No. 2/2 Hockey Sweeps Minnesota

Saturday, January 24

East Lansing, Mich.

6 PM

Michigan State University

19-5-0, 10-4-0

Minnesota

8-16-1, 4-10-0

Minnesota

Michigan St.

Photo by: Michael Caples

1/24/2026 10:51:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 2/2-ranked Michigan State earned a series sweep over Minnesota on Saturday night, defeating the Golden Gophers, 3-2, from Ron Mason Rink at Munn Ice Arena.

"I thought the guys played really hard up and down the lineup," said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. "I couldn't be more proud of the guys for showing up and getting back on the horse. I thought Minnesota played really well tonight, too. I think Trey (Augustine) had to make some saves to keep us in that thing. I think for our guys, the way the week had went, late, you give up a goal, it would have been pretty easy to let a lot of emotion fall apart. I thought we dug in and got the job done."

MSU improves to 19-5-0 overall and 10-4 in Big Ten action with 30 points towards the conference standings to sit one point back of first place. Minnesota falls to 8-16-1 and 4-10 in conference play. The Spartans return to the road next weekend heading to State College, Pa. for a pair of games against No. 8-ranked Penn State. Saturday afternoon's game will be played outdoors at Beaver Stadium on Big Ten Network.

Michigan State out-shot Minnesota 42-31 overall which includes a 15-6 margin in the third period. Both sides tallied a power play goal on Saturday night with MSU going 2-for-3 on the kill against the seventh-ranked power play unit in the country coming into the weekend. The Spartans held a 31-25 advantage on the face-off dot.

It was Michigan State's upperclassmen who paved the way on Saturday getting goals from senior Daniel Russell, senior Matt Basgall and junior Tommi Mannsito. The Spartans got assists from senior Charlie Stramel, senior Tiernan Shoudy, junior Maxim Strbak, freshman Porter Martone and Mannisto.

Junior Trey Augustine made 29 saves on 31 shots faced, good for a .935 save percentage.

Early stop for Trey Augustine on the Minnesota power play! pic.twitter.com/PeXek8xV5y
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 25, 2026

How It Happened
Minnesota took a 1-0 lead at the 6:56 mark, capitalizing on a turnover in the MSU defensive zone. The Spartans responded later in the period however, taking advantage of a pair of Gopher penalties to score on the 5-on-3 power play. Russell controlled the puck behind the net and found Stramel for a shot on goal that rebounded back to Russell who tied the game at 1-1 at 12:16 in the period.

Danny Russell takes advantage of the 5-on-3 to tie the game in the first!

Michigan State still with over a minute of power play time on the second Gopher penalty pic.twitter.com/4QGF2gd7oQ
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 24, 2026

Michigan State captain Basgall gave the Spartans a 2-1 lead early in the second period, ripping a shot from the point that snuck past Minnesota goaltender Di Pasquo 2:44 into the stanza.

Matt Basgall rips it from the point to give MSU a 2-1 lead early in the second period! pic.twitter.com/pkHdQpvq6G
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 24, 2026

Mannisto provided what became the game-winning goal early in the third period. Strbak pushed the puck forward along the wall for Mannisto who fired a low shot from the right circle to best Di Pasquo. Minnesota looked to gain some momentum with a late power play goal, bringing themselves within one of MSU at 12:36 in the third. The Gophers went empty net with less than two minutes to play in regulation, with Michigan State tallying a pair of near misses on the empty net in the closing moments.

Tommi Mannisto gets his 9th of the season to make it 3-1 Spartans in the third! pic.twitter.com/m7Gwtmy4WD
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 25, 2026