Spartans return the favor in hostile territory. A gritty performance secures a crucial road victory against the Badgers, exacting sweet revenge.
Revenge had been brewing for nearly two months.
Ever since Wisconsin walked into East Lansing as the No. 4 team in the nation and left with a stunning weekend sweep over the then-No. 1 Spartans, this series had been circled in red on Michigan State’s calendar. Those two losses lingered — with the players, the staff, and the fanbase.
So when the Spartans arrived in Madison ranked No. 3/4 to face the No. 2/2 Badgers, there was no question about the mindset. This wasn’t just another road series — it was a chance to serve payback on hostile ice.
With NHL prospects, first-round draft picks, and veteran college hockey talent scattered across both rosters, the stage was set for a heavyweight showdown.
1st Period:
Michigan State opened the game without mercy, ripping five of the first six shots on goal. Tommi Mannisto nearly capitalized early, pulling up for a wide-open look in front before fanning on the shot at the last moment. It looked as if the Spartans were poised to control the tempo, but the tide quickly turned.
Wisconsin responded by cranking up the offensive pressure, firing off the next eight shots and swinging the shot total to 9–5 early in the period. Fortunately for Michigan State, future Red Wing Trey Augustine was dialed in, calmly turning aside every attempt with confidence and poise.
As the period wound down, Colin Ralph sent a puck toward the net from the blue line. Wisconsin’s goaltender punched it out of midair, but the rebound landed directly into the body of Ryker Lee. Lee’s forward momentum carried the puck across the goal line, stunning the crowd and giving the Spartans a 1–0 lead. The goal marked Lee’s eighth of the season, while Ralph picked up his eighth assist.
The late strike sucked the air out of the Kohl Center. When the horn sounded, Michigan State trailed 9–6 in shots but held a crucial 1–0 advantage on the scoreboard.
2nd Period:
Wisconsin wasted little time answering back. Just two minutes into the second period, Oliver Tuck slipped one past Augustine to knot the game at 1–1 with his fourth goal of the season.
The response from Michigan State was immediate.
Just one minute and seven seconds later, Gavin O’Connell restored the Spartans’ lead with a beautiful goal in front of the net. O’Connell’s quick hands beat Wisconsin’s goaltender for his second of the season, making it 2–1. The Badgers challenged the play for goalie interference, but the call stood — and so did Michigan State’s lead.
The score remained unchanged for the next ten minutes until Daniel Russell provided a highlight-reel moment. Russell split two defenders, toe-dragged the puck, and snapped a shot off the bottom of the crossbar and in for his fifth goal of the season, pushing the Spartans ahead 3–1.
Michigan State wasn’t finished.
Three minutes later, Charlie Stramel added to the onslaught. Taking the puck into the zone one-on-three, Stramel danced through traffic and flipped the puck under the glove for his 13th goal of the season, extending the lead to 4–1.
Wisconsin managed to breathe some life back into the building a minute later. A slick no-look, behind-the-back centering pass from Grady Deering found Kyle Kukkonen, who buried his second goal of the season by sneaking the puck past Augustine’s left pad.
Despite the response, Michigan State headed into the second intermission firmly in control, leading 4–2 and holding a narrow 16–14 edge in shots.
3rd Period:
That last gasp of hope Wisconsin found late in the second period loomed larger as the third got underway. Six and a half minutes into the frame, the Badgers buried another goal, this one credited to Tyson Dick for his third of the season, cutting the Spartan lead to one.
From there, Wisconsin began to take control of the game.
The Badgers dominated puck possession for several minutes, relentlessly testing Trey Augustine at every turn. Luckily for Michigan State fans, Augustine once again rose to the challenge, turning away chance after chance. Breakaways, rebounds, point-blank looks — Augustine remained calm like someone laid back on a beach listening to Bob Marley. Each save brought louder gasps from the Wisconsin faithful, followed immediately by groans of disbelief.
Michigan State spent much of the period in a prevent-style defense. Despite a few quality chances — including an almost highlight-reel goal from Ryker Lee, who toe-dragged a defender and ripped a shot between the legs that just missed — the Spartans were largely focused on protecting what was once a three-goal lead.
Wisconsin continued to fire shots from all angles, forcing Augustine into action again and again. Diving, sprawling, and tracking pucks like a center fielder at Comerica Park, Augustine stood tall.
The closest call came with under a minute to play, when a deflected shot caromed off a Spartan and rang off the post, momentarily freezing the hearts of everyone in green and white. But through the late barrage, Michigan State held strong. Augustine slammed the door shut, and the Spartans escaped Madison with a 4–3 victory despite being outshot 26–23.
It marked Michigan State’s first win over Wisconsin this season — and the Badgers took it personally.
Tempers flared at the final horn as frustrations boiled over. A cross-check from Michigan State sparked a postgame scrum, fitting punctuation for a heated Big Ten battle that had been brewing for months.
The two teams will lace them up again tomorrow night at 8 PM EST for the second game of this top-five showdown.