Junior forward Dustin Gazley scored for the Spartans at 9:39 of the second period, and junior forward Corey Tropp tied the game at 2-2 at 13:48 of the third period to send the game to overtime.

But the Wildcats were able to sneak the fluky game-winner past sophomore goaltender Drew Palmisano. Palmisano made 30 saves on the night.

Of the Spartans’ six losses, four of the game-wining goals came in the last two minutes of regulation or overtime.

Senior goaltender Bobby Jarosz stopped 20 shots en route to earning his first career shutout on Friday, as the Spartans defeated the Wildcats 1-0.

MSU outshot Northern Michigan 37 to 20 in the series opener Friday, but was unable to solve senior goaltender Brian Stewart until midway through the final frame.

Tropp netted the game-winner at 13:53 of the third period to snap MSU’s four game winless streak (0-3-1).

On the weekend, the Spartans power play came up empty handed, going 0-for-12. It was the third weekend this season that the Spartans have been unable to capitalize with the man-advantage. MSU is 17-for-100 through its first 18 games.

The Spartans (10-6-2 overall, 7-3-2 CCHA) will continue CCHA action this weekend with a home-and-home series against Bowling Green, who is in a tie for last place in the conference.