“No more fun you can have than going in and playing these games.” — Charlie Stramel on the Michigan State–Michigan rivalry on ice
After having a ton of fun for the first 50 minutes, the Spartans collapsed down the stretch and fell to Michigan 4–3 in overtime.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor the first time since the polls began in 1970, college hockey witnessed a historic matchup: Michigan State and Michigan meeting with the two teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation. Michigan held the pole position, with the Spartans tight on their heels.
1st Period
In boxing, the first few rounds are about feeling your opponent out — and that’s exactly what the first period was tonight. It didn’t take long after the puck dropped to see just how good both of these teams are.
The Spartans fired shots early at Stephen Peck, including one that rifled the Michigan goaltender directly in the face. Peck entered the night 5–0 since taking over for Ivankovic in January following an injury. Five minutes into the period, Trey Augustine found himself in the middle of a Wolverine hurricane as quality scoring chances came from all angles, but both goaltenders stood strong.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs the Spartans drove into the zone, the puck ricocheted off the boards to Porter Martone, who did nothing more than throw it on net. That’s where last week’s Big Ten First Star, Charlie Stramel, happened to be, getting the deflection past Peck for the game’s first goal. It was Stramel’s 17th of the season, which leads the team. Martone picked up his 20th assist, while Daniel Russell set the play up by sending the puck from the blue line to the boards, earning his team-leading 21st assist.
But this wouldn’t be the best series in college hockey if there weren’t more goals to be had. Less than two minutes later, the Wolverines answered. Nick Moldenhauer got Michigan on the board with a deflection of his own off a shot from Drew Schott. T.J. Hughes added his team-leading 26th assist on the play, quickly bringing the game back to even.
The Spartans have allowed just seven first-period goals all season — three of which have come against Michigan.
The first period ended in a 1–1 tie, with the Spartans holding a 10–7 edge in shots.
2nd Period
The period started with big chances from both teams. Peck continued to use his head — literally — stopping his second shot of the night with his mask. The Spartans maintained strong offensive-zone possession early, but Peck was there for every shot.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementYou could feel the intensity picking up. As the game wore on, hits got harder and more personal. Little chips and digs after the whistle began setting the tone for a bruising final half.
Despite the physical play, there were no penalties through the first 27:30 of the game. A shot after the whistle finally led to a scrum and the first penalties of the night — one for each team. That’s when Michigan found its best scoring chance, as a beautiful pass sprung a breakaway that Augustine somehow turned away. Later, during 4-on-4 play, Augustine made another stellar glove save to keep the game tied 1–1.
After the penalties expired, the Spartans went right back to work with strong chances from Anthony Romani and Maxim Strbak. Every time either team started to get big-eyed and bushy-tailed, the goaltenders reminded everyone it was going to take something special this weekend.
As the game shifted into the second half of the period — and the game itself — it was hard not to admire the beauty of college hockey. Two of the best teams in the country, loaded with NHL talent, locked in a rivalry game, both wearing their colors loud and proud.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith 6:30 remaining in the second, the Spartans had their best chance yet on a 2-on-1 rush, with Porter Martone trailing the play and salivating at the opportunity for a third goal. But Michigan’s Ben Robertson got his stick into the passing lane from Charlie Stramel and disrupted the chance.
Finally, the deadlock broke. Shane Vansaghi capitalized on an errant T.J. Hughes blind pass, skating in from the right side and beating Peck high glove-side. It was Vansaghi’s third goal of the season and gave the Spartans a 2–1 lead with just under five minutes to go.
Then came the onslaught.
The Spartans bullied the Wolverines, and Michigan looked too tired to stay afloat. Owen West finally banged one home as Peck did all he could behind a defense caught in chaos. West’s third goal of the season pushed the lead to two, and Yost Ice Arena went silent — quiet enough to hear a pin drop somewhere in Ann Arbor.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAll four goals through the first two periods came in the final five minutes of their respective frames. The second period ended with the Spartans leading 3–1 while outshooting Michigan 24–17.
Michigan State was 17–0–0 when leading after two periods entering the game. Michigan, meanwhile, sat at 1–3 when trailing after two — but the Wolverines had outscored opponents 48–20 in the third period this season. The stage was set for either an epic comeback or for MSU to hold serve.
3rd Period
As the third period kicked off, you could tell the Wolverines were not about to go down quietly. Their intensity ramped up, and in those highlighter-yellow sweaters they started generating chances fast and often. They were less organized and more chaotic — but when trailing by two, that’s how you have to play. Still, Augustine held firm despite the madness.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMichigan continued to find looks as the period moved along. Gavin O’Connell had an open short-side shot that missed, along with several others. The period was all about the Wolverines trying to claw their way back into striking distance — and they knew it. Michigan controlled the puck for much of the period, but Augustine wasn’t allowing anything past him.
That is, until 9:33 remained.
Asher Barnett slipped his third goal of the season past the stick side of Augustine, and Yost erupted — nearly breaking the audio on the TV broadcast. What was already shaping up to be an epic rivalry game had turned electric, with Michigan now trailing just 3–2.
After the goal, Michigan was buzzing — and so were the fans. The momentum created an environment unmatched in college hockey. The officials had let the teams play all night, missing — or perhaps avoiding — calls to stay out of the way. But with 7:49 remaining, they finally had enough and whistled Michigan for a penalty, giving the Spartans the first power play of the night for either team.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAnd what a power play it turned out to be.
At first, it looked like the Spartans had scored a massive goal to restore the two-goal lead. Porter Martone threw his hands up, and for a split second, a few Spartans began to celebrate. But the officials waved it off. As play continued, the Spartans were caught behind as the puck trickled toward center ice — and that’s when Kienan Draper, son of Red Wings legend Kris Draper, flew down the ice and buried a shorthanded tying goal.
Yost erupted. There might have been an earthquake in Ann Arbor.
After review, the Spartans’ shot was confirmed as no goal, and Draper’s tally stood. Just like that, the game was tied 3–3.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Spartans’ legs were starting to slow just as the Wolverines seemed to find a new gear. Still, both teams held on long enough to earn a breather as the game headed to overtime — deadlocked at three.
Overtime
Michigan entered the night 4–0 in overtime, while the Spartans sat at 3–1. Both teams had early chances, but neither could capitalize.
Then, a minute and a half into the five-minute period, the Wolverines received their first power play of the game.
That power play proved decisive.
Jayden Perron buried the game-winner, sending Yost into a frenzy and lifting Michigan to a 4–3 overtime win in Game 1 of the series.
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