Graduate defenseman Michael Underwood (22) fights off University of a Minnesota player at Munn Ice Arena on Dec. 2, 2022. The Spartans lost to the Gophers with score 5-0.
—Although Michigan State hockey (11-6-1, 5-4-1 Big Ten) suffered a series sweep over the weekend to now No. 3 Minnesota, the Spartans rose another spot in the USCHO poll this week to No. 12.
As for the Men's Division I PairWise rankings, MSU dropped two spots to No. 9.
The Spartans fell to the Golden Gophers in a 5-0 shutout Friday night after struggling offensively. Saturday brought a better performance from MSU, but it still lost 6-3, sending then-No. 4 Minnesota home with its fourth sweep of the season.
As for the rest of the Big Ten, No. 5 Penn State swapped spots in the poll with No. 6 Michigan – MSU’s next opponent. The Wolverines (11-6-1, 3-5 Big Ten) are coming off a series split with Wisconsin, while the Nittany Lions split with Ohio State.
The Buckeyes jumped to No. 15 after the split. Notre Dame also rose one spot from last week to No. 19 after a week off from competition.
MSU and Michigan faceoff in a home-and-home series on Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m., with the Spartans hosting the first game at Munn Ice Arena and the Wolverines hosting the second at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor.
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