No. 3 Michigan State beats Notre Dame, needs one win to clinch Big Ten championship

JimComparoni

ND hockey — Michigan State's Tiernan Shoudy crowds the front of the Notre Dame net while a shot from Michigan State defenseman Matt Basgall caroms off the back boards, off the Notre Dame goalie and into the net for a Spartan goal in the first period.

Michigan State’s hockey team has regained control of its own destiny in the Big Ten title race. The No. 3-ranked Spartans beat Notre Dame, 5-2, on Friday night at the Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend, Ind. The win, combined with Minnesota’s overtime loss at Penn State, leaves the Spartans and Gophers tied atop the conference standings. Both teams have one game remaining in the regular season. Michigan State (23-6-4, and 14-5-4 in the Big Ten) plays at Notre Dame (10-22-1, 4-18-1) again on Saturday. Minnesota will play at Penn State. If Michigan State and Minnesota are tied in the standings after Saturday’s games, the Spartans would clinch at least a share of the Big Ten championship, and home ice throughout the Big Ten Tournament. Michigan State holds the tiebreaker over Minnesota, having taken seven of the 12 available points against the Gophers when those teams met this year. INSIDE: More details on Michigan State's win, and what's next.