Michigan State University Athletics
Thursday, February 19
East Lansing, Mich.
7:30 PM
Michigan State University
23-6-0, 14-5-0
4
vs
2
Notre Dame
6-21-4, 2-16-1
1
2
3
F
Notre Dame
1
1
0
2
Michigan St.
1
2
1
4
Photo by: Evan Peacock
No. 1 Hockey Takes Down Fighting Irish
2/19/2026 11:39:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – No. 1-ranked Michigan State hockey returned to Ron Mason Rink at Munn Ice Arena for 80's night on Thursday, defeating Notre Dame, 4-2. Junior Trey Augustine made a season-high 37 saves in goal for the Spartans.
"I really liked our start, and I give Notre Dame the credit, I thought they were the better team, and I said that when we played them earlier in the year," said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. "I think they are a Top 20, Top 15 team all day long. You look at their roster and their improvement. I thought our power play did a good job executing when we needed to, and I thought that the last half of the third we did a good job at making them defend and didn't give them much in the back half of that period."
Michigan State improves to 23-6-0 overall and 14-5-0 in Big Ten action ahead of Friday night's season series finale against the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame falls to 6-21-4 with a 2-16-1 record in conference play.
MSU was outshot by its opponent for just the eighth time this season as Notre Dame held a 39-31 advantage in shots on goal. The Spartans held a 41-37 edge at the face-off dot. On special teams, Michigan State was 4-for-5 on the penalty kill and 2-for-5 on the power play, including going 2-for-3 in the second period.
Senior forward Charlie Stramel and freshman forward Porter Martone led the way offensively with two points each after both players contributed a goal and an assist in the win. Michigan State also got goals from junior defenseman Maxim Strbak and junior forward Gavin O'Connell. Senior Daniel Russell, freshman Cayden Lindstrom and freshman Anthony Romani picked up assists.
How It Happened
Michigan State struck first when Strbak collected a puck that leaked into the slot and rifled it past the Notre Dame goaltender just three minutes into Thursday's action. The Fighting Irish were quick to the tie the game at 1-1 not even two minutes later, however. MSU had 4-on-3 and 5-on-3 power play chances mid-way through the period after a pair of Notre Dame penalties in quick succession but came away empty.
Stramel wasted no time breaking the tie on an early second period power play as quick passing from Russell and Martone spotted Stramel open in front of the net. Notre Dame used a power play goal of its own to tie the game shortly thereafter following a delayed video review. The Spartans had a potential goal taken off the board mid-way through the period when a seemingly early whistle from the officiating crew negated an earlier goal from O'Connell. O'Connell got his revenge later in the period scoring from the right wing to beat the power play clock after a rocket of a pass from Lindstrom.
Michigan State kept Notre Dame at bay through the third period allowing minimal grade A chances. Martone provided some insurance for MSU late fighting for an empty net goal with less than two minutes left in regulation.
"I really liked our start, and I give Notre Dame the credit, I thought they were the better team, and I said that when we played them earlier in the year," said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. "I think they are a Top 20, Top 15 team all day long. You look at their roster and their improvement. I thought our power play did a good job executing when we needed to, and I thought that the last half of the third we did a good job at making them defend and didn't give them much in the back half of that period."
Michigan State improves to 23-6-0 overall and 14-5-0 in Big Ten action ahead of Friday night's season series finale against the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame falls to 6-21-4 with a 2-16-1 record in conference play.
MSU was outshot by its opponent for just the eighth time this season as Notre Dame held a 39-31 advantage in shots on goal. The Spartans held a 41-37 edge at the face-off dot. On special teams, Michigan State was 4-for-5 on the penalty kill and 2-for-5 on the power play, including going 2-for-3 in the second period.
Senior forward Charlie Stramel and freshman forward Porter Martone led the way offensively with two points each after both players contributed a goal and an assist in the win. Michigan State also got goals from junior defenseman Maxim Strbak and junior forward Gavin O'Connell. Senior Daniel Russell, freshman Cayden Lindstrom and freshman Anthony Romani picked up assists.
How It Happened
Michigan State struck first when Strbak collected a puck that leaked into the slot and rifled it past the Notre Dame goaltender just three minutes into Thursday's action. The Fighting Irish were quick to the tie the game at 1-1 not even two minutes later, however. MSU had 4-on-3 and 5-on-3 power play chances mid-way through the period after a pair of Notre Dame penalties in quick succession but came away empty.
Max Strbak from the slot makes it 1-0 Spartans! pic.twitter.com/9VhU8RWdwJ
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 20, 2026
Stramel wasted no time breaking the tie on an early second period power play as quick passing from Russell and Martone spotted Stramel open in front of the net. Notre Dame used a power play goal of its own to tie the game shortly thereafter following a delayed video review. The Spartans had a potential goal taken off the board mid-way through the period when a seemingly early whistle from the officiating crew negated an earlier goal from O'Connell. O'Connell got his revenge later in the period scoring from the right wing to beat the power play clock after a rocket of a pass from Lindstrom.
Gavin O'Connell strikes on the power play to put @MSU_Hockey 🆙 3-2 against Notre Dame heading into the 3rd period 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nqVA19H5AA
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) February 20, 2026
Michigan State kept Notre Dame at bay through the third period allowing minimal grade A chances. Martone provided some insurance for MSU late fighting for an empty net goal with less than two minutes left in regulation.
Porter Martone with the steal to score on the empty net 💪 @MSU_Hockey picks up a 4-2 win to start the weekend against Notre Dame 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sdgmUqrIY1
— Big Ten Hockey (@B1GHockey) February 20, 2026
Team Stats
UND
MSU
Shots
39
31
PPG
1
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
5
5
Penalty Mins
10
10
Faceoffs Won
37
41
Game Leaders
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
1
+/-
2
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
1
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Ice Hockey
F
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