No. 3 Michigan State beats No. 1 Minnesota, 5-3; caps five-point weekend

Michigan State’s hockey trip to Minnesota developed into a bit of a statement weekend on Saturday, as the No. 3-ranked Spartans posted a convincing, 5-3 comeback victory against the No. 1 Gophers, at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.

Michigan State battled back from a 3-1 third period deficit with four unanswered goals, including an empty-netter by Red Savage with :35 seconds left which secured victory. The Spartans dominated the third period, with conditioning and depth – two program strengths – coming to the forefront again.

Michigan State took five of the six points available in the two-game series, having won in a shootout on Friday night – a result which was semi-pleasing to the Spartans, although a regulation or overtime victory on Friday would have been preferred, for NCAA and Pairwise Rankings purposes. 

Saturday’s win, however, left Michigan State fully-satisfied. 

“Super proud of the guys,” said Spartan head coach Adam Nightingale. “We talked about the concept of finishing strong. To be down 2-1 last night and coming back, and then tonight being in a similar spot, being down two goals in the third period with about eight minutes left, that’s certainly the way to do it.”

It was the Spartans’ first win at Minnesota since February of 2020. 

HOW IT WENT DOWN

Calm, Cool, Cold as Ice.
Isaac Howard cuts the deficit to one off a feed by Maxim Strbak. pic.twitter.com/RkY5BV9Pfh

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) December 15, 2024

Isaac Howard scored two goals for Michigan State, including the first of the game, and one which served as a turning point in cutting a 3-1 Gophers lead to 3-2 with 8:52 remaining.

Howard’s second goal triggered a spurt of three Michigan State goals in a matter of two minutes and :51 seconds in seizing control of the game. 

“I thought that sequence, we kind of wore them down and got to our game,” Nightingale said.

Spartan defenseman Max Štrbák tied the game with 6:54 remaining and Spartan centerman Charlie Stramel tallied the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner with 6:01 to play.

Howard (5-11, 190, Jr., Hudson, Wis.) now leads Michigan State with nine goals on the year. 

“Ike’s a guy where the moment’s not going to eat him up,” Nightingale said. “He wants the puck on his stick in those moments and obviously that was big-time tonight.”

It was the first goal of the season for Štrbák (6-2, 200, Soph., Košice, Slovakia).

“He did a great job,” Nightingale said. “He keeps improving, and we need him to be. We’re young back there but they’re competitive and that was a big-time play that he made.”

WHAT IT MEANS & WHAT’S NEXT

The Spartans (13-2-1, and 6-1-1 in the Big Ten) now have two weeks off before facing Northern Michigan in the Great Lakes Invitational on Sunday, Dec. 29 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. The GLI Championship Game will be played on Monday, Dec. 30, with a possible showdown against No. 6 Western Michigan. 

Six Michigan State players who live near the Twin Cities won’t fly back to Lansing with the team, as the Spartans break for Christmas. Štrbák Michigan State goalie Trey Augustine and defenseman will depart to join Slovakia and Team USA for the World Junior Championships. They won’t return until after the New Year. They will miss the GLI, as was the case last year when back-up goalie Luca Di Pasquo stepped up briefly as the starter. Di Pasquo will do it this time with Michigan State most likely back ranked No. 1 in the country.

“We just talked briefly after the game and I spoke about Christmas and what a special time that it is, and make sure you connect with friends and family and then to take care of your body,” Nightingale said. “Our expectation when you come back from break is that we can do what we did here in the third period, so take care of your body.

“We wished the guys luck that are going to World Juniors, with Max and Trey a chance to represent their countries, and represent Michigan State on the international stage.”

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Dorwart with the big leap to keep the puck in the zone, hold it, and get it to Štrbák. Tie ballgame in the Twin Cities! pic.twitter.com/tkeByizTJx

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) December 15, 2024

Michigan State outshot Minnesota 30-27 and held an 11-6 edge in third period.

“We just had to keep staying with it, and keep being us,” Nightingale said. “You could see the ice starting to tilt. We shortened some shifts up. We might have had three changes in that one sequence in the offensive zone (leading to a goal). Good job by our guys of responding within the game.”

Michigan State was outscored 2-1 in the second period, but Nightingale liked the way the game was developing.

“I thought we were in total control but maybe had a poor line change and the puck ends up in the back of our net,” Nightingale said. “I liked a lot of what we did in the second period. Maybe the score sheet doesn’t show it but I think you saw it in the third.”

Karsen Dorwart had two assists on the night, posting helpers on Howard’s first goal of the game, and Štrbák’s goal. 

Štrbák assisted on Howard’s second goal. 

Savage and Daniel Russell assisted on Stramel’s goal.