Ohio State men’s hockey fell just short of winning its first Big Ten Tournament championship.
The Buckeyes came back from a 3-1 deficit in the third period and forced double overtime against No. 1 seed Michigan State on its home ice, but suffered a 4-3 defeat to the Spartans in the end.
What a battle. Spartans score with 4:51 left in the second overtime for the win.
— Ohio State Men's Hockey (@OhioStateMHKY) March 23, 2025
Next up - NCAA announcement at 3 pm Sunday on ESPNU. pic.twitter.com/lm88wMx8Di
It appeared as though Michigan State would win comfortably for most of regulation. The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the first period on power-play goals from Karsen Dorwart and Isaac Howard. Ohio State’s Joe Dunlap cut the lead to one with an even-strength goal late in the first period, but after a scoreless second period, Michigan State took a 3-1 lead in the first minute of the third period on a goal from Tanner Kelly.
In the final eight minutes of regulation, however, Damien Carfagna and Gunnarwolfe Fontaine each scored goals for the Buckeyes to even the score.
We've got a one goal game in the third @OhioStateMHKY #B1GHockey on BTN pic.twitter.com/Rc5FqWnQTY
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) March 23, 2025
WE'RE ALL TIED UP WITH TWO MINUTES TO GO @OhioStateMHKY #B1GHockey on BTN pic.twitter.com/q04xT4PNnK
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 23, 2025
It took more than 35 minutes of overtime for either team to score the game-winning goal as Ohio State’s Logan Terness made 20 saves between the two overtime periods while Michigan State’s Trey Augustine stopped several close chances by the Buckeyes. In the end, however, Howard slipped a shot around Terness with 4:51 remaining in double overtime to score the game-winner for the Spartans.
WHO ELSE BUT ISAAC HOWARD @MSU_Hockey goes back-to-back as #B1GHockey Tournament Champs pic.twitter.com/PNRAETTGuu
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) March 23, 2025
Despite the loss, Ohio State still made the NCAA Tournament. The Buckeyes earned a berth in the Toledo Regional, where they will play Boston University in the first round on Thursday at 2 p.m. (ESPNU) – if they beat BU, the Buckeyes could potentially face Michigan State again in Saturday’s regional final if the second-seeded Spartans defeat Cornell in their regional semifinal on Thursday.
