Michigan State Outduels Wisconsin in Top-Four Showdown, 4-3, Behind Second-Period Surge
MADISON, Wis. - In a battle between two of the nation’s best, No. 3/4 Michigan State delivered a statement on the road Thursday night, riding a three-goal second period to a gritty 4-3 win over No. 2/2 Wisconsin at the Kohl Center.
It was the kind of game that Big Ten hockey fans live for-fast-paced, physical, and full of momentum swings. And when the dust settled, it was Michigan State that came out on top, improving to 16-5-0 overall and 7-4-0 in Big Ten play. The Spartans now sit just one point behind the Badgers in the conference standings, with the series finale looming Friday night.
“It was a heck of a game playing a really good team on the road,” said head coach Adam Nightingale. **“I like our start… we had some spurts in the second.
Obviously, they were going to push and it came down to the wire. We learned a lot from this one.”
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And there was plenty to learn-and like-if you’re Michigan State.
The Spartans were sharp on special teams, going 2-for-2 on the penalty kill against Wisconsin’s lethal power play, which entered the night ranked fourth nationally. They also controlled the faceoff circle, winning 33 of 58 draws, a key edge in a tightly contested matchup.
In goal, junior Trey Augustine stood tall once again, stopping 24 shots to earn his 14th win of the season (14-5-0). He was especially composed in the frantic final minutes as Wisconsin pressed for the equalizer.
Stramel Leads the Charge
Senior forward Charlie Stramel had a night to remember against his former team, racking up a goal and an assist to push his season total to a career-best 28 points. He was all over the ice-creating offense, winning battles, and making his presence felt in the clutch.
Stramel’s goal late in the second period was vintage power-forward stuff. He cut through the Wisconsin defense with purpose and slid the puck five-hole to give MSU a 4-1 lead that would prove critical.
How It Unfolded
Michigan State nearly lit the lamp early in the first period when Daniel Russell and Stramel rang back-to-back shots off the posts. But the Spartans didn’t let the missed opportunity rattle them. They kept the pressure on and were rewarded late in the frame.
With just over a minute left in the first, freshman Ryker Lee broke the deadlock thanks to a fortunate bounce. Sophomore Colin Ralph fired a shot from the point that deflected off traffic in front, bouncing off Lee and past the Wisconsin netminder to give MSU a 1-0 lead.
Wisconsin responded early in the second, capitalizing just after an MSU penalty expired to even things at 1-1. But that tie didn’t last long.
Freshman Cayden Lindstrom delivered a slick feed to junior Gavin O’Connell, who was parked in front of the net. O’Connell buried the rebound for his second goal of the season, putting the Spartans back in front.
Then came the highlight-reel moments.
Midway through the second, Russell and Stramel broke out on a 2-on-1. Russell kept the puck and went bar-down with a laser to make it 3-1. Just a few minutes later, Stramel added his own exclamation point, slicing through defenders and finishing between the goaltender’s legs to stretch the lead to 4-1.
Wisconsin wasn’t going quietly, though. The Badgers pulled one back late in the second and added another early in the third, trimming the deficit to one with over 15 minutes to play.
From there, it was a defensive grind. Michigan State tightened up in their own zone, and while Wisconsin generated some quality looks-including a few with the extra attacker-they couldn’t find the equalizer.
Junior Tommi Mannisto nearly iced it with an empty-netter in the final minute, beating a defender to the puck but ringing his shot off the far post.
Looking Ahead
This win not only gives Michigan State a critical boost in the Big Ten standings, but it also sets the tone heading into Friday night’s rematch. With both teams eyeing a top seed in the conference and national tournament implications on the line, expect another heavyweight clash at the Kohl Center.
If the Spartans can replicate Thursday’s second-period magic-and tighten up just a bit defensively-they’ll be in good shape. But as Nightingale said, Wisconsin will push. And with bragging rights and standings points at stake, buckle up for round two.