"For our guys, the way it went on Friday, to have the first period we did, be down one nothing, just to stick with it and not chase being someone other than ourselves," coach Adam Nightingale said. "That's what we got to try to remind our guys we just, we just got to be us."

Both teams opened the game boldly, the Wolverines removing goaltender Jack Ivankovic just three minutes in as they maintained possession in the attacking zone.

MSU followed suit in the seventh minute, opting for an extra skater on its offensive end. The Spartans earned strong shots in the opening frame, connecting on passes and getting rebound opportunities. However, just as the night before, a penalty halted the squad. 

While the Spartans killed off a penalty early in the period, the Wolverines capitalized on their second power play of the night. Center Michael Hage approached junior netminder Trey Augustine before feeding winger Will Horcoff, who buried a shot over Augustine’s shoulder to make it 1–0 Wolverines, just as they had the previous night.

With about five minutes left in the opening slate, the Spartans went to the power play after an interference penalty on Horcoff. MSU fired 10 shots, with freshman forward Ryker Lee narrowly missing when he hit the pipe.

Michigan’s lead held entering the first intermission, but MSU led 17-4 in shots on goal, a stark contrast to its 23 shots on the night before. 

"I thought we played more blue collar offensively," Nightingale said. "Hockey is a pretty simple sport at the end of the day. It's about getting to the inside and being great on the inside defensively. And I thought we did that tonight."

The second frame put Augustine to the test, and he responded. The netminder turned aside five shots in the first five minutes and helped kill off a penalty later in the period. Augustine faced quick looks from Michigan’s power play but delivered, stopping Horcoff’s one-timer and another attempt from Horcoff near the crease.

While Michigan’s defense remained tight, preventing multiple shot opportunities from freshman forward Porter Martone, the Spartans found a way to slip through the cracks. 

With just 1:17 left in the second slate, junior defenseman Patrick Geary blasted a one-timer that was off target, but picked up by freshman forward Anthony Romani from behind the net, who sent the puck behind Ivankovic to even the score 1-1, before final intermission. 

"It was good to get the first one there," Romani said. "We haven't scored in a while on him (Ivankovic), so I think we knew that the goal was going to come in front of the net or in a rebound setting."

Romani entered the final frame ready. Less than two minutes in, the freshman took a pass from freshman forward Cayden Lindstrom, maneuvering the puck towards the net and through traffic before sinking the shot for a 2-1 lead.

"He's a goal scorer," Nightingale said in reference to Romani. "You can't teach that… but I think had he not even scored, I thought he was way better and it’s fun to see."

Romani’s goal allowed the Spartans to manage the puck better, controlling the game with their edge. MSU had several more scoring opportunities off good passing sequences.

Augustine was solid between the pipes throughout, turning aside wristers and crowded-net flurries. With less than two minutes left in regulation, Michigan pulled Ivankovic again, and Augustine kept piling up saves, setting up Martone for an empty netter with defenseman Ben Robertson chasing him down. Despite a minute still remaining, Martone’s goal stood as the final tally, sealing a 3–1 Spartan victory.

Augustine tallied 30 saves, the same as Michigan’s Ivankovic. Besides Michigan’s first goal, the Spartans were successful on the penalty kill, stopping four power plays. 

The game highlighted the team’s depth, with every line earning shots — as well as making crucial plays, from puck battles to blocks.

Senior forward Charlie Stramel recorded hits and helped stop a dangerous situation in the second stanza, getting a stick on the puck to stop a Wolverine from approaching Augustine head on, while the team still trailed 1-0. 

When the Wolverines’ tried to muster a response in the third, senior defenseman and captain Matt Basgall led by example, blocking multiple shots to maintain the lead. Basgall finished the night with five blocks. 

Under Nightingale, the Spartans have an 8-8-0 record against Michigan, continuing their practice of splitting the rivalry series. 

With the win, the Spartans move to 12-4-0 overall and 5-3-0 in Big Ten play. The team will have a three-week break before competing in the Great Lakes Invitational, its first contest against Ferris State on Sunday, Dec. 28. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. EST.