Michigan hockey handed Michigan State its ninth straight loss with a 6-2 thrashing in Ann Arbor.
Unsurprisingly, the first 20 minutes of the game were extremely physical. Big hits, penalties and a bit of pushing and shoving were primary features of the period. While Michigan tilted the ice slightly towards Michigan State's defensive zone, neither team could generate consistent offensive pressure. Both teams also struggled to make use of their power plays, doing nothing with a combined five penalty minutes.
However, a reoccurring issue for MSU was puck control at the front of the net. Sophomore defenseman Jacob Truscott capitalized on one such mistake 14 minutes into the game, taking a 1-0 lead for the Wolverines.
Michigan had a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. Michigan State was down, but not out.
Then, the second period happened.
It started with a tripping call on sophomore forward A.J. Hodges. Before the penalty, Michigan already had a few quality scoring chances miss by inches. They did not miss on the man advantage.
Less than ten seconds into the power play, freshman defenseman Luke Hughes scored his 11th goal of the season, zipping in a wrist shot from the blue line and extending the lead to two.
2-0 Michigan.
Roughly three minutes later, junior forward Erik Middendorf committed MSU's third penalty of the game. Freshman forward Mackie Samoskevich converted on the power play, tallying the Wolverines third goal of the net with a wrist shot from just beyond the top of the slot.
3-0 Michigan.
Exactly one minute later, senior forward Nolan Moyle blasted a one-timer from the right faceoff circle for his fifth goal of the season.
4-0 Michigan.
The Wolverines were not satisfied with the four goal lead. Sophomore forward Jeremy Davidson committed the Spartans third penalty of the period with a 1:20 left in the second.
At 1:11, Hughes scored his second goal of the night, slapping a one-timer from the blue line.
5-0 Michigan.
The game's final period was mostly uneventful, save for the last five minutes.
With just under five left in the game, sophomore forward Filippe Lapointe scored his second goal of the season.
6-0 Michigan.
Michigan State ended the game on a high note, potting back-to-back goals. Junior forward Jagger Joshua scored on the power play with just over four minutes left to tally the Spartans first goal of the night, and sophomore forward Kristof Papp tipped one in a shot from sophomore defenseman Nash Nienhuis at the front of the net at 18:46.
The 6-2 blowout is Michigan State's ninth straight loss. The Spartans are comfortably in the basement of the Big Ten with the end of the season just weeks away.
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Michigan State and Michigan will head to Detroit for the second game of the series. The puck is set to drop at 7 pm, and the game will be televised via Bally Sports Detroit.
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