunday, it was the Golden Gophers' turn to get the extra point in the Big Ten standings as Jimmy Clark's overtime goal lifted Minnesota to a 6-5 victory. On Friday night, the teams battled to a 3-3 tie before the Spartans got the extra point by winning the shootout.

Sunday's game involved some extra drama as MSU rallied from a two-goal deficit with five minutes to play. First captain Nash Nienhuis got the Spartans back within one after his shot from the point got though traffic and found the back of the net. Then, with MSU's net empty for an extra skater, sophomore Joey Larson scored with 18 seconds left to force overtime.

Larson's goal came on a perfect feed from behind the net by freshman Gavin O'Connell.

During the 3-on-3 overtime, Nienhuis was without a stick for a lengthy period after his broke and the Gophers took advantage with Clark's game-winner.

Both teams finished with three points on the weekend, leaving MSU (10-4-2 overall, 5-1-2 Big Ten) still alone in first place with 19 points. Wisconsin and Notre Dame — who have both played two less games — are tied for second with 12 and Minnesota is fourth with 10.

MSU outshot the Gophers 44-41 as freshman goaltender Trey Augustine finished with 35 saves.

Minnesota forward Bryce Brodzinski opened the scoring in the first period on the power play. However, MSU responded to tie it when Larson forced a turnover behind the net and fed the puck to junior forward Red Savage, who fired a one-timer past Minnesota goaltender Justen Close.

Junior defenseman David Gucciardi gave the Spartans a brief lead in the second period, making an impressive move to beat Close and giving MSU an NCAA-leading fifth shorthanded goal of the season.

MSU forward Tommi Mannisto committed a major penalty for the second straight game in the second period, but Minnesota's Jimmy Snuggerud was whistled for a major penalty just 45 seconds into the Gophers' extended power play.

During the ensuing 4-on-4, Minnesota defenseman Ryan Chelsey scored on a backdoor play to tie the game at 2-2. Then after MSU took another penalty, Brodzinski scored his second of the game, beating Augustine to put the Gophers back in front.

MSU leveled the game late in the period when freshman defenseman Patrick Geary joined an odd man rush and sophomore forward Isaac Howard found him streaking through the slot, putting the puck right on Geary's stick as he fired a shot past Close.

Minnesota forward Connor Kurth got free on a breakaway and beat Augustine less than a minute into the third period for a 4-3 lead. Then Rhett Pitlick pushed the lead to two on the power play midway through the final 20 minutes, setting the stage for the Spartans' late rally.

MSU is off next weekend before returning to action Dec. 8-9, when it will host Notre Dame.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @Nathaniel_Bott.

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State hockey: Spartans force OT late, but fall, 6-5