While both sides were patient in overtime, the Spartans took a costly penalty, allowing Michigan forward Jayden Perron to beat junior goaltender Trey Augustine for a 4-3 Spartan loss.  

“Tough finish,” MSU coach Adam Nightingale said. “I thought it was a great hockey game… I liked us in the first two periods; you got a couple-goal lead. We got beat up on the ice on one, then gave up a shorty (shorthanded goal), and that's a tie game. Take a penalty, 4-on-3 with that much talent, it's going to be tough.”

The Spartans secured one conference point but dropped to 21-6-0 overall and 12-5-0 in the Big Ten. The rivals will close out their series Saturday, Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m. in Little Caesars Arena. The game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. 

Michigan finished the night with a narrow 35–34 edge in shots, but only one shot counted. Augustine stopped 31 shots for the Spartans, and Michigan netminder Stephen Peck also made 31 saves. Nightingale said both goalies played well.

Despite the scoreboard, the Spartans led for much of the game. 

They controlled the first four minutes, generating offense while the Wolverines had yet to attempt a shot. When shots came in the fifth minute, Augustine was solid, as was the defense. The Spartans finished with 21 blocks, and the Wolverines had 17, highlighting the defensive detail on both sides.

It took 15 minutes for the Spartans to open the scoring when the Wolverines let senior center Charlie Stramel get to the slot. 

Freshman forward Porter Martone fired a shot that Stramel deflected in from the front of the net — a play he has executed all season. The Spartans’ lead didn’t last long, as Michigan forward Nick Moldenhauer evened the score with a deflection of his own.

With a 1-1 tie in the second period, defensive play continued, and the Spartans struck again in the 15th minute. With a Wolverine on his shoulder, sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi attacked the net before sinking a shot to its right corner for a 2-1 lead. 

While Michigan had some transition opportunities, the Spartans’ defense interrupted passes, or the Wolverines didn’t connect. 

Michigan State took a 3–1 lead with two minutes left in the second period. Sophomore defenseman Owen West put three shots on net, with the third finding its way in from between the faceoff circles to give the Spartans a two-goal cushion heading into the final period. Augustine was perfect in the second, stopping all 10 shots he faced.

Michigan’s response started with 9:33 left in regulation. 

On a rush, defenseman Asher Barnett skated down the slot for a one-on-one chance against Augustine and capitalized. The Wolverines continued to pressure Augustine in transition, igniting the crowd with each break, though the Spartans went to the power play shortly after.

With the man advantage, Martone fired a sharp-angled shot that rattled the post and appeared to cross the goal line but was waved off. The Wolverines responded by tying the game at 3–3 on a shorthanded goal by forward Kienan Draper. The Spartans challenged the call on Martone’s shot, but the ruling stood, as did Michigan’s goal.

The teams were tied with seven minutes left in regulation, and both had opportunities to end the game. But the defense was good, and the goaltending behind it was executed. 

Freshman forward Ryker Lee recorded the Spartans’ only shot in overtime, blocked by Michigan’s Will Horcoff. Freshman forward Eric Nilson’s tripping penalty allowed Michigan to practice patience, rotating the puck around the perimeter until Perron narrowly beat Augustine. 

The Spartans will shift their focus to tomorrow’s game. The rivals split their series early in the season, as well as both series last season. 

“We're playing our rival, but this group is a motivated group,” Nightingale said. “We got to keep growing and use this to grow, and we got an opportunity to do that tomorrow.”