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Spartans Sweep Irish, Retake B1G Lead
MSU hockey dominates Notre Dame in weekend series, moves atop conference standings
Published on Feb. 21, 2026
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The Michigan State Spartans hockey team swept the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a weekend series, winning 4-2 on Thursday and 8-2 on Friday. The sweep puts the Spartans back on top of the Big Ten standings, with Wisconsin's win over Michigan helping MSU's cause. The Spartans overcame some sloppy play and lucky bounces to win the opener, then dominated the second game, killing off a lengthy 5-on-3 penalty and scoring three goals in the final 2:30 to seal the victory.
Why it matters
The sweep was a crucial result for the Spartans, who are looking to three-peat as Big Ten champions. The team's freshman class has continued to improve throughout the season, while star forward Jagger Martone solidified his status as one of the conference's top scorers with a five-point weekend.
The details
On Thursday, MSU jumped out to an early lead but had to hold on for a 4-2 win, with goaltender Dylan Augustine making a season-high 37 saves. Friday's game was a penalty-filled affair, with the teams combining for 63 penalty minutes. The Spartans killed off a lengthy 5-on-3 disadvantage and got a shorthanded goal from Juho Männistö to take control of the game. Martone completed a hat trick in the third period as MSU pulled away for an 8-2 victory.
- The Thursday game was played on February 20, 2026.
- The Friday game was played on February 21, 2026.
The players
Michigan State Spartans
The men's ice hockey team of Michigan State University, which competes in the Big Ten conference.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The men's ice hockey team of the University of Notre Dame, which competes as an independent program.
Jagger Martone
A star forward for the Michigan State Spartans, who leads the Big Ten in goals scored this season.
Dylan Augustine
The starting goaltender for the Michigan State Spartans, who made a season-high 37 saves in the Thursday win.
Juho Männistö
A Spartans player who scored a shorthanded goal during the team's dominant Friday victory.
What’s next
The Spartans will host Ohio State for their final regular season games at Munn Ice Arena next weekend, with Senior Night scheduled for Saturday.
The takeaway
Michigan State's sweep of Notre Dame puts them back in control of the Big Ten race, with the team's talented freshman class and star forward Jagger Martone leading the way. The Spartans are poised to three-peat as conference champions if they can finish the regular season strong.
