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No. 1 Michigan State scores comeback win at Wisconsin to earn split; Minnesota next

On3 imageby:Jim Comparoni•12/08/24•

JimComparoni

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Michigan State likely lost its No. 1 ranking with a road split at Wisconsin this weekend, but may have come away with some positive muscle memory and lessons learned.

The Spartans would have preferred a sixth sweep of the season, but instead accepted a split, and some feel-good momentum on the way back home. 

After being shutout 4-0 on Friday night at Wisconsin, the Spartans were down 2-0 to the Badgers on Saturday night, but found a way to rally for a 3-2 overtime victory when Issac Howard scored at the three minute mark of the extra session.

“That was a special one for sure,” said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. “Obviously we didn’t have a great taste in our moth from the night before and needed to respond. They (Wisconsin) are a good team, hard to win on the road. To be down 2-0 and stay with it, that’s one we have to keep in our back pocket and remember that we’re never out of it.”

HOW IT WENT DOWN 

Wisconsin led 1-0 after the first period, and 2-0 after the second.

But Charlie Stramel, who transferred to Michigan State from Wisconsin during the off-season, ignited the comeback with a goal 6:57 into the second period. It was the fourth goal of the season for Stramel, a native of Rosemount, Minn., who was a first round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2023.

Then Joey Larson (6-1, Jr., Brighton, Mich.) tied the game 2:24 into the third period with his fifth goal of the season, with an assist to defenseman Nicklas Andrews (5-10, Gr., Canton, Mich.)

Larson led Michigan State with seven shots on goal.

“I thought Joey did a much better job of staying physically engaged,” Nightingale said. “It’s funny when you do that, all the sudden you start to create more offense. So he needs to continue down that path because we’re going to need him to be good.”

Nightingale said the comeback showed some maturity.

“We talked about it and found ourselves in the same spot,” Nightingale said. “We could either panic and get away from we needed to do or keep chipping away and our guys chose to keep chipping away.

Howard tallied the game-winner 3:00 into overtime.

“We didn’t waver when we were down 2-0, which is great,” Howard said. “We’re a resilient group and we showed that.”

It was seventh goal of the season for Howard, a 2022 first round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning, with assists from Matt Basgall and Charlie Stramel. 

“Quite frankly, we weren’t happy with last night at all,” Howard said. “We kind of had that hunger to get out there and play hard, play back to our identify. I thought everyone on the team did that. We came out hard.”

It was a happy homecoming of sorts for Howard, a Wisconsin native, and Stramel, a former Badger.

“It’s always good to be back, a lot of good memories here but it’s also good to come back here and get a bounce-back win,” Stramel said. “It’s all about the bounce-back. I believe we responded very well.”

“What I respect is he didn’t make a big deal out of it,” Nightingale said. “He just went out and played to help us be a good hockey team and I thought he did it both games.”

WHAT IT MEANS & WHAT’S NEXT

Michigan State improves to 12-2-0, and 5-1 in the Big Ten. Wisconsin fell to 6-9-1 and 4-6. 

The Spartans will play at Minnesota next weekend. The Gophers (15-2-1) swept Michigan 6-0 and 2-0 this weekend and are unbeaten in their last six games.

With Michigan State splitting this weekend, No. 2 Denver splitting at No. 7 Wisconsin, and No. 3 Boston College tying at UMass Lowell on Friday, there’s a solid chance the Gophers will be the new No. 1 team in college hockey next week.

“It’ll be a really good test,” Nightingale said. “Another road test for our group and we have to have another good week of practice and be ready to go.”

ISAAC HOWARD’S GAME-WINNER

In an extended shift during three-on-three overtime, Howard, Stramel and Basgall were Michigan State’s trio for the game-winner. Howard won a battle behind the net, sent a blind pass to Stramel, then charged to the net.

“I saw the d-man kind of stop behind the net,” Howard said. “I wanted to pressure that puck, stay on it. Able to get a stick on it, kind of came around the net, got pulled down a little bit, went to Stramel. Stramel to Basgall. Then just crashed the back post. Bazzy hit me with a nice one.”

Basgall’s pass across the slot was there for Howard to tip it in. 

“Heck of a play by Charlie Stramel to find Bazzy,” Nightingale said. “Bazzy’s got some poise and showed some patience and found ice on the back door.”

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