EAST LANSING– The No. 1 Michigan State Spartans beat the No. 10 Michigan Wolverines 4-1 on Saturday night. The Spartans controlled the game, with a much-needed bounce-back win on their home ice. 

This game was the 350th matchup between these two storied programs. Whenever these in-state rivals play, expect a physical, hard-nosed style of hockey. There were 19 penalties with the referees dishing out 72 total penalty minutes. 

 “I think it’s obviously a more physical series when you play a rival, you always have to keep your head on a swivel,” Spartans’ forward Isaac Howard said. “It kind of makes it more fun when it’s physical like that and you can almost create more offense when the [defense] is stepping up.”  

With both squads spending an immense amount of time in the penalty box, special teams were the biggest key to the game. 

“I mean, we obviously earned some power plays there and were able to capitalize.” MSU head coach Adam Nightingale said. “And, the kill, I thought they did a heck of a job, right? There were some critical moments there where we’re short-handed… for the most part, I think we did a really good job.” 

After the Spartans lost the special teams battle on Friday, they corrected those issues in game two, where they dominated the Wolverines. 

Spartans’ defenseman Matt Basgall was the first to strike, with a shot from the point on the power play to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead. 

MSU forward Charlie Stramel has specialized in creating havoc around the crease of opposing goalies all season. Stramel was able to find a loose puck by Wolverines goaltender Logan Stein and finished the job to give the Spartans a two-goal cushion. 

“Getting to the inside is big, you don’t score a lot of perimeter goals in this league, so you got to make sure you get to the inside,” Stramel said. 

To start the second period, the Spartans capitalized on another power play. MSU forward Shane Vansaghi was credited with a tip-in goal coming off a piercing shot from Spartans’ forward Joey Larson to extend the lead to three. 

With less than a minute remaining, the Wolverines spoiled Spartans goaltender Trey Augustine’s shutout with a late goal.  

With Minnesota losing in overtime to Notre Dame on Saturday, the Spartans regained the top spot in the Big Ten standings after relinquishing it for less than 24 hours.  

MSU will host Minnesota in a pivotal two-game series starting on Friday at Munn Ice Arena.