EAST LANSING– Michigan State Hockey beat Boston College 4-3 on Saturday Night with help from junior center Charlie Stramel, who netted two goals in the Spartans’ win.

After a tough game on Friday, Spartans head coach Adam Nightingale decided to switch up the line pairings.

“I thought we haven’t done a ton of changing things up and our staff felt like it was time and it seemed to work tonight,” Nightingale said.

It was clear early on that the Spartans were playing ‘blue collar’ hockey, something Spartans’ head coach Adam Nightingale said his team was missing on Friday.

The Green and White were taking what the Eagles were giving them, dumping the puck and setting up shop, not forcing the issue and letting the game come to them.

“I think a few of the goals came off of that [dump and chase], it’s not always going to end up in the back of the net, but we want to play repeatable winning hockey,” Nightingale said.

After being shut out on Friday night the Spartans’ offense needed to start fast. 

Stramel started the action, giving the Spartans a 1-0 lead in the first period.

“We didn’t play the way we wanted to on Friday night,” Stramel said. “And I think the biggest thing was having a bounce back, getting on the board first.”

The Eagles would answer later in the first. In one minute, forwards Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard both scored to take back the lead quickly.

30 seconds into the second period, Spartans’ captain Red Savage responded with a game-tying goal igniting the Spartans.

“[Savage] getting that one early is big, that’s a big confidence booster for all the boys on the bench,” Stramel said.

Once again the Eagles countered with a power-play goal three minutes later to regain the lead.

Then, Stramel worked the front of the net, tipping in a shot sent by David Gucciardi from the blue line to beat Eagles netminder Jacob Fowler for the second time, tying the game at three.

“I think that’s something I take pride in my game is being good at net-screen, always tipping pucks and obviously it doesn’t happen without the D-man being ready to shoot,” Stramel said.

Later in the second, Spartans’ forward Daniel Russell scored the third Michigan State goal of the period to take a 4-3 lead.

In the third period, the Eagles applied offensive pressure but Spartans’ goaltender Trey Augustine wouldn’t budge. 

The sophomore saved all 13 shots he faced in the third period including a flurry in the final 100 seconds when the Eagles pulled Fowler for an extra attacker.

Michigan State Hockey will be honoring the 50th anniversary of Munn Ice Arena all season long, Saturday night was the 600th Spartan win at Munn, along with the first victory over Boston College since 2007. 

The Spartans’ next game is an exhibition against Winsdor College (Ontario), on Friday, Oct.18 at Munn Ice Arena.