Minnesota Edges Michigan State at MSG

Brent Gates set up Minnesota's first goal Saturday night, then tallied thee game-winner himself with less than four minutes remaining in regulation as the University of Minnesota topped Michigan State University, 2-1, in a Big Ten contest at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The game was part of the third annual "Big Ten Super Saturday" at MSG.

No. 13 Minnesota (15-12-1 overall, 6-9-1-1 Big Ten) swept the two-game conference series that began Thursday night with a 5-4 win by the visiting Golden Gophers in East Lansing, Mich. It was the second straight one-goal defeat for MSU (9-16-1, 3-12-1-1), and just the second one-goal setback all season for the Spartans, who were the designated home team at MSG.

A pass by Gates from the left wing was tipped home by Casey Mittelstadt 11:23 into the first period to give Minnesota 1-0 lead that stood up into the final frame. MSU lost right wing Mitchell Lewandowski just 4:12 into the game for a major penalty and automatic game misconduct for contact to the head of Minnesota defenseman Tommy Novak, although the Spartans killed off the ensuing five-minute power play.

After left wing Taro Hirose was later lost due to an undisclosed injury, the Spartans shuffled their lineup, with Jake Smith and Cody Milan joining Patrick Khodorenko on MSU's top line. The move paid off when Milan tipped in a shot from the left point by Jerad Rosburg 8:22 into the third period to knot the contest at one.

The teams then traded chances until there was 3:29 left, when a bouncing pass from Jack Ramsey along the left wing boards in the MSU defensive zone found Gates in the slot, and he slapped the puck past Spartan netminder John Lethemon (20 saves). MSU replaced Lethemon with an extra attacker with 26 seconds left, but couldn't gain the equalizer

Mat Robson made 19 stops for the Gophers, who finished 0-for-4 on the power play. The Spartans, who were outshot, 21-20, overall on the night, went 0-for-3 with the man advantage. No penalties were called on either side in the third period.

Both teams return to Big Ten action in the near future, with Minnesota hosting No. 1 Notre Dame next weekend and MSU visiting Ohio State in early February.