Red Wings Draft Pick Top Player in Big Ten Title Tilt

EAST LANSING — The Detroit Red Wings are putting an emphasis on the postseason for their minor-league prospects this winter.

They want the same for their college prospects, too, although they don’t have as much influence in that regard.

Still, the Red Wings’ draft picks in the game, Michigan State forward Red Savage (No. 114 overall, 2021)  and goalie Trey Augustine (No. 41, 2023), added to their postseason resumes in Saturday’s Big Ten tournament championship game at Munn Arena.

It was Michigan State that came out on top, winning 5-4 in overtime on a goal by freshman Patrick Geary. The shot came from the point in front of the Spartans’ bench.

“I’d just got the puck and (backup) goalie Jon Mor told me  to shoot,” Geary said. “I just put my head down, ripped it and looked up last second just to see it go in. I just turned around and (skated) to Trey because obviously he was a big reason why we won that game.”

Augustine Earns Top Player Honors

After giving up a goal on the first Michigan shot of the game, Augustine settled in and made 33 saves. He was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. Savage didn’t figure in the scoring, but totaled four shots on goal and three blocked shots. Red Wings draft pick Kienan Draper, son of Detroit assistant GM Kris Draper, had two shots and one blocked shot for Michigan.

“I grew up here and I’ve seen this rivalry develop,” Augustine said. “It’s getting back to being super competitive. I mean, it’s great to see and to win it in front of our fans. They’ve been phenomenal all year. (I’m) very grateful for the opportunity to win it for them.”

It’s the latest honor in a season that has seen Augustine win a gold medal in the World Junior Championships.

It was the first Big Ten hockey tournament title for the Spartans, who also were the regular-season champions. Michigan had won the tournament title the last two seasons.

The game was like most playoff contests, a defensive struggle marked by so-called greasy goals, a score that came on a successful appeal and a goal within the final second of the second period.

Michigan scored first and outshot Michigan State 14-6 in the first period. The Spartans got a break when an apparent Michigan goal was waved off due to goaltender interference.

MSU scored the next two goals, taking a 2-1 lead midway through the second period. Michigan tied it on a power-play goal with Savage i the penalty box, then took a 3-2 lead.

But Michigan State tied it on a goal that was ruled good after a video review and took the lead when Matt Basgall scored with :00.7 second left in the period. It was his second goal of the season.

Michigan tied it early in the third on Chicago Blackhawks prospect Frank Nazar’s second goal of the night, and it stayed 4-4 until Geary’s goal. It capped a rise that began two years ago, when MSU finished last in the league.

It was the fourth championship match between the schools, the first in the Big Ten. They met for the CCHA title three times. Michigan won in 1997 and 2002, Michigan State in 2001.