The Big Ten hasn’t seen a team three-peat as regular-season hockey champions since Minnesota won the first four titles from 2013-17. The Gophers came close again three years ago, but Michigan State hockey stopped them to pick up their first Big Ten title.
Michigan State is on the verge of a three-peat, as long as it can take care of business in the final two weeks of the regular season.
The Spartans are now in the driver’s seat after Saturday night’s results.
Adam Nightingale and Co. had no problem pouring it on Notre Dame with an 8-2 win, completing the two-game weekend sweep and the Spartans took a slight lead in the Big Ten standings after the win. They just had to await the results of the Michigan vs. Wisconsin game — a Michigan win would put the Wolverines back in first, but a Wisconsin win would give the Spartans sole possession of first.
Wisconsin beat Michigan 4-1, giving Michigan State a two-point lead in the Big Ten standings with 45 points compared to 43 for the Wolverines.
The Spartans are now in prime position for the conference’s first three-peat in a decade.
Michigan State’s path to a third straight Big Ten title is ideal
Michigan State has two weekend series left in the regular season against Ohio State and Minnesota. The Buckeyes are coming to East Lansing next weekend and then the Spartans travel to Minneapolis to end the season against the Gophers.
That sounds like a tough stretch to the most casual of college hockey fans because Minnesota usually has a good team, but the Gophers are just 10-19-2 this season and 6-13-1 in Big Ten play. They’re second-to-last in the Big Ten standings, ahead of just Notre Dame — and Michigan State beat the Irish 14-4 this weekend.
Ohio State would have been a much tougher opponent last season as the Big Ten’s third-place team, but the Buckeyes just aren’t as good this season. They’re just 11-17-1 overall.
It’d be rather shocking if Michigan State didn’t sweep both teams to finish the regular season as Big Ten champs for a third straight year.
Michigan still has one more road game against No. 13 Wisconsin before facing Minnesota at home.
The Spartans will likely need to be perfect over the final four games.