Michigan State's late goal sinks UND in U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game - Grand Forks Herald

Thousands of North Dakota fans packed a field next to the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas, taking photos with a longhorn, cheering racing armadillos, and riding a mechanical bull. They drained the pregame party of its beer and overwhelmed an underprepared ticket staff so thoroughly that game organizers had to delay puck drop by 10 minutes just to get everyone inside.

The fans did their part making the program’s latest destination game a memorable event. They just could not finish it by celebrating a win on Sixth or Rainey Street.

Michigan State forward Cayden Lindstrom scored on a rebound with 3:33 left in the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie and propelling the Spartans to a 5-3 victory in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game on October 31, 2026, as reported by the Grand Forks Herald.

A Familiar Destination Script Falls Flat

For a program accustomed to thriving on neutral ice, the late collapse stings. After winning their first four destination games—played in Winnipeg, an outdoor site in Omaha, New York City, and Las Vegas—the Fighting Hawks have now dropped three in a row away from home.

P2 | 19:27 | MSU 2 – UND 1Michigan State on the power play late in the second!

— https://x.com/MSU_Hockey/status/2116710571068571954

The fans were unbelievable, UND coach Dane Jackson told the Grand Forks Herald after the loss. Incredible passion and support down here. This one stings to not be a little bit better for them when they come down here and spend their hard-earned money.

The 6,483 fans inside the H-E-B Center were overwhelmingly vocal, roaring as UND twice rallied from deficits. Freshman Cooper Simpson buried his first two collegiate goals, including a power-play marker with 3:52 remaining that leveled the score at 3-3. Will Zellers tallied the other North Dakota goal earlier in the third period.

Yet the momentum evaporated almost instantly. Just 19 seconds after Simpson tied the game, Lindstrom poked a rebound past UND freshman goaltender Caleb Heil, who finished with 28 saves. Lindstrom’s decisive score capped a chippy night where he also served three penalties.

Defensive Vulnerabilities Against Big Ten Foes

The loss exposes a glaring defensive slide for North Dakota. After posting back-to-back shutouts against Bentley on October 16 and 17, the Fighting Hawks have surrendered 15 goals over a three-game losing streak. Every single one of those losses has come by an identical 5-3 scoreline against Big Ten opponents, following a pair of setbacks last weekend against rival Minnesota.

UND captain Cole Reschny pulled no punches when evaluating the team’s defensive structure.

Not good enough again, Reschny told the Grand Forks Herald. We’re just giving up too many goals. You’re not going to win when… last week we gave up five-goal games, four tonight with an empty-netter. It’s ultimately not good enough.

Michigan State coach Adam Nightingale acknowledged the resilience of his own roster in quelling UND’s pushes, noting that execution following a blown lead is vital for a young group. Anthony Romani, the Spartans’ leading scorer, also found the back of the net in the third period following a turnover and defensive coverage breakdown.

Looking Ahead to Western Michigan

North Dakota now returns home carrying a 4-3 record and a three-game skid into a difficult matchup against No. 6-ranked Western Michigan, which sits at 6-1.

Got to be sharper in those small details, Jackson said. Got to find a way to be a little stronger on our puck touches, a little more competitive in our defensive game. It’s going to take time. Guys got to mature. We’ve got to coach it better. We’ve got to have a harder mentality.