{"id":146418,"date":"2024-03-24T00:38:50","date_gmt":"2024-03-24T05:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/?p=146418"},"modified":"2024-03-24T07:59:02","modified_gmt":"2024-03-24T12:59:02","slug":"gearys-overtime-winner-lifts-no-5-michigan-state-over-no-10-michigan-in-big-ten-playoff-championship-thriller","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2024\/03\/24\/gearys-overtime-winner-lifts-no-5-michigan-state-over-no-10-michigan-in-big-ten-playoff-championship-thriller\/","title":{"rendered":"Geary’s overtime winner lifts No. 5 Michigan State over No. 10 Michigan in Big Ten playoff championship thriller"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Michigan State players celebrate their Big Ten playoff title Saturday night on home ice at Munn Ice Arena (photo: Rey Del Rio\/Michigan State Athletics).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Neil Koepke<\/em><\/p>\n

EAST LANSING, Mich. \u2013<\/strong> Three weeks after winning the Big Ten regular season championship, No. 5 Michigan State on Saturday added another piece of hardware to its trophy case.<\/p>\n

The Spartans and archrival Michigan hooked up in a highly entertaining shootout that wasn\u2019t decided until 13:47 into overtime, as MSU outlasted the 10th-ranked Wolverines 5-4 in the Big Ten title game in front of a sellout crowd of 6,555 at Munn Arena.<\/p>\n

Freshman defenseman Patrick Geary\u2019s shot from the left point beat Michigan goalie Jake Barczewski over his left shoulder, setting off a wild celebration that hasn\u2019t been seen in Munn Arena in several years.<\/p>\n

The playoff title was Michigan State\u2019s first since 2005-06 when the Spartans captured the CCHA championship at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.<\/p>\n

Geary said when he took a pass from teammate Reed Lebster at the left point, right next to the MSU bench, Spartan backup goalie Jon Mohr, on the bench, yelled \u201cshoot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knew I had a lane open and he told me to shoot it,” Geary said. \u201cI just put my head down [and] shot.”<\/p>\n

Somehow, the puck went past a maze of players in front and ended a classic championship game that featured great scoring opportunities, quick goals, a reviewed goal, and clutch saves by MSU goalie Trey Augustine and UM\u2019s Barczewski.<\/p>\n

Augustine, the Big Ten tournament Most Valuable Player, made 33 saves while Barczewski stopped 30 shots.<\/p>\n

\n

Hang it in the Louvre. <\/p>\n

Patrick Geary cements his spot in Spartan hockey lore. <\/p>\n

His OT game-winner makes MSU just the third regular-season and tournament champion in the same season in B1G history. #GoGreen<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/8x39jzNNpd<\/a><\/p>\n

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n