Gophers six-game winning streak ends with 4-2 loss to Michigan State
Three unanswered third period goals by Michigan State proved to be the deciding factor as the No. 19 Spartans snapped Minnesota’s six-game winning streak with a 4-2 win on Saturday evening at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
Minnesota (13-11-4 overall, 8-6-4-3 Big Ten) jumped out to the lead twice in the series finale as Scott Reedy scored his team-high 14th goal of the season in the first period and Blake McLaughlin reclaimed the lead with his sixth of the year at the end of the second period.
Michigan State (14-13-1, 10-7-1-0) found goals from four different skaters as Patrick Khoderenko briefly tied the game in the second before the Spartans scored three-straight in the third to close out the series split – Dennis Cesana, Butrus Ghafari and Brody Stevens tallied in the third period.
Jared Moe fell to 7-5-1 with the loss after making 31 saves on 35 shots, John Lethemon moved to 7-2-0 with a 36-save performance for Michigan State. The Spartans were outshot 38-35 on the night but held a 15-6 edge in the third period.