MSU Hockey Jumps In Rankings After 2-Game Sweep Of Wolverines
With four games remaining in the regular season, Michigan State men's ice hockey is on the doorstep of the nation's Top 5 as its pursuit of a Big Ten championship continues.
Following a two-game sweep of in-state rival Michigan last weekend, the Spartans are now ranked No. 6 in the country in the United States College Hockey Online (USCHO) poll.
Michigan State moved up three spots from No. 9 following wins of 5-1 and 3-2 over the Wolverines on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The Spartans (14-4-2 Big Ten) also remain atop the Big Ten with a five-point lead over No. 4 Wisconsin (13-4-1) in the league standings, in what has become a two-horse race for the regular season conference title.
Idle this coming weekend, Michigan State will return to the ice with a two-game series against Big Ten cellar-dweller Ohio State (1-15-2) on Feb. 23-24. The Spartans then travel to Madison for an all-important final two games against the Badgers, which could determine the Big Ten champion. Prior to that season-finale series, Wisconsin will attempt to make up ground on the Spartans with a pair of series against Ohio State and Penn State (4-11-3). Michigan State has not won the Big Ten regular season championship since 2001.
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