The Spartans dominated and exposed an Irish defense that many of them praised postgame. 

"(Notre Dame) played really good defensively tonight. Any time you can put up eight goals on someone like Notre Dame, it’s really good for our confidence," senior forward Red Savage said. "I think the biggest step for us is taking this into tomorrow. It’s easy to take your foot off the pedal after winning such a blowout first game."

Friday marked the first time MSU has scored eight goals since an 8-4 win against Long Island University in October 2022.

After the Spartans took a 5-3 lead into the final period, Notre Dame went on a scoring drought as MSU tallied on three more, leaving its opponent out to dry with a scoreless third period and five-goal beating. 

The game was back-and-forth until the final period and was highly competitive. Goals were instantly met with a response. MSU sophomore goaltender Trey Augustine was often there to come up with the save on Fighting Irish opportunities.

"We left Trey there out to dry a couple times and he came up with some massive saves when we needed him the most. That’s what we expect out of him," Savage said.

The eight goals the Spartans put on the board weren’t just strength goals. Their special teams shined as well. MSU received opportunities on the power play for most of the game and capitalized twice on the man advantage.

MSU also continued to show its team strength on the penalty kill as well, scoring two shorthanded goals on a pair of two-on-one breakaways, the last coming in the final minute of the game.

"The penalty kill is 90% coaching," Savage said. "It’s a lot of structure. Me and (junior Tiernan) Shoudy have been playing penalty kill together for two years now. It feels like we’ve really started to click and our systems are all clicking right now."

The night full of goals for MSU included many scoring their first of the season. 

Freshman forward Mikey DeAngelo built off of the chemistry brought by MSU's fourth line, netting a goal to gain a 7-3 lead. It was his first goal of the season and as a Spartan. A leading point scorer the first two years of his collegiate career, junior forward Karsen Dorwart scored his first and second goals of the year in the landslide. Dorwart said it felt good. 

"It feels good every time you score. I feel like I haven’t been off to a great start so far this year and just trying to play better every game and focusing on the little things," Dorwart said. "Trying not to focus on scoring. Eventually if you play the right way, along there you’re going to get rewarded."