It was a Thanksgiving weekend the No. 6 Spartans would like to forget.

After dropping a 2-1 decision to intrastate rival Michigan, the Spartans went on the road for the weekend and lost a 5-4 heartbreaker to No. 1 Minnesota on Friday, then lost to defending national champion Wisconsin, 2-0, on Saturday in the annual College Hockey Showcase.

Down 4-2 entering the third period of play at Minnesota on Friday night, the Spartans battled back and tied the game when sophomore forward Tim Kennedy and freshman defenseman Mike Ratchuk scored goals less than 40 seconds apart.

But the tie was short-lived. Minnesota was able to take advantage of a late power play and connect for the game-winning goal later in the period.

Saturday's game put the Spartans in front of more than 14,000 fans at Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. And just like the previous night, it was the home team and its fans who went home happy after the Badgers scored two second-period goals and shut out the Spartans for the first time since February 2005.

The week's road losses drop the Spartans to 6-6-1 on the season. MSU is only 1-6 on the road.

The Spartans will host a much-needed home series beginning Friday, when CCHA foe Ohio State skates into Munn Ice Arena for a two-game slate. The Buckeyes (4-7-3, 4-4-2) have just one loss in their last four games.