NCAA men’s hockey tournament roundup: Michigan State stars shine in opener

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.

The Spartans will face the winner of Thursday’s later game between the No. 2 Dartmouth Big Green and No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers in the Worcester, Mass. regional final.

The No. 2 Providence Friars face the No. 3 Quinnipiac Bobcats and the No. 1 North Dakota Fighting Hawks battle the No. 4 Merrimack Warriors in the Sioux Falls, S.D. regional later Thursday.

The Albany, N.Y. and Loveland, Colo. regionals start Friday.