No. 2 MSU hockey can't hold 3-1 lead in 3rd, falls to No. 1 Michigan 4-3 in OT

ANN ARBOR — It was another rendition of college hockey's most played rivalry — the first time with the Michigan and Michigan State hockey programs ranked as the top two teams in the country.

Fittingly, in a battle between the Big Ten's two biggest heavyweights, it would require more than 60 minutes.

And after erasing a two-goal deficit in the third period to force the extra session, U-M forward Jayden Perron delivered a one-time shot on a power play that beat MSU goaltender Trey Augustine to give the Wolverines a 4-3 win and the extra point in the Big Ten standings.

The Wolverines were on a 4-on-3 advantage after MSU forward Eric Nilson tripped U-M's Will Horcoff in the U-M defensive zone.

MSU senior forward Charlie Stramel opened the scoring in the first period, finding space through the slot and redirecting a pass from forward Porter Martone through U-M goaltender Stephen Peck.

The Wolverines would respond minutes later with a redirect goal from forward Nick Moldenhauer as the sides skated to a 1-1 draw through 20 minutes.

The game stayed level through most of the second period until sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi took matters into his own hands. Vansaghi took the puck and skated into the U-M zone, all while shielding off U-M forward Jayden Perron, and put an impressive shot past Peck to restore MSU's lead.

Shane Vansaghi breaks the tie to give us a 2-1 lead in the second! pic.twitter.com/c5cE11I0Tq

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 7, 2026

Sophomore defenseman Owen West connected on a give-and-go play with Stramel just a couple of minutes later for his third goal of the season, beating Peck on a shot through traffic.

U-M would draw within one in the third period after forward Aidan Park found defenseman Asher Barnett streaking to the net, and the freshman blue liner beat Augustine with just over nine minutes remaining.

MSU would go on the first power play for either side later in the third, but after a Martone shot beat Peck but hit the post, the Wolverines were sprung on a shorthanded rush the other way. That's when forward Kienan Draper delivered a shot past Augustine to make it a 3-3 game.

Both Augustine and Peck made 31 saves on the evening, while Stramel added an assist and senior forward Daniel Russell had two assists to give him a team-high 22 helpers on the season.

What's next

MSU and U-M will face off again Saturday in the annual "Duel in the D" game, played at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and can be watched on the Big Ten Network.

Contact Nathaniel Bott at [email protected] and follow him on X @Nathaniel_Bott

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU hockey can't hold 3-1 lead in 3rd, falls to Michigan 4-3 in OT