Senior forward and captain Gavin O’Connell scored the goal that helped MSU regain control in the third period, while sophomore forward Anthony Romani scored twice in the Spartans’ season-opening victory.

MSU’s special teams provided a major difference after struggling on the power play in its exhibition win over Boston College last week. Against Northern Michigan, the Spartans generated 4 power-play goals, including 2 in the third period.

The Spartans also held firm on the penalty kill despite repeated trips to the penalty box. Freshman goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen made several key saves, including a glove save on a first-period shorthanded breakaway, to help keep Northern Michigan off the scoreboard on the power play.

MSU’s offensive production came early, with Romani opening the scoring less than two minutes into the game. The sophomore forward broke in alone after a pass from freshman forward Ethan Belchetz, faked a backhand shot and slid the puck past Northern Michigan goaltender Oliver Auyeung-Ashton on his forehand.

Junior forward Cullen Potter doubled the lead on a 5-on-3 power play, ripping a wrist shot from the left circle. Sophomore forward Cayden Lindstrom added another goal shortly after the power play expired, giving MSU a 3-0 advantage.

Northern Michigan responded with a breakaway goal from senior forward Branden Piku, taking advantage of a turnover along the blue line to cut the deficit to two before the end of the first period.

The Spartans generated 13 shots in the opening frame, compared to 6 for the Wildcats, but struggled to protect the puck in their own zone. MSU repeatedly allowed breakaway opportunities through turnovers on the blue line, an issue that continued to create dangerous chances for Northern Michigan.

The game slowed offensively in the second period as both teams struggled to capitalize on extended power-play opportunities. MSU received a five-minute power play after junior forward Medrick Bolduc was assessed a major penalty and game misconduct for a hit from behind on junior defenseman Owen West.

Northern Michigan’s penalty kill held MSU scoreless through the five-minute advantage, including an extended 5-on-3 opportunity. Auyeung-Ashton made several saves to keep the Wildcats within two goals, and Northern Michigan carried that momentum into the third period.

The Wildcats cut the lead to one just 40 seconds into the final frame when junior forward Grayden Slipec finished a pass from freshman center Coster Dunn across the crease.

O’Connell responded on the power play less than a minute later. He redirected a shot from freshman defenseman Chase Reid past Auyeung-Ashton to restore MSU’s two-goal lead at 4-2.

The goal halted Northern Michigan’s momentum and gave the Spartans breathing room after the Wildcats threatened to erase their early deficit.

Romani added his second goal of the game on another power play, finishing a one-timer from the left circle off passes from Reid and junior forward Ryker Lee. Freshman forward Jack Hextall later scored his first collegiate goal on the power play to extend MSU’s lead to 6-2.

The game’s physicality boiled over in the closing minutes after Northern Michigan freshman defenseman Jason Davenport delivered a hit to the head of sophomore forward Eric Nilson. MSU players quickly came to Nilson’s defense, with West among the first to retaliate and spark the ensuing fight.

The confrontation spread across the ice as players from both teams became involved. Junior forward Shane Vansaghi dropped his gloves and fought Northern Michigan’s Auyeung-Ashton, resulting in his ejection from the game. What began with the hit on Nilson escalated into a full-team brawl, with players from both sides joining the altercation.

“I was actually super proud of Westy,” head coach Adam Nightingale said. “It is a genuine reaction to it. It’s not for the crowd. It’s not anything like that. It’s like, ‘My buddy got tagged, and I’m gonna stick up for him.’”

“I think that just shows the tightness of our group and how much brotherly love we have in there,” Reid said.

The Spartans will continue their series against Northern Michigan at 1 p.m. Sunday at Munn Ice Arena.