In a game that No. 3 overall seed Michigan State controlled until late, three unanswered goals from Wisconsin gave the Badgers a 4-3 overtime win in stunning comeback fashion Saturday evening at the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.
Wisconsin defender Ben Dexheimer’s shot from just inside the blue line deflected off a Spartan defender into the back of the net 24 seconds into overtime, giving the program its first Frozen Four appearance since 2010.
MSU led the Worcester regional final 3-1 with five minutes left in the third period, but relentless Wisconsin pressure set up back-to-back goals from freshman Luke Osburn (Plymouth/Orchard Lake St. Mary’s) and sophomore Gavin Morrissey (Rochester Hills) to even the game. Both goals came off rebounded shots just 34 seconds apart.
An injury to first-line center Charlie Stramel saw Michigan State looking to different places for its offense, with forward Gavin O’Connell, defender Patrick Geary and defender Matt Basgall scoring goals.
Wisconsin’s defense dominated the opening minutes, holding MSU to just one shot eight minutes into the game.
The Spartans struggled to possess the puck, leading to six early Wisconsin shots on goal. Junior goaltender Trey Augustine was up to the challenge, saving all six. Neither team was able to break through in a scrappy period.
On the first faceoff of the second period, Wisconsin forward Quinn Finley took a pass from Morrissey and slotted it home from just outside the faceoff line to put the Badgers up 1-0.
A two-minute roughing penalty on freshman standout Porter Martone gave Wisconsin a power play, but was unable to capitalize on six shots, giving MSU its sixth penalty kill of the NCAA Tournament.
Moments later, a Wisconsin penalty set up O’Connell for the equalizer, scoring on a deflected shot with just seconds left in the power play.
The Spartans seized the shift of momentum, with Geary securing a Badger turnover and finding Tommi Mannisto in open space. Mannisto made a nice return pass to Geary for the second goal in 31 seconds.
After another penalty kill by Michigan State, freshman Ryker Lee had a breakaway right out of the penalty box, but was unable to put it behind Hauser. MSU had the final seven shots of the rapid second period.
The pace slowed in the third period, with both goaltenders making nice saves on back-to-back shots. It was a stalemate until Martone drew a hooking penalty. On the ensuing power play, Basgall’s shot from just inside the blue line found the back of the net to put the Spartans up two with 11:27 left.
Two saves from Hauser flipped the momentum back to the Badgers, with Wisconsin beginning its assault on Augustine and the MSU defense.
Augustine made four saves over two minutes, before the equalizing goals found a way behind him. Wisconsin outshot MSU 18-6 in the third period.
The Badgers will take on the winner of North Dakota vs. Quinnipiac in the Frozen Four semifinal on Thursday, April 9.
Wisconsin moves to 22-12-2 while Michigan State ends its season at 26-8-3.
Nathan Korp is a freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Stunner! Wisconsin’s huge rally denies Michigan State Frozen Four
Reporting by Nathan Korp, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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