[dropcap]I[/dropcap]n state rivals collided Friday night at Joe Louis Arena as fifth-ranked Michigan fell to the Michigan State Spartans in their annual neutral site game, 3-2.
Michigan (16-4-4) entered Friday’s game off a series sweep against Penn State after beating Penn State 6-3 on last Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Both teams played each other tough throughout the first period as Michigan and MSU (7-18-2) both had opportunities to take the lead, but both goaltenders played stellar defense. The Spartans had 3 power plays in the first but were unable to capitalize on 4 shots.
Michigan had one power play and was only able to generate two shots on net.
To begin the second period, momentum played a key role with both teams. Michigan State would start the second on the power play because Michigan defensemen Niko Porikos got a slashing call at 19:12.
MSU was unable to capitalize on that power play.
Michigan thought they had the momentum when they got on the power play due to Carson Gatt’s tripping call at 10:18. Unfortunately for the Wolverine’s, MSU would get the first goal of the game on a penalty shot for Joe Cox, who scored a beautiful goal to beat Michigan goaltender Steve Racine.
The Wolverines would fight back when NCAA goal leader Tyler Motte would add his first goal of the game from a breakaway as he got out of the box and beat Jake Hildebrand to tie the game at 16:53.
The period ended with both team tied at 1.
Neither Michigan nor Michigan State would give the other team any long lasting momentum. Michigan outshot MSU 18-14 in the second period.
Games are always more exciting when they come down to the wire and this game would live up to that hype. Early in the third period, it looked like MSU scored to give the Spartans the lead but Nicholas Boka knocked the puck out before it could cross the goal line. After a lengthy review, the call stood.
Through a gritty and exciting third period, Michigan would take the lead once again on the shoulders of Motte, who knocked home a beautiful goal from captain and line mate JT Compher – feeding his teammate a nice backhanded pass as he rounded the net.
Michigan State would comeback once again to tie the game, this time when Joe Cox notched his second goal of the game with just 6:10 remaining in regulation.
With less than two minutes remaining in the period, Michigan defensemen Cutler Martin would go off for holding to allow Michigan State to head into overtime with the power play.
The sellout crowd at the Joe Louis Arena was not be disappointed as they would get to see extra hockey when both teams entered sudden death overtime.
The Spartans would take the momentum during overtime as they kept the puck in the Wolverines zone for most of the five-minute extra time.
At 2:28, Joseph Cecconi would slash a Spartan as they were on a breakaway another MSU power play opportunity. Michigan State’s Matt DeBlouw would add the game winning goal on the power play at 3:29 of the period.
Michigan State claimed the Iron D trophy in its inaugural season beating the Michigan Wolverines 3-2 in OT.
Michigan and Michigan State will faceoff in the season’s series-finale at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing. Puck drop is scheduled for 5:05 PM.
This is the longest played rivalry in college hockey with 308 meetings after Friday, in which Michigan leads 158-130-19 over the Spartans.
