With the win, the Spartans improved to 13-5-0 in Big Ten play (22-6-0 overall) with 39 points, first in the conference. The victory was crucial to the Spartans' chances of winning the Big Ten regular-season title. MSU entered the series trailing Michigan by one point in the conference standings but now lead by one. Michigan was the team’s final ranked conference opponent.

“Our conference in general is a gauntlet, and every night's a tough night,” MSU coach Adam Nightingale said. “Michigan's having a heck of a season, got a heck of a team, and I think both games felt like tournament games… You're trying to peak at the right time and try to play your best hockey. As many times as you can be tested like this, it's only going to help us.”

Each goal came from a different Spartan, highlighting MSU’s team-first identity. MSU held a 37–27 shot advantage, built during the first two periods. Junior goaltender Trey Augustine was sharp in net, stopping point-blank, spinning and rebound chances. He finished with 25 saves for a .926 save percentage. Augustine and the MSU penalty kill shut down all five of Michigan’s power plays, including a critical opportunity with six minutes remaining. Michigan ranks No. 1 nationally in scoring offense and No. 3 on the power play.

The most defining moments of the game came in the final period. The Spartans entered with a 4-1 lead, and Michigan’s response came five minutes in. 

The Wolverines scored on a rebound by winger Nick Moldenhauer, trimming the Spartans’ lead to 4–2. Michigan continued to generate scoring chances and earned another power play, but with six minutes remaining in regulation, the Spartan penalty kill delivered. Disrupted passing lanes and strong positioning killed the penalty, prompting chants of “Go Green” and “Go White.”

With three minutes left in regulation, Michigan pulled its goalie. While the Wolverines attacked hard, senior center Tiernan Shoudy got a stick on the puck and sent it the other way, with junior forward Tommi Männistö skating after it — and nobody beats Männistö in a foot race. 

Männistö caught up to the Wolverine ahead and fell to the ground, shooting the puck past the goal line for a 5-2 insurance lead, built on the Spartans’ performance in the earlier periods. MSU controlled the puck in its attack zone in the final moments, sealing its victory — the third-straight year it has hoisted the Iron D trophy in Detroit. 

While execution in the final moments sealed the game, the Spartans’ open set the scene. Nightingale said he loved the team’s execution at the start.

The Spartans lit the lamp halfway through the first period. Junior forward Gavin O’Connell took a pass from freshman forward Anthony Romani, approaching the left faceoff circle before releasing a shot he buried for a 1-0 lead. It was just his fourth goal of the season. 

Still in the opening period, freshman forward Porter Martone extended the lead on a power play. He waited for senior center Charlie Stramel to screen Michigan’s goaltender, and then fired a shot that rattled in and around the net. 

The second period opened with 4-on-4 play after matching roughing penalties were assessed at the end of the first. Neither side capitalized on the extra space, but the Spartans added to the lead in the fourth minute. Junior defenseman Maxim Štrbák looked to shoot from the top of the zone before finding Stramel at the right side of the crease for a quick put-in.

Less than two minutes later, the Spartans struck again. Männistö fed Shoudy in the same spot as Stramel for a 4–0 lead, prompting a Michigan timeout, though the Wolverines opted to keep goaltender Jack Ivankovic in the game. It marked Ivankovic’s first game back since his ankle injury on Jan. 10.

MSU's 4-0 lead held for much of the second period. The Spartans tested Ivankovic relentlessly, maintaining two-straight minutes in the attack zone for nine shots on goal — but Ivankovic passed. After the Wolverines cleared the puck, they converted with fresh legs. 

Forward Josh Eernisse pulled Augustine out on a shot that missed wide but produced a rebound for forward Jayden Perron, who cut the deficit to 4–2. It was the type of play that challenged the Spartans to respond. It was also the kind of chance the Spartans worked to eliminate all night through defensive detail — from sophomore defenseman Owen West battling near the net to prevent a deflection to sophomore defenseman Colin Ralph blocking four shots.

After tonight’s win, Nightingale said Michigan deserved to win the first game of the series, adding that he spoke to the team this morning about areas that needed improvement. 

“We need to be better, and big time response by our guys tonight,” Nightingale said. 

MSU will take a bye week before facing Notre Dame, Ohio State and Minnesota. The Spartans will likely need to sweep all three series to remain first in the Big Ten. 

Michigan will host No. 6 Penn State next week, before finishing its conference play against No. 13 Wisconsin and Minnesota. Aside from MSU, Penn State and Wisconsin are the only Big Ten teams to have beaten Michigan this season.