Some of Michigan State's top NHL prospects delivered outstanding performances in the NCAA men's hockey tournament opener on Thursday.
Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine stopped a career-high 41 shots, while Philadelphia Flyers first-round pick Porter Martone and Nashville Predators first-rounder Ryker Lee scored as the top-seeded Spartans beat the No. 4 UConn Huskies 2-1.
Martone scored the winner in the second period after he helped cause a UConn turnover in the Huskies' zone before one-timing a pass from Tiernan Shoudy past Huskies goalie Tyler Muszelik (Florida Panthers).
Augustine, one of three finalists for the Mike Richter Award as NCAA goalie of the year, was terrific on a day when Michigan State had to kill off five penalties and was outshot 42-22.
Martone, a freshman at Michigan State after playing in the OHL last season for the Brampton Steelheads, also had an assist on Lee's beautiful individual effort in the first period.
Tabor Heaslip scored for UConn.
No. 3 Wisconsin 5, No. 2 Dartmouth 1
Wisconsin earned a date with Big Ten conference foe Michigan State in the regional final with a convincing win over Dartmouth.
Simon Tassy scored two goals for the Badgers, while Quinn Finley (New York Islanders) had a goal and two assists.
Wisconsin outshot Dartmouth 28-14.
Sioux Falls, S.D. regional
No. 3 Quinnipiac 5, No. 2 Providence 2
Quinnipiac scored two empty-net goals to pull away from Providence to secure a spot in the national elite eight.
Former QMJHLer Antonin Verreault led the Bobcats with a goal and an assist. NCAA scoring leader Ethan Wyttenbach (Calgary) Flames had one of the empty-netters for the victors.
Freshman goalie sensation Jack Parsons made 33 saves for Providence, while Logan Sawyer (Montreal Canadiens) had a goal and an assist.
The No. 1 North Dakota Fighting Hawks battle the No. 4 Merrimack Warriors in the second Sioux Falls regional semifinal later Thursday.
The Albany, N.Y. and Loveland, Colo. regionals start Friday.
