Last time the Gophers and Michigan State played, the Spartans converted the first nine out of 10 shots on-goal, leading the Gophers 2-1 in the second period before allowing 5 unanswered goals. The Big Ten Semi Final match on Saturday was quite similar.
Returning from a well-earned bye week, one would’ve expected a sleepy start from the Gophers. On the NCAA tournament bubble and fighting for their season’s livelihood, one would’ve predicted a spirited start from the Spartans. That’s exactly how this game began.
Michigan State was initially gifted a rare “elbowing” powerplay as Logan Cooley’s arm made contact with Jagger Joshua’s mouth. The Spartans capitalized on that buffer by taking the first lead of the game. Jeremy Davidson rang home a one-timer from the left crease.
Michigan State outraced Minnesota for the better part of the opening period. They jumped out to 11-3 shots on goal advantage, peppering Gophers goalie Justen Close. It wasn’t until Minnesota’s first powerplay, off of a blatant trip on Rhett Pitlick, when the team and crowd erupted.
Jaxon Nelson, who previously almost netted a shot in front of the Spartans goal off a great feed from Bryce Brodzinski, was successful the second time around in the same location. Matthew Knies found him in a wide-open position during Minnesota’s first powerplay opportunity.
From there on, the Gophers never looked back and finally got their in-game caffeine from the re-energized crowd. With two minutes remaining, fourth-liner John Mittelstadt slotted in his third goal of the year, and Michigan State lost all of its initial momenta heading into the first intermission.
“That was probably our best [stretch of the game],” said head coach Bob Motzko. “That last part of that first period … there were about three or four plays where we started using our speed to get things going, and we fed off that.”
The gas pedal was still in full throttle from the Gophers in the second period. Aaron Huglen, who has quietly been one of the biggest glue guys on offense this season for Minnesota, slapped in a rebound from Cal Thomas to extend the Maroon and Gold’s lead to 3-1 over Sparty. Sieve chants cued for Dylan St. Cyr, who has had major issues in-net versus Minnesota this year.
Halfway through the second period, Minnesota tied the Spartans with 17 shots apiece, a far cry from their sluggish start.
In the final period, Cooley pulled a goal out of his magic hat of absurd shots. In late November, he completed “The Michigan” lacrosse-style shot against Arizona State. Saturday, he missed a shot on-goal high on the glass, but the puck banked off the boards and bounced off the back of St. Cyr’s pads into the goal.
Cooley continued to spartan-kick Michigan State’s season off the NCAA tournament bubble cliff with four minutes remaining by corralling a puck all alone in their zone and sliding through an empty netter. Minnesota would win 5-1 with Close masterfully saving 29 of 30 Spartan shots on net.
With the No. 2 seed Michigan Wolverines blasting the No. 3 seed Ohio State Buckeyes 7-3 in Ann Arbor, the stage is set for a rematch of the 2022 Big Ten Tournament Championship. The game will be televised on the Big Ten Network next Saturday at 7 p.m. Central Standard Time. The Gophers are 3-1 this season against the Wolverines.
“Just up and down the lineup — they’ve got skill everywhere,” Gophers defenseman Mike Koster. “They got D that can get up and in the rush too, so obviously it’s a very exciting hockey game when we play them.”
Saturday marked defenseman Ryan Chesley’s first hockey game since Chesley injured his wrist against Wisconsin a month ago.
“Kinda crazy — I don’t think he missed a beat,” said Motzko on Chesley’s play. “He’s just a whale of a competitor.”
Forward Garrett Pinoniemi also saw in-game ice time. The last time he laced up the skates was against Penn State on Feb. 18, a week after suffering an upper-body injury in practice.
“I love playing with Pino,” said Mittelstadt, Pinoniemi’s linemate. “He’s so smart and plays the game so well. We just have great chemistry playing together all year.”
During that same week of practice, star defenseman Jackson LaCombe also went down with an injury to his lower body. Motzko said postgame the Hobey Baker nominee was a close decision to sit against Michigan State and will likely return next week.
