No. 2 Hockey Retains Iron D Trophy, Defeats No. 1 Michigan in Detroit

Saturday, February 7

Detroit, Mich.

6:30 PM

Michigan State University

22-6-0, 13-5-0

Michigan

23-5-0, 14-4-0

Michigan

Michigan St.

Duel In The D, 2025-26, action, trophy, celebration, hockey

Photo by: Michael Caples

No. 2 Hockey Retains Iron D Trophy, Defeats No. 1 Michigan in Detroit

2/7/2026 11:19:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey

Box Score

DETROIT – Playing in front of 19,515 fans on Saturday night, No. 2/2-ranked Michigan State defeated top-ranked Michigan, 5-2, to retain the Iron D trophy and win the 2026 Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena. Michigan State's three consecutive victories over the Wolverines in Detroit mark the first time MSU has done so since 1997-99.

"I loved our execution at the start," said Michigan State head coach Adam Nightingale. "We're excited. I just think for our guys to be able to play in this type of environment… we just got to play that outdoor game - it was an awesome event, we got to play in the GLI and in a packed house at Van Andel Arena, and then to play here; I think this is the best building in the NHL. I think just in general for our guys and our alums right, they're proud and we had a lot of people that came out in support of us. It's a big win for our team, a big moment for sure, but there's still a lot of hockey left here, and we've got to keep focused on getting better."

Saturday night's sellout crowd of 19,515 ranks as the highest attended arena game in college hockey this season.

Michigan State out-shot Michigan 37-27 overall and held the Wolverines shotless on all three of their power play attempts. MSU's power play unit was 1-for-4, and the Spartans held a 38-34 edge from the face-off dot behind senior forward Charlie Stramel's 14 face-off wins.

MSU got goals from junior forward Gavin O'Connell, freshman forward Porter Martone, senior forward Tiernan Shoudy, senior forward Tommi Mannisto and Stramel. Junior defenseman Maxim Strbak led the way with two assists, while nine different Spartans tallied one. Strbak, Shoudy and Mannisto finished as multi-point performers on Saturday with the latter two each adding an assist.

In goal, junior goaltender Trey Augustine posted 25 saves on a .926 save percentage to earn his 62nd career victory, tying Bob Essensa for eighth in program history. Augustine is now 16-6-2 against opponents ranked in the Top 5 and MSU improves to 7-3-1 against consensus No. 1-ranked opponents under Nightingale.

How It Happened
Michigan State opened the scoring 9:48 into the first period after a cross-ice pass from freshman forward Anthony Romani found the stick O'Connell who ripped a low glove shot past the Michigan goaltender. MSU extended its lead to 2-0 late in the first, capitalizing on a power play. Martone waited on the wing for Stramel to screen the goalie and picked his spot in the upper right corner.

Porter Martone waits for the Stramel screen and picks his spot to make it 2-0! pic.twitter.com/etjfIJm8nH
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 8, 2026

The Spartans quickly expanded their lead to 4-0 in the first five minutes of the second period. Strbak threaded the needle to find Stramel waiting at the back door to score on a wide-open net. Precision passing from MSU's fourth line saw junior forward Griffin Jurecki and Mannisto connect with Shoudy on the back door for a fourth goal at 5:38. Senior defenseman Matt Basgall didn't get credit for an assist, but his stretch pass down the ice to Jurecki made everything happen. Michigan got on the scoreboard late in the period, bringing the score to 4-1 with just over a minute remaining. MSU had a number of chances late, ripping 10 total shots (five saved) over a three-minute span of possession from 4:57 remaining until 1:53 but came away empty-handed.

Fourth line is buzzing!

Griffin Jurecki and Tommi Mannisto connect with Tiernan Shoudy to make it 4-0! pic.twitter.com/BD8Rwz3Qdn
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 8, 2026

A second Wolverine goal five minutes into the third period cut MSU's lead to 4-2 with 14:59 to play in regulation. Michigan State held Michigan scoreless for the remainder of the contest, earning a key penalty kill late in the period to hold one of the better power play units in the country scoreless. Mannisto provided an empty-net insurance goal following MSU's successful kill, using his speed to streak down the ice and out-effort the Wolverine defender for the puck with just 2:50 left on the clock.