After MSU's 3-0 loss Friday night, head coach Adam Nightingale said the problem wasn't within the lineups he rolled out. But less than 24 hours later, he jumbled four forward lines to start in the series finale.

It took all 60 minutes on Saturday, but the Spartans earned their first ranked win of the season in a high-octane showdown at Munn Ice Arena. Junior Charlie Stramel scored twice and MSU's defensive effort was just enough to secure a 4-3 victory.

Little shuffle for Saturday. pic.twitter.com/sw1vcUlM9f

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) October 12, 2024

Nightingale said the changes stemmed from a coaching discussion after the lines struggled to click Friday.

“We try to keep some pairs together, but I thought we hadn’t done a ton of changing things up and our staff felt like it was time,” Nightingale said postgame Saturday.

One of the changes included moving forward Isaac Howard down to the second line, playing alongside fellow forwards Gavin O’Connell and Stramel. This line produced two goals on the night, both from Stramel. 

“We’ve never played (together) before and going into the game today we were adamant about talking to each other, being loud out there and be on each other’s side,” Stramel said. “I thought we played a great game together and hopefully we continue to get going and get better as a line.”

Another productive line came from the addition of captain Red Savage next to the enforcers of the squad, Tanner Kelly and Tiernan Shoudy. 

“We will make decisions that we feel give us the best chance to win,” Nightingale said. “I thought those guys were great tonight and I think all three of them are winning hockey players. They do a lot of little things that help a team win and I know they’re excited to play together.”

The series of moves also placed Joey Larson on the first line alongside longtime forward pair Daniel Russell and Karsen Dorwart, who was back in the lineup after battling an injury. The line secured what would be the game-winning goal at the end of the second period.

The team understood that switching between playing on their offensive lines and swarming the defensive zone was something that could happen. Nightingale said it’s how you play real hockey and what gets the job done.

Howard has carried the Spartans so far with seven points (three goals, four assists) in the first four games of the season in his second year in the green and white.

After the loss Friday, Michigan State regained its identity, playing its "blue collar" hockey on Saturday. The Spartans hope to bring that into their next meeting, an exhibition against Windsor (ON).

“I thought we played north; I thought we played direct, I thought we played to our identity,” Nightingale said. “We played behind them. We were able to establish some O-zone.”