After suffering a 4-2 loss on Friday night at home, Michigan State men’s ice hockey took another loss to Michigan on Saturday night as well, falling 4-3 in overtime.
Michigan scored the game’s first goal, a power-play goal almost 16 minutes into the first period. T.J. Hughes received assists from both Mackie Sasmoskevich and Luke Hughes to put Michigan on the board.
MSU was able to answer when Miroslav Mucha found his own rebound, burying the puck past Michigan goaltender Erik Portillo. In the second period, Michigan State got on the scoreboard again after Jeremy Davidson and Erik Middendorf’s line were able to find the back of the net on the power play.
A pair of goals from Michigan’s Dylan Duke and Frank Nazar III gave Michigan the lead after two periods. Nazar found the puck on a turnover from Christian Krygier near the boards. Nazar walked in and shot it past Michigan State goaltender Dylan St. Cyr.
It was Nazar’s first goal of the season. He returned to Michigan’s lineup last night after missing the beginning of the season with a lower body injury. Nazar was taken No. 13 overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in last year’s draft.
MSU’s Michael Underwood picked up his first goal of the season, tying the game at 3-3. Underwood transferred to Michigan State from Clarkson last summer. He received a pass from Cole Krygier and blasted the puck in from the point. Somehow, the puck found its way between the legs of Portillo.
In overtime, Michigan’s Duke was given a tripping penalty, but MSU was unable to capitalize on the 4-on-3 chance.
With less than 10 seconds remaining, Michigan started a chance in the offensive zone, eventually getting a few shots on net. St. Cyr was able to deflect a few, but with a mere 0:00.5 seconds remaining on the game clock, Luke Hughes scored the game-winning goal, giving Michigan a 4-3 overtime victory and sweep of Michigan State.
Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale said that despite the sweep, MSU’s program has come a long way.
“One of the things we’re really trying to establish with our program is you win with class and you lose with class,” Nightingale said. “Credit to Michigan, and looking forward to next week.”
After telling reporters last night that MSU “can’t skate with” Michigan “unless they goon it up,” Michigan interim head coach Brandon Naurato offered a different narrative on Saturday night. He said that MSU is doing a good job and noted that the competitiveness of both teams is good for the rivalry.
More than 18,300 people showed up to a sold-out Little Caesars Arena, plenty in maize and blue and plenty in green and white. MSU has not won against Michigan in Detroit since the game’s final year at Joe Louis Arena in 2016. Little Caesars Arena opened in 2017.
Michigan State still has a lot to look forward to this season. Next week is the Spartans’ final two games of the regular season, both against last-place Wisconsin. MSU will be looking to sweep the Badgers on the road.
MSU and Notre Dame are the only Big Ten teams with two games left to play. The rest, including Ohio State and Penn State, have four to play. Michigan State is now in a three-way tie for third place alongside both the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish with 31 points. A sweep of Wisconsin would give MSU 37 points.
Ohio State faces both top-ranked Michigan and Minnesota. Notre Dame only has Michigan left. Penn State faces both Minnesota and Wisconsin. For Michigan State’s sake, it will be rooting for both Michigan and Minnesota. MSU holds the tiebreaker over both Notre Dame and Penn State for its winning percentage against both teams.
As for Ohio State, both teams swept each other at home this season. The tiebreaker would be decided on several other factors. The easiest assumption is that OSU would split versus Michigan and be swept by Minnesota.
Either way, it is very possible that MSU will host in the Big Ten Tournament, either with a No. 3 seed or No. 4 seed.
Both games against Wisconsin this weekend will be televised on cable television with the first being on Big Ten Network and the Saturday game being on Bally Sports Detroit.
