This is the first time Michigan State has advanced in the tournament since the conference was formed in 2013-14.
The Spartans look to carry their scoring momentum into Sunday's tie-breaker matchup set for 6 p.m. at Compton Family Ice Arena.
Michigan State holds on to see another day as the Spartans and Irish head back to Compton Family Ice Arena tomorrow at 6 p.m. to decide the winner of the quarterfinals round.
The defeat pushes Michigan State's backs against the wall in a win-or-go-home Saturday evening matchup.
The loss brings MSU to 2-2-1 against Notre Dame on the year. Puck drop for the second game in the series is set for Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
The best-of-three series starts Friday at 7 p.m. at Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend. Saturday’s game is set for 4:30 p.m. If necessary, a tie-breaker match will take place Sunday at 6 p.m. All games will be televised on FS2.
The Spartans finished 2-1-1 against Notre Dame in the regular season. The best-of-three quarterfinals round takes place March 3-5.
MSU sits at 34 points in the conference, where it will stay with no remaining series in the regular season. The Spartans no longer control their own destiny to host a Big Ten tournament game, but can still finish fourth place or higher depending on the results of next week's games.
Three different Spartans recorded three points in Michigan State hockey's return to the ice following Monday night's shooting.
The Spartans have one last item to check off their regular season to-do list, as they travel to Madison to take on Wisconsin. Puck drop is set for Friday at 9 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m.
Michigan State has just two regular season games remaining and will need some help if it hopes to earn home-ice advantage for the Big Ten Tournament.
With the loss, the Spartans fall to 15-15-2 overall and 9-11-2 in the Big Ten.
An abundance of thrown punches, intense hits and fighting resulted in numerous stops and timeouts to review previous plays, therefore, extending regulation. In the end, it was 45 minutes longer than MSU’s game against Notre Dame last Friday.
The two rivals will go back at it Saturday night at Little Caeser's Arena in Detroit for the series finale.
Michigan and Michigan State are part of a four-way tie for second place in the Big Ten.
The Spartans face No. 5 Michigan in East Lansing on Friday and at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday for the Duel in the D.
Potent special teams and goaltending can be the difference when the margins are slim, and MSU had both on Friday night.
The win marks Michigan State's first shutout victory since Nov. 26.
Sitting just outside the 16-team NCAA tournament bubble at No. 18 in the PairWise rankings, the Spartans are fighting to earn a spot in the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
Michigan State led 2-1 midway through the game, but five straight goals from Minnesota resulted in another sweep.