The Spartans came in already desperate. An eight-game losing streak now at nine on its shoulders, two top forwards still out of the lineup with no known timetable and a team that always shows flashes, but can never consistently execute for three periods.

Securing a win over Michigan, or at least being competitive for that matter, could have been a stride toward righting the ship as the playoffs near. Rivalry games between Michigan and Michigan State can always go in either direction. Instead, MSU got its doors blown off in an embarrassing fashion.

Like it has been for the last month and a half, it was another step backward. 

“It’s frustrating,” senior defenseman Dennis Cesana said. “We don’t like to lose here.”

It doesn’t happen often a coach bumps a defenseman up to forward midgame. But that’s how horrid Friday night became for Michigan State Head Coach Danton Cole. Senior defenseman Cole Krygier got shifted up to forward for the third period as the Spartans faced a near-touchdown deficit.  

Michigan State didn’t have any new injuries or an ejection. It was as simple as putrid play from the forwards. 

“I wasn’t real happy with some of our forwards and we’re in a situation where we sit someone out we don’t have someone to put in so it's trying to send a message that we need better,” Cole said. “We need better out of a few guys and again, we’re just not deep enough to have guys have average games.”

“Cole (Krygier) did a good job for us. I wish some of the other forwards played like he did.”

The match was tightly contested for the first 25 minutes as MSU stood blow for blow with the No. 4 team in the country. The score was 1-0 for the hosts, but MSU had done just about everything right against its in-state foe. The top two lines were buzzing and the scoring chances were relatively even. Most notably, the Spartan defense was sound, relieving senior goaltender Drew DeRidder of the intense pressure he is accustomed to seeing.  

However, at 5:45 of the second period, senior forward Adam Goodsir wristed a shot that was gloved by Michigan stud sophomore goaltender Erik Portillo. It was the Spartans' last shot of the middle period and the beginning of a systematic dismantling that didn’t see another MSU shot on goal until 2:38 of the third period. 

In a span of eight minutes, Michigan poured on four goals to quickly spell defeat on the green and white. MSU committed four penalties in the period, three of which led to Wolverine goals. 

“I think it was just a matter of blocking shots and getting in front of it and that's something that us forwards have to do a better job of and help Drew out there,” junior forward and top penalty-killer Jagger Joshua said.

The Spartans were remarkably outshot 17-2 in the second period as DeRidder made 29 saves on the night. It was another one of those sleepy periods from Michigan State where they were flat-out dominated and it cost them in the end. 

“The first (period) was OK,” Cole said. “The third was OK, not great but alright. But the second, we did some things and shot ourselves in the foot. We didn’t kill penalties very well and had some bad changes that led to a couple things.”

So, what does it take for such a 180-degree shift like last year? In the eyes of Cesana, the team captain, it’s not necessarily about better execution. Rather, rallying the team together is a reminder that hockey isn’t won from individual effort. 

“Last year it was pretty much everyone just saying ‘F it and let’s play together,“ Cesana said. “It’s the only way to do it is to come back and play hard tomorrow. You can’t just come back and lay an egg and not even try. It’s a team effort.”

Friday night felt like the night for MSU to make some surprises on the road. Michigan was vulnerable, playing without four of its top players for the first time, who are in Beijing for the Winter Olympics. Minnesota was able to adjust with ease last weekend, but it was no guarantee Michigan would do the same. Perhaps there was an adjustment period in the first frame, but the Wolverines looked quite fine for 60 minutes.  

The Spartans will have to hone some of that magic they found 13 months ago in East Lansing. MSU has forced itself to fish for any marginal gains. Playing at a neutral site at Little Caeser’s Arena may help Saturday night. But even that likely will be a Wolverine-majority crowd. 

Wherever that magic is buried, it has to be unearthed. MSU’s backs are no longer against the wall. They are restrained in a corner with just centimeters of leeway. 

“It’s really just, what do we have to lose?” Cesana said. “We just gotta come together as a group and kind of just come with a mentality to just screw it and do what we can to win.”