MSU hockey clinches program's first Big Ten title with 5-2 win at Wisconsin

Michigan State hockey team cleared its bench, gliding onto the Kohls Center ice and crowded around freshman goalie Trey Augustine late Friday night. 

After years of being Big Ten bottom dwellers, the Spartans had done it. Michigan State clinched its first Big Ten regular-season title with a 5-2 win at Wisconsin.

A 44-save night by Augustine as well as a diligent offensive attack is what got the job done Friday, but make no mistake about it: The outcome was a long-time coming for a program that had been floundering for years before this season's resurgence.

A new coach and state-of-the-art facility year helped propel the Spartans out of the mud over the last two seasons. A year after finishing second-to-last in the conference, Michigan State secured its spot at the top of the Big Ten standings, taking down Wisconsin on its home ice in front of a crowd of more than 10,000 fans in the process. 

The game was knotted 2-2 heading into the third period, where the Spartans scored three unanswered goals, including two empty netters in the final two minutes. 

After Reed Lebster drilled the go-ahead goal, all the Spartans had to do was hold on for the final 7:10. 

The Badgers put pressure on the Spartans’ blue line and Augustine. There were several close calls, with Wisconsin going constantly attacking the net. But each time, Michigan State prevented the home team from scoring. 

Jeremy Davison skated away with the puck and knocked in a dagger on the empty net. With 30 seconds remaining, Tierna Shoudy twisted the knife with a goal of his own. 

More:Michigan State hockey — on cusp of program history — is right where it wants to be

Augustine stopped 44 of the Badgers’ 46 shots. Meanwhile, the Spartans got only 26 shots on goal, but had just enough get past Kyle McClellan for Michigan State to secure its first Big Ten title. 

Wisconsin got on the board early, thanks to Daniel Laatsch. But Artyom Levshunov scored the equalizer at 14:32 mark of the first period. 

Michigan State entered this weekend with a two-point lead over Wisconsin in the Big Ten standings. With Friday’s win, Michigan State secured the No. 1 seed in the Big Ten tournament and will have a first-round bye, but are hoping to play well into April.

This is what Adam Nightingale envisioned for Michigan State when he took over almost two short years ago. Nightingale wanted to get the Spartans out of the Big Ten cellar and make them once again a reputable program. 

In November, the Spartans swept then-ranked No. 1 Wisconsin, making the first time they’ve swept the nation’s best team since before anyone on the roster was born. 

Michigan State improved to 22-8-3 overall this season and 16-5-2 in the Big Ten. This is the most conference victories the Spartans have earned in a single season. 

Michigan State will conclude its regular season Saturday at Wisconsin before preparing for the Big Ten tournament and beyond. 

mkenney@detroitnews.com

@madkenney