Photo: Dave Kallmann ~ USA TODAY NETWORK
EAST LANSING ~ Michigan State delivered a statement weekend in Madison, sweeping No. 2 Wisconsin with back‑to‑back wins that showcased both explosiveness and discipline on both ends of the ice. The weekend opened Thursday with a tight 4–3 victory in which the Spartans held off a late Badgers push, setting the tone for a defining road series. That momentum carried into Friday, when No. 4 Michigan State came out firing, scoring just 77 seconds into the finale and never looking back.
Friday’s 4–1 win featured a dominant first period from the Spartans, who scored three goals in just over seven minutes. Sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi sparked the surge with the early strike, followed by a shorthanded goal from senior forward Daniel Russell and another from Russell on the power play, his second of the period. Wisconsin struggled to generate sustained pressure despite outshooting MSU 31–23.
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(CONTINUED) Michigan State’s depth and special‑teams execution proved decisive. Freshman forward Ryker Lee orchestrated several key plays, assisting twice, while freshman forward Anthony Romani added a second‑period goal to extend the lead to 4–0. Junior goaltender Trey Augustine stood tall throughout the weekend, posting 30 saves on Friday and nearly securing his fourth NCAA‑leading shutout before Wisconsin finally broke through on a power‑play goal with 50 seconds left. Augustine’s poise helped MSU earn all six Big Ten points available.
The sweep marked a complete reversal from the teams’ November matchup, when Wisconsin took two games in East Lansing. With the weekend’s results, Michigan State improved to 17–5–0 overall and 8–4–0 in Big Ten play. The Spartans return home next weekend for a series against Minnesota, riding one of their most impressive road performances of the season.
