College Hockey Game of the Week: No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 10 Michigan

This weekend brings one of the most intense rivalries in college hockey. It also happens to be a top-10 matchup. No. 1 Michigan State and No. 10 Michigan will face off with Michigan hosting on Friday, and Michigan State will host on Saturday.

These two teams met twice in the postseason last year. Michigan State defeated Michigan for the Big Ten Championship. The Wolverines got their revenge winning a trip to the Frozen Four.

Michigan State is atop both the USCHO and PairWise rankings with a record of 18-2-2. Ever since the hire of Adam Nightingale, the Spartans have become the top team in the Big Ten. They won the conference with a young, fast and talented team last year in just Nightingale’s second year.

This year they’ve come back even better, not just leading the Big Ten, but also with two out-of-conference wins against top-five opponents, Boston College and Western Michigan.

They’re led by Isaac Howard, a prospect for the Tampa Bay Lightning who has 18 goals and 33 total points in just 22 games. Both are atop the Big Ten.

Michigan State is a team made on balance on both sides of the blue line. With Howard being one of the best players in the country this year, they can lean on him and his teammates to create offense in a matter of seconds.

Their blue line has helped their goaltenders’ jobs be as simple as possible, and when you have Trey Augustine between the pipes, he is one of the best security blankets you can have in the paint.

Michigan on the other hand is in a rough patch. After a strong start to the season, the Wolverines are 3-5 since the start of December.

They still field a roster filled with talent and NHL prospects, including Michael Hage. The freshman sensation leads the team with 24 points in 19 games, which is also good for seventh in the Big Ten.

That talent will have to deliver for Michigan because they are a team that needs to regain momentum for their season. This is a program that is often littered with young talent that can take some time to develop, but when it does, it makes one of the top teams in the country, including three straight trips to the Frozen Four. Right now, it’s heading in the opposite direction.

On the other side, the Spartans are looking to continue their dominance as the clear top team in the country. This time, it would be even sweeter to see their top rival fall.

Jacob Rudy is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jar7371@psu.edu.