Spartans dominate Wolverines early, building a commanding four-goal lead in a fierce rivalry showdown.
Yesterday was a cruel reminder of just how much of a roller coaster sports can be. The Spartans led 3–1 with under ten minutes remaining, only to find themselves on the losing end of a 4–3 overtime thriller. Though Michigan State came up short, the game was epic — an instant classic regardless of what color you bleed.
Less than 24 hours later, the Spartans and Wolverines headed southeast to Detroit for the annual Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena. The larger venue was a nice change from Yost, though it was hard to imagine it matching the volume from the night before. Yost exploded with every Michigan goal, and credit is due to that fan base for creating an electric atmosphere.
One notable storyline for Michigan was the return of goaltender Jack Ivankovic, back between the pipes for the first time in a month. One of the nation’s top netminders, Ivankovic had been sidelined since suffering an injury against Notre Dame in early January.
Michigan State wasted no time setting the tone.
Gavin O’Connell opened the scoring as the MSU forward ripped home the game’s first goal. Streaking in from the blue line, O’Connell took a pass from Cayden Lindstrom with space to operate and beat Ivankovic blocker side to give the Spartans a 1–0 lead.
With just under four minutes remaining in the first period, Michigan State capitalized on the game’s first power play following a slashing call on Michigan. Porter Martone found soft ice on the left circle, took a feed from Ryker Lee, waited a split second, and sniped one past his good friend Ivankovic. The goal — Martone’s 16th of the season — gave the Spartans a 2–0 lead.
Much like the night before, Michigan State controlled the early pace with speed and aggression. Unlike the previous game, however, the Wolverines couldn’t answer before the intermission, and the Spartans skated into the break up two.
The period didn’t end quietly, though.
A heated scrum erupted just before the horn, a fitting cap to 20 minutes that made it clear these aren’t just rivals — these teams genuinely don’t like each other. There may be respect, but there’s absolutely no love lost.
As the 4-on-4 to start the second period expired, Michigan State went right back to work. Maxim Strbak delivered one of the prettiest passes you’ll see all season, winding up for a slapshot before dropping to one knee and sliding a perfect feed to a wide-open Charlie Stramel. Stramel buried it for his team-leading 18th goal, extending the lead to 3–0.
Then the floodgates opened.
Tiernan Shoudy finished a classic right-to-left pass in front of the net from Tommi Mannisto — the hockey equivalent of a video game cheat code — for his fifth goal of the season. Just 25 minutes into the game, Michigan State held a commanding 4–0 advantage.
The score remained unchanged for most of the period, until Michigan finally broke through with 1:04 remaining in the second. After extended Spartan pressure that yielded no goals, the Wolverines scratched one past Augustine to cut the lead to 4–1 heading into the third.
Five minutes into the final frame, Michigan added its second unanswered goal, trimming the deficit to two. Déjà vu started to creep in.
Entering the night, Michigan had outscored opponents 50–20 in third periods this season — including the two goals that forced overtime the night before. The Spartans knew what was coming and understood the importance of maintaining their intensity rather than slipping into a prevent-style defense.
They did exactly that.
With Michigan’s net empty, Tommi Mannisto sealed the game with a gritty effort, starting the play half an ice sheet behind a Wolverine defender, catching up, muscling him to the ice, and shoving the puck across the goal line. The empty-netter restored the three-goal cushion and put the game to bed.
Final: Michigan State 5, Michigan 2.
A revenge game. A statement win.
The Spartans now sit tied with the Wolverines in the standings and control their own destiny in pursuit of a third straight Big Ten Conference championship.