By Neil Koepke
MSUSpartans.com staff writer
COLUMBUS, Ohio – For most of the last two months, Michigan State has outplayed opponents in the third period. But that wasn’t the case here Friday against Ohio State.
The Spartans watched a close, winnable game turn into a runaway loss as the Buckeyes in the final period scored two early goals, two late goals and cruised to a 6-2 victory in the first game of a best-of-three, first-round Big Ten playoff series at Value City Arena.
Trailing 2-1 after two periods, MSU got outshot 21- 7 in the third period, 40-20 overall, and now the Spartans must win Saturday to even the series or their season will come to an end.