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Michigan advances to their third straight Frozen Four with win over rival Michigan State

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MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — The Michigan Wolverines advanced to their third straight Frozen Four on Sunday night with their 5-2 win over the Michigan State Spartans.

Heading into the game, the Spartans led the season series 4-1, with four straight wins over the Wolverines. The most recent, in the Big Ten Championship Game, where the Spartans took home the title for the first time with a 5-4 overtime victory. Sunday’s matchup was the programs’ 348th all-time meeting, but their first ever in the NCAA Tournament.

Sunday’s NCAA Regional Final game between the in-state rivals was as expected, fast-paced and physical.

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First on the board was Spartans’ Gavin O’connell at the 6:20 mark in the first period on a power play.

The next goal, at 5:41 in the second period by the Wolverines’ Ethan Edwards.

The programs headed into the final period tied at one goal a piece. Michigan’s Marshall Warren lit the lamp at 6:29, followed by MSU’s Joey Larson on a power play at 10:26.

The game’s back-and-forth nature would take a turn with just over seven minutes of play left to go. Back-to-back goals by the Wolverines Dylan Duke and Gavin Brindley in just 12 seconds shifted the game’s momentum in Michigan’s favor.

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State went on to pull goaltender Trey Augustine for extra manpower, but found no such luck on offense. With 2:19 left to play, the Spartans would find themselves down a man, and the Wolverines’ Dylan Duke found his second goal on the night and the fifth for his squad.

With the 5-2 win, the Wolverines lead the MSU-UofM all-time series 181-143-24.

They will play in the Frozen Four against top-seeded Boston College in Saint Paul on April 11 at 8:30 pm.

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