Michigan State Routes Minnesota at Munn

Patrick Khodorenko scored one goal and set up two others, and John Lethemon made 25 saves as 20th-ranked Michigan State topped visiting Minnesota, 4-1, in a Big Ten/NCAA hockey contest on Friday night at Munn Ice Arena.

Khodorenko and Mitchell Lewandowski each tallied a goal and an assist in the first period, sandwiching their scores around a goal by Gianluca Esteves, as MSU (11-9-1 overall, 7-3-1-0 Big Ten) built a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. Sam Saliba then scored just over midway through the second stanza to put the host Spartans up, 4-0, after 40 minutes.

Jackson LaCombe broke up Lethemon's shutout bid with a power-play goal for the Golden Gophers with 6:22 remaining in regulation. Jack LaFontaine took the loss for Minnesota (7-10-4, 2-5-4-3) after stopping just six of nine shots in the opening period before being pulled from the game.

The two teams will complete their two-game conference set on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET (Big Ten TV Network) at Munn.

BC, MSU Post Wins Against Rivals

Both Boston College and Michigan State men's hockey got back on track Friday night—and both did so against their respective arch-rivals.

BC rebounded from a one-goal deficit to post a 4-1 win at Boston University's Agganis Arena  as Joseph Woll made 38 saves for the Eagles, and Logan Hutsko scored two goals, including the second-period game-winner. BC (4-6-1 overall) will now host BU (4-7-1) at Kelley Rink on Saturday.

At Munn Arena, MSU's Mitchell Lewandowski notched the game-winner halfway through the third period as the Spartans (6-7-0) came back from 1-0 and 2-1 deficits to top Michigan. Drew DeRidder made 43 saves for MSU, which also got three assists from Taro Hirose. U-M (6-6-2) will host the back end of the home-and home series Saturday night at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor.

Michigan State Blanks Michigan, 5-0

Patrick Khodorenko scored two goals and Taro Hirose set up three as Michigan State rebounded for a 5-0 victory tonight at Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans split a two-game series with the Big Ten rival Wolverines, who had earned a 4-0 triumph Thursday night in Ann Arbor.

Mitch Lewandowski added a goal and two assists for MSU on Friday, while John Lethemon made 29 saves for his third shutout of the season. MSU improves to 8-9-1 overall (2-7-1-1 Big Ten), while Michigan falls to 7-7-2 (3-5-2-1).

The two schools will both return to regular-season action on Jan. 1 in the first round of the 2018 Great Lakes Invitational at the new Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. The Spartans will face Michigan Tech, while the Wolverines take on Bowling Green.