2026 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament: Red Wings’ Augustine, Flyers’ Martone highlight standouts from Day 1

The game remained tied through the first half of the second period until veteran Tiernan Shoudy made a great play to set up Porter Martone for his 25th goal of the season to put MSU ahead for the first time.

That ended up being plenty for the Spartans. While UConn put the pedal down in the third period searching for the equalizer, Augustine was there each and every time. Even in the dying seconds of regulation, the two-time World Juniors gold medalist made a massive save on Buffalo Sabres prospect Jake Richard to secure the victory.

The Huskies ended up outshooting the Spartans 42-22, but the bigger stat was how Augustine and MSU held UConn to 0-for-5 on the power play.

It marked Michigan State’s first win in the NCAA Tournament since 2024, as the team eyes its first trip to the Frozen Four since the program’s last national title in 2007.

Here are the top players from the first game of the tournament:

Trey Augustine, G, Michigan State (Detroit Red Wings): I had a hunch going into this game that Augustine was going to have to be sharp if the Spartans wanted a chance to win…and I was right. The USNTDP product stood on his head for long stretches of the game, as the UConn attack was relentless from the get-go, especially in the first period, when he faced 18 shots on goal.

Augustine was calm, cool and collected throughout the entire game, never moving himself out of position and making clutch stops on almost every penalty kill. It’s games like these that show why the 21-year-old will be turning pro pretty soon.

Porter Martone, RW, Michigan State (Philadelphia Flyers): Big players need to step up in big games. While Augustine held the fort down on one end, Martone was making the most of his NCAA Tournament debut on Thursday. Not only did he score what ended up being the game-winner, but the 19-year-old was also credited with an assist on Lee’s PPG in the first period. You could tell he wanted more, leading MSU with four shots on goal in the game. If he can bring that intensity to Saturday, the Spartans will be punching their ticket to Las Vegas.

Wisconsin 5, Dartmouth 1

An intriguing matchup between the ECAC champions and a Big Ten school that had been off the ice for a couple of weeks. Yet, you wouldn’t have been able to tell that the Badgers hadn’t played in 15 days the way they controlled the game against the Big Green. Wisconsin outshot its opponent 10-4 in the opening period, with Simon Tassy scoring less than three minutes into the game.

While Hank Cleaves score later in the first period to get Dartmouth on the board, that was as close as the Big Green would get. Wisconsin’s limited Dartmouth’s offense, including the nation’s leading goal scorer and Hobey Baker semifinalist, Hayden Stavroff. It took the Badgers a minute to score themselves but Jack Horbach’s third goal of the year put the team back out in front just before the halfway mark of the third. Wisconsin never looked back, adding a trio of insurance goals to give the program it’s first win in the national tournament since 2010, the last time Wisconsin made it to the Frozen Four.

The Badgers led the Big Green in shots by a margin of 28-14. It was a tough night for Canadiens prospect Emmett Croteau, who made 23 saves on 26 shots.

Simon Tassy, RW, Wisconsin: While Tassy wasn’t the biggest scoring threat for the Badgers during the regular season, he’s a prime example that sometimes the lesser names shine brightest on the big stage. The Montreal native used his 6-foot-2 frame to his advantage, grinding out to get a rebound to score the first goal of the game. Then, as Wisconsin was looking to seal the deal, he used excellent hand-eye coordination to give his team a two-goal cushion in the third.

Massy, who led the Badgers with eight shots on goal on Thursday, now has six goals since the start of February, sitting third on the team with 13 goals on the year.

Quinn Finley, RW, Wisconsin (New York Islanders): It was an excellent showing from the junior on Thursday night. The third-round pick led Wisconsin with three points in the game, including the clinching fifth goal, an empty-net tally for his 16th of the year. He has been one of the best players for the Badgers all season long, and his release makes him such a tough player to read for the opposing goaltener. The Isles prospect sits second on the team with 31 points through 34 games.

The Badgers and Spartans will meet in the regional final on Saturday, with puck drop scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET.

Sioux Falls

Quinnipiac 5, Providence 2

In a rather chippy affair, the Bobcats certainly looked like the better team against the Hockey East Regular Season champions. After a scoreless opening frame, Quinnipiac’s deep offense went to work, scoring a trio of markers in the second period. Bruins prospect Elliott Groenewold starting off the scoring with a blast minutes into the frame.

