Despite two goals during the first period in Game 1, head coach Adam Nightingale wished the team had gotten to its game quicker, he said in a post-game press conference, noting that the team was being "cute" in response to NMU’s smothering. However, MSU set the tone early in Game 2. 

The Spartans’ spark plug junior forward Tommi Männistö put MSU up 1-0 at the 2:58 mark in the first, and extended the lead to 2-0 within the same period. 

"I thought the first might have been one of the best periods we played this year," Nightingale said in a post-series press conference. "I thought we got to our game right off the bat."

NMU responded in the second stanza – converting on a powerplay that had rolled over from the first, and then again at even strength. 

The score remained knotted until the third when senior forward Daniel Russell slotted a shot, earning his first goal of the year and the 12th game-winning goal of his career. Of active players, Russell leads the NCAA in career game-winning goals. 

Although MSU was expected to take the weekend series, wins in college hockey are never freely given. The Spartans’ performance was consistent with the identity they have been building — responding within games and series, staying aggressive on the forecheck and sticking up for one another.

Each game has highlighted different players at different moments, and this series especially showcased the returners. 

Twelve different Spartans earned points over the weekend, eight of them returners. Männistö and junior forward Tiernan Shoudy recorded five points apiece as their line clicked on the ice. While Russell stepped up at a pivotal moment, Saturday’s game-winner was his first goal of the season — a testament to the team’s depth.

While talent runs up and down the lineup there isn’t a lack of consistency. Freshman forward Porter Martone has tallied points in all but one game this season. This weekend the first-liner recorded his third consecutive multi-point performance. Martone’s offensive stats are just one example of how the Spartans are dependable within their roles on the team. 

Each series has brought new lessons, and Game 2 underscored the Spartans’ need for speed. The team plays fast, and if an MSU player fails to keep up, the puck will still be moving down the ice, head coach Adam Nightingale said in a post-series news conference. The Spartans also lost out on two goals Saturday after NMU challenges for offside calls.

MSU continues to demonstrate the strength of its penalty kill, as it silenced six penalties in Game 1 (nearly scoring shorthanded in the third) and eight penalties in Game 2, only giving up one goal despite 35 minutes in the box. 

The Spartans found success behind two netminders – junior Trey Augustine and sophomore Melvin Strahl. 

Augustine recorded 24 saves to earn his eighth career shutout in Game 1. He currently stands seventh all-time for career shutouts at MSU. Strahl made his collegiate debut in Game 2, playing all 60 minutes between the pipes and earning 22 saves.

The Spartans will take a break this week before beginning conference play at home next Friday. 

While there’s no denying the team enjoys a home crowd, the road games leading up to next week will be an important part to the Spartans’ success down the line. Road games have provided the players with more opportunities to get to know each other off the ice – which translates to their overall performance.

MSU will kick off Big Ten play against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8. Game times have not been released yet, but the series will be streamed on Big Ten Plus.