Spartans Win "Duel in the D"

"D" stands for Detroit, as in the new Iron D trophy.

It also stands for DeBlouw, as in Michigan State forward Matt DeBlouw, whose slapshot from the top of the right circle 3:29 into overtime Friday night lifted the Spartans (7-18-2 overall, 3-8-0-0 Big Ten) to a  3-2 victory over fifth-ranked archrival Michigan at Joe Louis Arena.

MSU has now won two of its last three games, all in Big Ten play, while Michigan, which had been averaging five goals per game, saw its four-game winning streak snapped.

Joe Cox broke a scoreless tie 10:41 into the second period when he connected on penalty shot for the Spartans. The Wolverines (16-4-4, 7-2-2-1) rebounded just over six minutes later when Tyler Motte sped away to score on MSU goaltender Jake Hildebrand (40 saves) on the stick side.

Motte later put U-M up, 2-1, on a shot from the slot just over nine minutes into the third stanza. Cox responded just under four minutes later, snapping home a shot from the left side. DeBlouw then won it in the extra session when he blasted the puck off the far post and past Michigan netminder Steve Racine (38 saves).

The Spartans claim the inaugural 50-pound Iron D trophy that will be awarded to the winner of the annual “Duel in the D” contest between MSU and U-M. Tonight's game marked the 308th meeting in series history, with No. 309 scheduled for Saturday night at MSU's Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing.