Friday night was a big night for Michigan State hockey. The Spartans were playing in an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in several years and looking for their first win in the event since 2008.
Trailing 4-2 in the second period, Michigan State needed a world-class comeback to beat Western Michigan. It was a shock for a No. 1 seed, but Western is no slouch either. They had a great season, but when the region was announced everyone said this was a tough draw for the Spartans. It was difficult to fit West Michigan, North Dakota, and Michigan into the same region.
But the Spartans didn't panic even though they were down 4-2, scoring early in the third, tying the game on Carsen Dorwart's goal with less than a minute left, and Trey Augustin's goal. I pulled away.
In overtime, the Michigan State team became more motivated, faster, stronger, and overall more aggressive, winning the game nine minutes into overtime. The goal led to Michigan State's double-overtime victory. His last goal came against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament title game.
Speaking of Michigan State, the Spartans, who upset North Dakota State on Friday night, will face the Wolverines for the sixth time this season on Sunday for a trip to the Frozen Four.
As the saying goes, it's hard to beat a team five times in one season (OK, maybe I was actually exaggerating that statement). Michigan State will play the Wolverines on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. ET. If they win, the Spartans will advance to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2007, when they won it all.
