EAST LANSING – After winning a third straight Big Ten regular-season title, Michigan State was back on the ice to start the week practicing for the unknown. As the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament,

Ohio State beat Wisconsin 7-1 in the quarterfinals to advance and play MSU in a rematch of last season's tournament final.

No. 1 Michigan played No. 2 Michigan State in the annual Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026.

With 13 new faces on the roster, Michigan State hockey still won the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans established an identity over their 34 games of the regular season and finished 25-7-2 overall, 16-6-2 in the Big Ten.

Colin Ralph scored in the 13th round of a shootout to give the Spartans an important extra point Saturday, as they close in on another Big Ten title.

Michigan State scored four goals in the second period to blow out Minnesota and capture a third consecutive Big Ten regular-season title.

Spartan Hockey gets their postseason underway against the Buckeyes

Dylan Pavelek was a member of the U.S. Under-17 Select Team and played the Five Nations Tournament in 2012 in the Czech Republic.