Quinnipiac seemed pretty comfortable with a 3-0 lead heading into the third, but the Friars refused to quit. The turning point came a few minutes into the stanza, when Providence’s Quinn Manteni was tossed from the game after a major penalty for boarding. However, the Bobcats, who briefly had a 5-on-3, failed to take advantage. Providence was able to get on the board with a goal from top scorers Logan Sawyer and Chicago Blackhawks prospect John Mustard minutes apart to cut the deficit to one.

Yet, that was all Providence had. Quinnipiac’s defense shut the door, potting a couple of empty-netters to cap off the win.

The Bobcats ended up outshooting the Friars 38-25. Quinnipiac’s Dylan Silverstein had to make just 23 saves in the victory, while Jack Parsons certainly did his best to keep the Friars in the game, turning away 33 shots.

Quinnipiac is seeking its first Frozen Four berth since the team won it all in 2023, while the Friars have bowed out in the first round for the second year in a row.

Antonin Verreault, LW, Quinnipiac: While the Bobcats have the likes of the nation’s leading scorer and Calgary Flames prospect Ethan Wyttenbach, it was Verreault who came up big to give the Bobcats its first national tournament win in two years. First, the 21-year-old set up Boston Bruins prospect Chris Pelosi to put the Bobcats up by two. Then, a few minutes later, Verreault picked up a Tyler Borgula rebound, using slick hands to put the cherry on top of an impressive first period for the ECAC power.

With the multi-point performance, Verreault joined Wyttenbach as the only Bobcats to have hit 40 points so far this season. He and Victor Czerneckianair were the only players on the QC roster to post two points in the win.

Logan Sawyer, LW, Providence (Montreal Canadiens): The Friars looked like they were down and out on Thursday, but Sawyer played an important role in giving the team a chance. The sophomore, who missed Providence’s last game in the Hockey East tournament due to injury, was the beneficiary of a wild scramble to get his team on the board.

Sawyer, along with Martin Masa, helped set up Mustard to make the game really interesting. Sawyer finished the game tied with Mustard for the most shots on goal with four apiece. Though the way the season ended wasn’t ideal, but it was a good year for the 19-year-old, who set career highs with 14 goals and 28 points in 35 games this year.

Merrimack 0, North Dakota 3

White the Fighting Hawks came into the regional in South Dakota as the top seed, they certainly struggled against the underdog Warriors. While Cody Croal was able to give North Dakota the early lead, the team struggled to generate a ton offense on Thursday night. Merrimack played excellent shutdown defense to keep the NCHC’s highest-scoring team at bay, though it came at the detriment of their own team’s attack.

The Warriors started to ramp up their offense in the middle frame, coming close a couple of times of leveling the score. The Hockey East champions really peppered NoDak goaltender Jan Spunar in the third period, but couldn’t break through. A Dylan James’ insurance goal ended up deflating Merrimack’s balloon, as the Red Wings prospect scored his 20th goal of the season minutes into the final frame.

Croal capped off the night with his second of the game, an empty-netter, giving the Fighting Hawks its first national tournament victory in five years.

Merrimack ended up outshooting North Dakota, 31-28. Warrior netminder was valiant, making 25 saves in the loss. It was the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2023.

The Figthing Hawks are seeking their first Frozen Four appearance since winning it all in 2016.

Jan Spunar, G, North Dakota: On paper, you might not have thought that Spunar was going to have to be on his A-game. However, that ended up being the case, and North Dakota better be thankful the freshman came ready to play. The Warriors kept throwing everything they had on goal, with Spunar being there each and every time, especially with Merrimack had a couple of point-blank chances late in the second period. The win was the NCHC Goaltender of the Year’s 19th victory of the season and fifth shutout.

Will Zellers, LW, North Dakota (Boston Bruins): The freshman’s vision and scoring touch are what landed him on the NCHC All-Rookie Team alongside Spunar. He showed great confidence against the Warriors on Thursday by getting pucks to the net, driving the play when the Fighting Hawks seemed uneasy for stretches of the game. The play he that led to James’ goal are what made him one of the better rookies in the country this year, one of the two assists he had in the victory.

The Fighting Hawks and Bobcats will face off in the regional final on Saturday, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.