It was another split weekend for the Michigan State hockey team, for the second time in a row.

After losing at home and winning on the road vs Michigan last weekend, Michigan State also split the games this weekend with Minnesota. MSU’s 3-2 comeback win Friday night – with a goal in the waning seconds – wasn’t to be duplicated Saturday night as the Spartans lost 5-1 to the Gophers in front of another Munn Ice Arena sellout crowd.

For the second time in the Spartans’ last three home games, the home crowd waited for an opportunity to let loose and bask in the glory of Michigan State’s newfound success – but it wasn’t meant to be. The losses to Michigan and Minnesota are the only two losses at home for Michigan State this season (10-2-1).

With the weekend split, the Spartans moved to 11-3-2 in Big Ten play, matching their season best for Big Ten wins in a season, previously set in 2014-15 and 2019-20. MSU's 17 overall victories match or exceed the total for the program in 10 of the last 11 seasons. MSU had 18 wins last year and last won 19 in the 2011-12 season.

Michigan State’s 37 points in the Big Ten have them in first place over Wisconsin, which lost to Michigan Friday night and won in overtime Saturday night. Wisconsin ends the weekend with 32 points (and two games in hand on the Spartans). The Badgers host the Gophers next weekend in Madison.

On Friday night, Daniel Russell’s goal with four seconds remaining in regulation gave the Spartans a dramatic comeback win with three goals in the third period to erase a 2-0 Minnesota lead. Friday night’s win snapped a 16-game winless streak against Minnesota, dating back to the start of the 2020-21 season.

After Saturday night's loss, Michigan State ended up 1-2-1 against the Gophers this season.

Trey Augustine made 28 saves for the Spartans in Friday night’s win, picking up his 15th victory of the year. Justen Close made 27 saves for Minnesota Friday, including 14 in the final period. Saturday afternoon saw an excellent performance from Close, who made 24 saves for the Gophers; Augustine made 31 saves for the Spartans Saturday.

MSU’s last ten goals – six against Michigan and all four against Minnesota – have come in the final 30 minutes of the game.

The Spartans begin a four-game stretch away from Munn Arena next weekend when they take on Notre Dame in South Bend. Michigan State – which is now 17-6-3 overall and has two regular-season home games left on its schedule – has sold out 20 of its last 21 home games and 17 consecutive home Big Ten Conference games.

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