MSU racked up 23 penalty minutes in the first period alone. Entering a heated matchup, the Spartans knew discipline would be key, but emotions quickly boiled over.

"Obviously just stay out of the box, that’s the biggest thing," junior forward Joey Larson said postgame. "(Michigan) is really talented so you can’t take that many penalties."

Though the Spartans had to go to work to kill off penalties, special teams played a great role in helping defend their net. On the Wolverines five total man advantage opportunities, they only had a total of three shots on goal. MSU was able to take the puck down the ice for a few short handed attempts, but Michigan goalie Cameron Korpi kept his squad in the game despite the Spartans power play goal in the first period. Two of the three goals scored in the game came on special teams.

"Our job is to kill off the penalties and our guys did a heck of a job," Nightingale said. "...You’ve got to take care of your stick, you can’t be reaching, a couple of those were we weren’t moving our feet and didn't take good angles so you put yourself in a tough spot."

The second period was one of MSU’s strongest of the season, as the Spartans fired 20 shots on goal — a total they sometimes take a full 60 minutes to reach. Michigan State was up front and was quick to attempt to bank in rebounds, but the shots weren’t bouncing their way.

"I think (Michigan’s) goalie played really well and sometimes they just aren’t going in for you," junior forward Karsen Dorwart said. "...We played really well in the second so the emphasis tomorrow has to be playing like that the whole game."

MSU took its biggest hit early, as junior forward Daniel Russell received a five-minute major and a 10-minute game misconduct in the first period. Russell, ranked second nationally in game-winning goals (7), was a key offensive weapon missing from the lineup.

"Danny’s (Russell) a vital piece and obviously he’s one of those guys. He’s got to play hard, he’s got to play physical," Nightingale said. "He’s one of our strongest guys on skates. Whether I agree with the penalty or not, they (the refs) called it."

With 33 total penalty minutes getting called toward the Spartans on night one against their rivals in Munn Ice Arena, Michigan State knows that the key to success in the final game of the regular season against its rivals is to keep its emotions under wrap, as well as taking the chance to regroup before the quick turnaround. 

"I think our guys are willing to learn and I think that’s important," Nightingale said. "Our game’s not a perfect game and mistakes are going to happen. Our job is to try and coach the guys and adjust in areas we need to be better at."

With their blue-collar hockey mentality, the Spartans expect to bounce back.

'I thought we gave ourselves plenty of chances and created enough to give ourselves a chance to win the hockey game," Nightingale said. "But that's what I've respected about this group, there's a humility. It's not blaming the refs, it's not the lucky bounce, we're not into that. We're into we’ve got to get better, and tomorrow, that's our goal."

MSU and Michigan will wrap up their regular-season series at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for the annual Duel in the D on Saturday, Feb. 9, with puck drop set for 8 p.m.