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Huge OT win over MSU is just what Michigan hockey needed to start its ‘second season’

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•about 13 hours•

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Garrett Schifsky scored in OT to lift Michigan past MSU (Photo: Michigan athletics)
Garrett Schifsky scored in OT to lift Michigan past MSU (Photo: Michigan athletics)

Michigan entered Friday night’s home game with No. 1 Michigan State at No. 12 in the pairwise rankings and in need of a big win to start 2025 the right way. They’d been inconsistent since winning six straight games in November and fighting to make a move back toward the top of the Big Ten standings. 

The Spartans were just the remedy the Wolverines needed to provide a spark, but it didn’t come easy — nor did it start well. A soft goal allowed by goaltender Logan Stein on a terrible angle got MSU off and running early, and Michigan couldn’t seem to find a rhythm in the first period. 

“We were just hesitant; played on our heels,” Michigan head coach Brandon Naurato said. “We made some adjustments going into the second, and I thought we really got into our game, especially the second half of the game. 

“I’m proud of the guys. Steiner … everyone makes mistakes. He’d like that goal back, but how he responded was big time. Just to keep coming back, they scored that second one in the third … then you could kind of see the momentum shift.”

It was a hard hitting but relatively clean game with only three penalties, and the first meeting between the two programs with MSU at No. 1 since 2001. A few hundred Michigan State fans made the trip and tried to stir things up, but the Yost Arena crowd brought its ‘A’ game in shouting them down. It continued to get louder throughout, and when the Wolverines finally got it going, it was deafening. 

It provided a boost they’d need. Each time MSU scored, U-M had an answer. A power play goal from Will Horcoff, tipped on a shot from Evan Werner, tied it at 1 in the second period. T.J. Hughes got the equalizer that made it 2-2 with only 5:35 remaining after MSU had taken the 2-1 lead, and the Wolverines went to overtime with the momentum. 

Stein was a big reason for it. While MSU goalie Trey Augustine was outstanding, the Michigan netminder came up big many times himself in stopping 35 of 37 shots. Garrett Schifsky scored one minute into overtime to end it, giving the Wolverines a huge boost heading into tomorrow night’s game in East Lansing.

“It was unbelievable,” Naurato said of the atmosphere. “I feel the best part of the season has started, and it’s in games like this where there wasn’t an empty seat in the house. It was rocking, and it was good for Michigan for us to get the win.”

And — hopefully — the start of another successful Michigan run toward the postseason and to the top of the Big Ten standings.

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