No. 1 Michigan rallies for OT victory vs. No. 2 MSU in instant classic

ANN ARBOR – The first meeting between Michigan and Michigan State’s hockey teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 turned out to be an all-time classic.

The top-ranked Wolverines scored twice in the third period to tie the game at three and won on a power-play goal from Jayden Perron in overtime. Their comeback victory gives them a three-point lead in the Big Ten over MSU entering Saturday’s annual “Duel in the D” matchup at Little Caesars Arena.

Special teams ended up winning the game for Michigan (23-4, 14-4). Its first power play came during three-on-three overtime, and it capitalized. Sophomore Michael Hage set up Perron for the one-timer, and it snuck past MSU goalie Trey Augustine short-side.

Meanwhile, the Wolverines, who have won seven straight, tied the game shorthanded. Adam Valenti was called for boarding at the 12:11 mark of the third, and Wolverines head coach Brandon Naurato was vehemently disagreeing with the referee about the call. His team responded. Senior forward Kienan Draper scored on a two-on-one rush, sending the sold-out crowd into a frenzy.

The drama didn’t end there. Prior to Draper’s goal, MSU (21-6, 12-5) drilled the post at the other end, and the Spartans challenged for a potential goal, which would have negated Draper’s. But the puck never crossed the goal line.

Earlier in the period, Michigan defenseman Asher Barnett joined the rush and beat Augustine to pull the Wolverines to within one with 9:33 remaining.  

Friday was the 350^th meeting between the two rivals, and the Spartans appeared to be on their way to a seventh straight victory of their own.

They scored twice in the final five minutes of the second period to take a 3-1 lead. Sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi broke the tie with a power move to the net and a quick shot into the top corner. The team followed with extended offensive zone time and scored again 2:37 later. Defenseman Owen West walked in from the point and wired wrist shot past goalie Stephen Peck with traffic in front.

The Wolverines weathered a slow start and tied the game at one with 2:56 remaining in the first period. T.J. Hughes won an offensive zone draw back to defenseman Drew Shock, whose shot was redirected by Nick Moldenhauer for his ninth goal of the season.

The first 15 minutes was controlled by MSU outside of one shift. All four of the Wolverines’ shots to that point came during a 52-second span when they hemmed in the Spartans in their own zone.

Otherwise, MSU generated the majority of chances and capitalized at the 15:14 mark. Senior Charlie Stramel, a first-round pick of the Wild, redirected a Porter Martone feed in front for his fourth goal in the past two games.   

Michigan is 6-3 in the Duel in the D, but MSU has won the past two. It is the final regular season matchup between the two programs.