DETROIT – The Michigan and Michigan State hockey programs had just finished an instant classic in college hockey’s most-played rivalry – an overtime win for the top-ranked Wolverines after erasing a two-goal, third-period deficit at Yost Ice Arena.
But for the No. 2 Spartans, the opportunity was still there on Saturday, Feb. 7, in the “Duel in the D” to take over first place standings in the Big Ten with a regulation win over the Wolverines.
MSU did more than seize that opportunity. The Spartans made a statement in front of a sold-out Little Caesars Arena crowd, jumping out to a 4-0 lead less than halfway through the game before eventually winning a third straight “Iron D” trophy with a 5-2 win.
“I thought the crowd was awesome, and to see it full with that kind of excitement, it was great,” MSU coach Adam Nightingale said. “I loved our execution at the start, and you know, after yesterday’s game, we needed to be way better. We had a tough meeting with our guys, and we made a commitment to hold them accountable. We needed to be better, and that was a big time response from our guys tonight.”
MSU now sits one point ahead of the Wolverines in the Big Ten standings, each with six games remaining, meaning the Spartans control their own destiny in search of a third consecutive Big Ten regular-season championship.
MSU junior forward Gavin O’Connell opened the scoring, being left wide open after jumping off the bench to join his linemates. Freshman Anthony Romani found him on a pass through the U-M defensive zone, and O’Connell placed his shot just over goaltender Jack Ivankovic’s blocker to put the Spartans in front.
MSU got the lone chance on the man advantage in the first period and converted when freshman forward Porter Martone patiently took his time and space in the left circle and sniped a shot to the right top corner of the net for his 16th goal of the season.
“Coming to college, it’s a lot different and a lot harder, playing with a faster pace,” Martone said. “I think a big thing for me is to focus on what I need to do and just become that. I’m finding my identity as a player who plays in front of the goalie’s eyes and really working below the hash marks. It’s something I continue to work on every day and just trying to get better at it.”
The Spartans would add two more in a 1:37 span early in the second period, starting with junior defenseman Maxim Strbak delivering an exceptional shot pass to senior forward Charlie Stramel waiting on the back door. Stramel deposited it into an empty net for his team-leading 18th goal.
MSU’s fourth line then got in on the action as an odd-man rush led junior forward Tommi Mannisto to slide a pass through the crease to linemate Tiernan Shoudy, who gave the Spartans the 4-0 lead.
UM forward Jayden Perron, the overtime hero from the night before, got the Wolverines on the board late in the second period, backhanding a rebound attempt over the goal line to trim the deficit to three.
After forward Nick Moldenhauer made it 4-2 early in the third period, the next goal became critical. Mannisto would deliver late in the period, racing down a loose puck and depositing it into an empty net with Ivankovic pulled for an extra attacker.
MSU goaltender Trey Augustine made 25 saves for the Spartans, while Ivankovic, who had missed the previous five games with an injury, returned and made 31 saves for the Wolverines. Mannisto, Shoudy, and Strbak each had two points, while a combined 12 skaters at least had one point for the Spartans.
What’s next
MSU will have an off week before hosting Notre Dame on Feb. 20-21 in the second-to-last home series of the regular season.
Contact Nathaniel Bott at nbott@lsj.com and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State hockey rebounds, wins third straight ‘Duel in the D’ over Michigan
Reporting by Nathaniel Bott, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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