MSU hockey blows late lead, loses heartbreaker in OT to end season short of Frozen Four

It doesn't get much worse than how the Spartans' season ended on Saturday. Michigan State hockey let a two goal slip in the final minutes and eventually lost early into overtime against Wisconsin on Saturday. Wisconsin scored two goals within one minute in the final five minutes of regulation, and then scored less than a minute into overtime to end the Spartans' season.

Michigan State was in search of their first Frozen Four appearance in nearly 20 years, but let a late convincing lead slip. This game remained scoreless in the opening period, with both teams getting some great opportunities but neither finding the back of the net. It didn't take long into the second period for the shutout to be broken, with Wisconsin finding the back of the net less than 20 seconds into the frame.

Quinn Finley fired a snipe past Trey Augustine to give the Badgers the 1-0 lead. Michigan State would respond, though, with a pair of goals within 31 seconds of each other halfway through the period. Gavin O'Connell got the Spartans on the board first, with Patrick Geary following only 31 seconds later to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead.

Michigan State got a number of great opportunities from that point forward (including one that was video reviewed) but that was all the scoring for the period. Michigan State led 2-1 going into the third period. Michigan State pushed its lead to 3-1 on another power play goal, this time from Matt Basgall about half way through the third period.