The Wolverines and Spartans will close out their regular season series with a rivalry-packed weekend. MSU is hosting game one at Munn Ice Arena before the teams head to Little Caesars Arena for the Duel in the D, where the Iron D Trophy will be on the line.

“I remember watching (The Duel in the D) but I was never able to go. I think it’s the biggest rivalry in college hockey so it’ll be really fun,” junior forward Daniel Russell said. “It’s a dream come true —get 10,000 plus people there, super fun, good atmosphere.”

The coaching staff has emphasized playing off the puck, maintaining a blue-collar style and executing a full 60-minute effort. While MSU struggled in game one against Ohio State, it rebounded in game two — a trend the team has followed all season.

“Thursday I think we had 92 shot attempts, so we had the puck but we didn’t do a good enough job getting pucks through,” head coach Adam Nightingale said. “Credit to (Ohio State) for making it hard, they definitely committed to it and that’s what this time of the year is about, you’ve got to pay a price.”

Emotions were controlled in the teams’ first meeting, but tensions rose in game two. As they prepare for the rematch, the Spartans know that staying composed and tuning out the noise will be key in the high-stakes matchup.

“You try to tune out the noise a little bit, you still want to just play your game and stay inside yourself and do what you’re good at,” Russell said.

After neutral-site matchups at Van Andel Arena for the Great Lakes Invitational and Wrigley Field for the Frozen Confines, the Duel in the D marks MSU’s third this season, giving fans another marquee matchup.

“It’s awesome, one of the other big ones we had this year was Wrigley and that was such a cool experience,” Andrews said. “The next one guys talk about is Duel in the D and I’m really excited for it. Being from Michigan, being a part of this rivalry, it’s special.”

For hometown players, it’s more than just another game — it’s the chance to play in an NHL arena they grew up dreaming about.

“I’m sure in warm ups, when I take a look around, that’ll be when it hits me,” graduate defenseman and Grand Rapids local Nicklas Andrews said. “We’re trying not to get too emotional, it’s another game and it’s a big one for sure.” 

For Nightingale and his staff, the game is more than a coaching opportunity—it’s a chance for back-to-back Duel in the D wins. As a former Spartan, Nightingale played in this rivalry himself.

The rivalry series opens at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, at Munn Ice Arena before shifting to Little Caesars Arena at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8.