MSU hockey bombarded by Ohio State: "They were better in all facets."

The No. 1 Michigan State hockey program entered its final home series of the regular season against Ohio State needing just five points in its next four games to secure a third consecutive Big Ten title.

Well, the Buckeyes weren't going to just lie down and let the Spartans have it.

From the opening puck drop to the final horn, OSU outperformed MSU on its home ice, and the Spartans dropped the series opener, 5-1, in a very uncharacteristic manner.

"It was a tough game for us, and man, give Ohio State credit, they were the better hockey team, and they beat us in all facets tonight," MSU coach Adam Nightingale said. "We've got to be sharper, and it's my job to make sure the guys are ready to go, and they weren't ready tonight. They took it to us. We had a decent stretch in the second, but we'll get a little rest here and get back at it tomorrow."

OSU scored three goals in a three-minute, 29-second span in the first period to take a commanding 3-0 lead into the first intermission. Two goals came off rebounds from MSU junior goaltender Trey Augustine right in front of the net – an area where both Augustine and the Spartans have excelled at for most of the season.

MSU's most consistent stretch of play came at the beginning of the second period, where the Spartans put up more shots in the first five minutes than in the entire first 20 minutes. But a penalty gave OSU another chance on the man advantage, and forward Max Montes scored his second goal of the game by firing a shot through Augustine to put the Buckeyes up four.

"They're very detailed and don't give up a lot on the rush, always having three guys back, and they played really well in transition," MSU captain Matt Basgall said. "On our execution, we weren't getting enough pucks behind, not getting to work our forecheck, so there are things we have to improve on tomorrow."

Freshman forward Anthony Romani had the Spartans' lone tally in the game, firing a shot over the glove of OSU Kristoffer Eberly to cut the deficit to three. OSU forward Jake Karabela scored on a tipped shot in the third period for his second goal of the game to restore OSU's four-goal advantage,

Augustine made 34 saves on the night as the Buckeyes outshot MSU 39-23. After the game, Nightingale was on the ice arguing with the officials – a rare sight from normally composed coach.

"I have no issue with the calls, but it’s my job to coach our players, and I don’t want the refs talking to our guys," Nightingale said. "It’s his job to ref, my job to coach.”

MSU and OSU will meet again tomorrow, with puck drop scheduled for 8 p.m. Senior day celebrations will take place following the conclusion of the game.

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

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU hockey bombarded by Ohio State: "They were better in all facets."