No. 5 Michigan hockey gearing up for huge series with Michigan State

This weekend, the 5th-ranked Michigan hockey team (18-9-1, 9-8-0 Big Ten) is set to face the 15th-ranked Michigan State Spartans (15-13-2, 9-9-2 Big Ten) on the road. Game one will be at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, and game two will be the annual ‘Dual in the D’ game at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, MI.

Wolverines, Spartans set to do battle once again

As most already know, Michigan and Michigan State do not like one another in any sport. When it comes to hockey, one of the most violent team sports in the world, tensions run high whenever the Wolverines and Spartans meet.

Over the past few seasons, Michigan hockey has had the Spartans’ number. Last season (2021-22), the Wolverines defeated Michigan State six times in one season — Michigan beat MSU in all four regular-season contests and twice in round one of the Big Ten tournament.

In game one of the 2022-23 series, Michigan State finally got some revenge with a 2-1 victory in East Lansing. It was Michigan State’s first win over Michigan in two seasons and just its second this decade. The success was short-lived, though, as the Wolverines beat MSU the following night in Ann Arbor, 2-1, to split the home-and-home series.

Michigan hockey could be peaking at the right time

It is no secret that Michigan hockey did not have the best start to the season — the 2022-23 season has had its ups and downs thus far for the young Wolverines. Still, since a crushing 7-2 loss at home to Ohio State a few weeks ago, Michigan hockey has seemingly gotten back on track.

On night one of the 100th-anniversary celebrations of Michigan hockey, the Ohio State Buckeyes came into Yost Ice Arena and bullied the Wolverines. The 5-goal loss was a rugged sight, though it seemed to focus Michigan hockey and turn the season around. Since that loss, the Wolverines are 6-1 — Michigan took game two of the Ohio State series, split on the road with No. 1 Minnesota (lost in overtime), swept No. 6 Penn State, and swept Wisconsin.

After the past two weeks of Michigan hockey, it appears that — when healthy — the Wolverines are one of the best teams in the nation. Michigan split its road series with the nation’s top-ranked team, Minnesota, before sweeping a top-6 Penn State team and demolishing Wisconsin in both games last weekend. If there’s a time to peak during a college hockey season, it would be February, March, and April — Michigan hockey could be doing exactly that.

Michigan State series is crucial for the Wolverines

Michigan’s upcoming series is crucial for the Wolverines as they look to close out the year on a high note. Michigan State is coming off a weekend sweep of Notre Dame and finds itself in the NCAA tournament picture at No. 15 in the rankings. On the other hand, Michigan is looking to steamroll the Spartans as they did six times a year ago and push for a top seed in the NCAA tournament.

Michigan’s schedule gets no easier after the MSU series — the Wolverines still have a road series against a top 10 Ohio State team and a home series against Notre Dame, who split with Michigan hockey earlier this year. The Michigan State series this weekend should be hard-hitting with these two, especially considering how much both games will mean for either program.

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