Michigan State basketball dominated headlines this weekend, but the actual positive headlines came from the Michigan State hockey team completing a series sweep of the No. 5 team in the country.
Adam Nightingale and the Spartans picked up a series sweep of No. 5 Penn State in Happy Valley, taking game one on Friday night at Pegula Ice Arena and then game two on Saturday at Beaver Stadium for a massive outdoor game. Both games went Michigan State’s way as the Spartans won 6-3 on Friday and then 5-4 in an overtime thriller on Saturday evening.
With the wins, Michigan State improves to 21-5 on the season, and they’re gearing up for a huge series showdown against the No. 1 team in the country to begin the month of February.
After this sweep of Penn State, Michigan State will be in Ann Arbor on Friday to face the Wolverines who just swept Ohio State on the road. Saturday’s game will be at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit for the annual Duel in the D matchup. That game will not only be for first place in the Big Ten, but it’ll be for the No. 1 ranking in the country. A split likely leaves both teams at Nos. 1 and 2.
Michigan State hockey is cooking right now
With this two-game sweep of Penn State, the Nittany Lions are now in a distant third place in the Big Ten standings, and Michigan State is a two-game sweep away from overtaking Michigan atop the conference standings by a game.
Michigan State has won back-to-back Duel in the D matchups after Michigan won the previous five, but the Spartans are going to have a ton of momentum heading into this year’s game.
So will Michigan.
Michigan State has won six straight games, including two sweeps of top five teams, and beating Michigan twice this weekend will ensure that the Spartans are the clear No. 1 team in the country.
Michigan has won seven straight games since losing to Michigan State on Dec. 6 in Ann Arbor.
This heavyweight battle is for the No. 1 ranking in college hockey. The Duel in the D is going to be rocking.