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.
With the pivotal sweep over No. 20 Notre Dame, the Spartans remain on the right side of the NCAA tournament bubble.
It’s been 17 years since No. 17 Michigan State last swept No. 20 Notre Dame, a remarkable streak that ended Saturday in East Lansing.
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.
The Spartans will honor 10 seniors following the conclusion of Saturday's game versus Notre Dame.
Six of the seven Big Ten teams are now ranked, with Notre Dame, MSU's next opponent, entering at No. 20.
Michigan State led 2-1 midway through the game, but five straight goals from Minnesota resulted in another sweep.
The Spartans have the opportunity to regroup and redeem themselves as they return to 3M Arena for a rematch with the Gophers Saturday at 5 p.m.
The puck drops at 8 p.m. Friday night and 5 p.m. Saturday. Both games will be televised on Bally Sports North, as well as streaming on Big Ten Plus.
It will be No. 2 versus No. 15 when Michigan State travels to Minnesota this weekend.