Four first-period goals propel Michigan State hockey past Ohio State, 6-2

No. 2 Michigan State hockey burst out to a 4-0 lead in the first period of its series opener with Ohio State en route to a 6-2 win over the Buckeyes as the second half of Big Ten play began Friday, Jan. 9 in Columbus, Ohio.

The Spartans scored three goals in 23 seconds in the opening frame, starting with freshman Cayden Lindstrom setting up fellow first-year forward Anthony Romani for the first score. From there, MSU's top line added two more, with freshman Porter Martone and senior forward Charlie Stramel finding the back of the net.

Martone would add his second goal of the game late in the first period on the man advantage to put the Spartans up four through 20 minutes.

OSU scored the lone goal of the second period, then cut the deficit to just two early in the third. But a pair of OSU penalties gave MSU would get a lengthy 5-on-3 opportunity and the Spartans capitalized. Stramel rocketed a one-timer past OSU goaltender Sam Hillebrandt, who replaced starter Kristoffer Eberly after the first period, to restore a three-goal lead at 5-2.

Freshman forward Ryker Lee would score later in the third on a nifty play in front of the net to make it a 6-2 final. MSU goaltender Trey Augustine stopped 30 of 32 OSU shots, while Hillebrandt made 14 saves in two periods.

Senior forward Daniel Russell added three assists, while Martone and defenseman Matt Basgall each had two helpers. Lee, Stramel and senior forward Tiernan Shoudy each had one assist as well.

MSU and the Buckeyes will meet again at the Schottenstein Center on Saturday, Jan. 10, with puck drop scheduled for 5 p.m.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at [email protected] and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Four first-period goals propel Michigan State hockey past Ohio State