Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Cold: Michigan State Shuts Out Boston 5-0

After getting embarrassed on home ice Friday night in a 6-2 loss to Boston University, the Spartans were ready to serve up a dish of revenge of their own.

Boston entered the series with revenge on its mind after Adam Nightingale and the Spartans traveled to Boston last season and swept the then-No. 1 team in the country. The Terriers got their revenge Friday night, running Michigan State out of its own building. However, Saturday night belonged to the Green and White.

Michigan State jumped out to a lead just 32 seconds into the game and never looked back. The Spartans also got a phenomenal bounce-back performance from goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen, who was pulled from Friday's game but responded with a shutout.

The Spartans dominated from start to finish, splitting the series with the Terriers. Here's how Michigan State turned the tide in Game 2 of this top-13 showdown between No. 3 Michigan State and No. 13 Boston University.

Patrick Geary got the Spartans on the board early in Game 2. The captain sent a wrist shot from the point just 32 seconds into the first period, recording his first goal and first point of the season.

The Spartans continued to pepper Boston with shots throughout the first half of the period. The Terriers got their first true opportunity when first-round pick Tynan Lawrence, who got the scoring started Friday night, broke in with a dazzling opportunity. However, Ravensbergen came up with a tremendous block to maintain Michigan State's early lead.

Boston tried to find some momentum, but even after a minute of controlling the puck, Michigan State continued to bully the Terriers. The Spartans fired shot after shot, although, similar to Friday's game, they struggled to find the back of the net after the opening goal.

Michigan State outshot Boston 16-7 through the first period, with Ethan Belchetz leading the way with four shots and Mason West close behind with three.

However, it was Geary's early goal that remained the only puck to get behind a goaltender as MSU took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission after a much better opening period than it had in Game 1.

Finally, after peppering Boston's net all afternoon, Belchetz was able to put one past the goaltender. The freshman had been bullying the Terriers all game and finally found the back of the net for his second goal of the season.

Then the Spartans' offensive onslaught continued as Eric Nilson added to the lead.

Nilson found the puck in the middle of the offensive zone, but with two Terriers collapsing on him, he calmly circled around in a tight 360-degree spin like an EGO Power Lawn Mower. Nilson then rifled a shot toward the net, finding the back of it in the top-right corner. It was his third goal of the season.

In the middle of the second period, freshman standout Chase Reid, the seventh overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, was leveled by a blindside hit and remained down on the ice for several moments after the whistle.

Reid was able to get up and skate off under his own power but was helped to the locker room after getting off the ice. It was a scary moment and a reminder that players, especially young ones, always have to keep their heads up.

The Spartans throw their weight around and use their size to their advantage, meaning opponents often bring extra physicality and a chippy attitude when facing Michigan State. That frustration boiled over into a full-on royal rumble of checks as play continued.

Tommy Bleyl nearly decapitated a Terrier while sticking up for his freshman teammate. Fortunately, Reid was able to return to the game moments later.

The third period kicked off exactly how the first two had gone: with a Spartan ambush.

Shane Vansaghi, who had been battling throughout the game and all season long in search of his first point after being named an assistant captain, finally broke through. Vansaghi raced into the offensive zone with the puck and beat the goaltender blocker-side for his first goal and point of the season, giving MSU a 4-0 lead.

With time winding down, the Spartans comfortably ahead and fewer than five minutes remaining, Cayden Lindstrom added another goal as he cleaned up the trash near the net. It was his fourth goal of the season and gave Michigan State a 5-0 lead, putting an emphatic finishing touch on the Spartans' revenge.

The Spartans dominated the second game of the series, earning a split against Boston University after Friday night's disappointing loss.

Michigan State will return to action next week for a Thursday-Friday two-game series against Notre Dame. The matchup will mark the Spartans' first conference games of the season as they look to carry Saturday night's momentum into Big Ten play.