Spartans battled Minnesota in a gritty rivalry showdown, securing a thrilling 3-2 victory and completing the crucial weekend sweep.
Michigan State and Minnesota have built a rivalry that feels bigger every time they share the ice, and Friday night’s matchup at Munn Ice Arena was no exception. In a game that demanded patience, resilience, and timely execution, the Spartans completed the sweep with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over the Gophers, improving to 19–5 overall and 10–4 in Big Ten play.
The two teams won’t be done with each other just yet. Michigan State and Minnesota are set to meet again at the end of the regular season in what will serve as the final series before postseason play. If this weekend was any indication, those games will come with plenty of emotion and intensity.
Minnesota struck first, grabbing a 1–0 lead early and putting Michigan State in a familiar position: responding rather than dictating. The Spartans did exactly that, capitalizing on an early 5-on-3 power play to even the score. Daniel Russell played the role of both creator and finisher, initiating the sequence with a pass to Charlie Stramel for a one-time attempt. The rebound kicked right back to Russell, who calmly cleaned up the loose puck over the left pad of Minnesota goaltender Luca Di Pasquo to make it 1–1.
The momentum carried into the second period, where Michigan State took control in a way that felt inevitable. Matt Basgall fired a long shot toward the net, and chaos followed. Bodies crowded the crease, sticks tangled, and sightlines disappeared. Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room? That’s exactly how Di Pasquo looked in that moment, completely screened as Basgall’s shot found the back of the net like a heat-seeking laser. The captain’s goal gave Michigan State a 2–1 lead and shifted the energy firmly to the home side.
The Spartans added what would become the game-winning goal early in the third period. Tommi Mannisto netted his ninth goal of the season in a sequence that perfectly summed up his offensive instincts. Whether Mannisto found the puck or the puck found him hardly mattered. He skated off the boards toward the middle of the ice and ripped a shot over a defender’s laid-out stick, over the right pad, and under the blocker to give Michigan State a 3–1 advantage.
Minnesota refused to fade quietly. The Gophers added their second power-play goal of the night with 7:24 remaining and pushed hard down the stretch, but Michigan State locked things down defensively and saw the game through to the final horn.
Beyond the scoreline, the night carried a deeper meaning. The Spartans once again honored the late Dan Sturges by wearing the “DS” patch, a symbol that has come to represent unity and remembrance. In a powerful show of respect, Minnesota also donned the patch — a gesture that transcended rivalry and underscored how sports can matter on a human level, not just on the ice.
Trey Augustine was outstanding yet again, delivering a performance that continues to separate him as the premier goaltender in college hockey. One moment stood above the rest: an early second-period Minnesota power play where a cross-ice pass found a wide-open skater. Augustine answered with an electric sliding stop to his left, erasing a prime scoring chance. He finished the night with 29 saves on 31 shots, and Michigan State remains the national leader in goals-against average at 1.77, allowing just 39 goals in 22 games.
Basgall led the team with six shots on goal, while Maxim Strbak added five. Cayden Lindstrom, Ryker Lee, and Charlie Stramel each finished with four shots. Stramel also recorded his team-leading 17th assist, while Martone added a helper and remains third on the team with 14 assists.
Next up for Michigan State is a road test against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pennsylvania. Penn State enters the matchup ranked eighth nationally, riding a seven-game winning streak after sweeping fifth-ranked Wisconsin by scores of 7–2 and 3–1. The Nittany Lions sit at 18–6 overall and 10–4 in conference play, setting the stage for a heavyweight Big Ten showdown.
If this weekend proved anything, it’s that Michigan State is comfortable in close games — and ready for whatever comes next.