"We said to our guys, we're disappointed but never discouraged and we've got a big game tomorrow," head coach Adam Nightingale said post game.

In their previous matchup, the in-state rivals clashed under the Friday night lights at Yost Ice Arena. Tied 2-2 heading into overtime, the Wolverines sealed the win early in the sudden-death period as Schifsky beat sophomore goaltender Trey Augustine.

The following night, MSU rebounded quickly, coming out strong. With a green and white team who praises their ability to bounce back, MSU tallied four goals on Wolverine’s goaltender Logan Stein to grab four of six possible points from the Wolverines on the weekend. 

But for their second series in three weeks, the Spartans started with home ice advantage on night one of the series.

MSU came out firing on all cylinders, keeping heavy possession in their offensive zone and landed a great first shot attempt from junior forward Joey Larson, who struck the post after a puck was tossed in front of the net. 

With some great looks at the net front for the Spartans, their defense played a sound game as well, not allowing a single shot on goal for the maize and blue into the five minute mark. For the green and white, their stable defense allowed them to keep puck possession, setting up nicely in the offensive zone for chances to fire at Michigan’s Cameron Korpi.

MSU’s special teams got an early test as the Spartans took the first penalty of the game, but they nearly struck first on a shorthanded two-on-one chance, denied by Korpi. And it wouldn’t be the only shorthanded attempt made for the Spartans of the period, with two strong breakaway attempts from freshman forward Shane Vansaghi.

And while the penalty kill quickly got to work, so did the man advantage, which is where the Spartans struck with the first goal of the game. A drop back pass made its way around the offensive zone and eventually landed on the stick of junior forward Karsen Dorwart who ripped a shot past Korpi to draw first blood.

However, MSU’s 23 penalty minutes proved costly as Michigan’s TJ Hughes buried the equalizer past Augustine on a 5-on-3 power play, tying the game 1-1 heading into the second period.

"I thought we got ourselves into penalty trouble to start," head coach Adam Nightingale said. "We did a heck of a job on the kill. We put a team with that much talent on the power play and we gave up three shots on five kills."

MSU dominated the second period, taking only two penalties compared to five in the first, while sustaining heavy offensive pressure.

Being able to set up in their offensive zone, the green and white made great passes ahead of their own blue line and set themselves up to get shots through to Korpi. Junior forward Charlie Stramel continued to play at the net front in his office, making it hard for Michigan defenders to protect their goaltender, but the young netminder stood tall and saved all 20 shots sent his way through the second period. 

The Spartan defense helped to control the game as well, only allowing seven shots on goal for their entirety of the period for Michigan.

Michigan found its rhythm in the third, generating more offensive chances, but Augustine and Korpi held strong, keeping the game tied at 1-1.

With 56.7 seconds left, Schifsky redirected the puck past Augustine, delivering Michigan the last-minute winner. And even though the Spartans made a few last second shots on Korpi, the goal would do it as the Wolverines would take night one with a final score of 2-1.

MSU and Michigan will conclude their regular-season series at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for the annual Duel in the D on Saturday, Feb. 8. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m.