Michigan State and Ohio State always seem to play overtime games that end with shootouts.

But Thursday all they needed was overtime. Lakeville native Drew Brevig's goal at 4 minutes, 23 seconds of overtime gave the Buckeyes a 2-1 victory over the Spartans at the Xcel Energy Center in the second quarterfinal of the Big Ten tournament.

Brevig's shot caught Michigan State goaltender Jake Hildebrand without his stick, seconds after taking contact near the net. The play was reviewed and the goal was confirmed.

"I don't know if you expected anything different between these two teams. Four games in a row of overtime. We just knew there was going to be no shootout [Thursday night]," Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik said. "Two good hockey teams. Two great goaltenders. Just not a lot of difference. Fortunately, we got the bounce at the end."

Three of the four regular-season meetings between the two teams ended in a tie and required a shootout. The Spartans won two of the shootouts, but the Buckeyes end their head-to-head matchups this season with two victories.

Ohio State freshman goaltender Christian Frey had 26 saves and Hildebrand 32.

Tanner Fritz scored the Buckeyes' first goal late in the second period.

Fritz picked up his second point of the night with an assist on Brevig's game-winning goal.

"We've been within one goal of this team four times this year," said Greg Wolfe, who scored the Spartans' goal in the fifth minute of the game. "Could have come out either end. Unfortunately, we got the raw end of the deal."

Jason Gonzalez