Eric Boggs
Ohio State men’s hockey came agonizingly close to capturing its first Big Ten Tournament championship but fell just short in a thrilling, double-overtime battle against No. 1 seed Michigan State. The Buckeyes erased a 3-1 deficit in the third period to force extra time, but the Spartans ultimately prevailed 4-3 on their home ice at Munn Ice Arena, securing their second consecutive conference title.
From the outset, Michigan State seemed poised for victory, taking a 2-0 lead less than 12 minutes into the game with power-play goals from Karsen Dorwart and Isaac Howard. Ohio State responded late in the first period when Joe Dunlap found the back of the net, cutting the deficit in half. A scoreless second period saw both teams locked in a defensive battle, with Buckeye goaltender Logan Terness and Spartan netminder Trey Augustine turning away every scoring chance.
Michigan State extended its lead just 42 seconds into the third period as Tanner Kelly’s goal made it 3-1. However, the Buckeyes showed their resilience in the final eight minutes of regulation. Defenseman Damien Carfagna brought Ohio State within one at 12:46, banking the puck off the Spartan goalie and into the net. Then, with just over two minutes remaining, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine buried the equalizer off a scramble near the faceoff circle, sending the game into overtime.
The intensity only grew as the game entered its first extra period. Ohio State outshot Michigan State 11-9 and had a power-play opportunity but could not capitalize. The teams remained deadlocked through 20 minutes of overtime, marking the longest game in Big Ten Tournament history.
In the second overtime, both teams continued to press, but it was Michigan State’s Isaac Howard who delivered the final blow, scoring with 4:51 remaining to seal the victory. Terness, who made a career-high 47 saves across 95 minutes of play, was nothing short of spectacular in goal, keeping the Buckeyes in contention with clutch stops throughout both overtime periods.
Despite the loss, Ohio State’s performance was nothing short of valiant. The Buckeyes finished with 30 blocked shots, including six from Carfagna, who also extended his point streak to four games. Fontaine, who leads the team with 40 points on the season, continued to be an offensive force, while Aiden Hansen-Bukata registered three assists, matching his career high.
This marks Ohio State’s third appearance in the Big Ten championship game, with each ending in an overtime defeat (2014, 2018, and now 2025). While the heartbreak of coming so close will linger, the Buckeyes are still in the hunt for a bigger prize. With a 24-13-2 record, Ohio State is well-positioned to earn a berth in the 16-team NCAA Tournament, with the official bracket announcement set for 3 p.m. Sunday on ESPNU.
With their resilience and battle-tested roster, the Buckeyes will look to put this loss behind them and refocus on making a deep NCAA Tournament run. Though a conference title remains elusive, Ohio State has proven they belong among the nation’s elite and will be a formidable opponent in the quest for a national championship.
