Top-ranked Michigan State met Notre Dame for their second series of the season, and while both games resulted in the Spartans picking up three points in the standings, the two could not have felt more different. A tightly contested opener on Thursday night turned into a complete blowout on Friday.
Game 1: Michigan State 4, Notre Dame 2
What became a tightly checked, highly physical contest began with the Spartans opening the scoring just over three minutes in. Maxim Strbak skated into a shot from the high slot and beat Nicholas Kempf after a strong forecheck from Michigan State’s top line created the opportunity. Daniel Russell did especially impressive work along the boards while outnumbered to help generate the chance. Dashel Oliver quickly tied the game for the Fighting Irish, finishing a cross-ice one-timer for his first collegiate goal.
Both teams ran into penalty trouble midway through the first period, though neither could capitalize. Notre Dame carried the better of the play late in the frame, forcing Trey Augustine to make a couple of key stops and outshooting Michigan State 15-9.
Early in the second period, Charlie Stramel scored on the power play following a slick passing sequence from Russell and Martone.
Charlie Stramel strikes on the power play to make it 2-1! pic.twitter.com/cVXjrZEYhd
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 20, 2026
While Martone might look to take a one-timer in most situations, the puck rode a bit high on his stick, and he quickly adjusted to find Stramel, who finished the tic-tac-toe play.
Notre Dame answered on its own power play, tying the game on a Cole Knuble shot that came out of the net so quickly officials needed video review to confirm the goal.
A better angle of @c_knubz22's powerplay goal in his 100th career game!#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/hCaxrSyoY2
— Notre Dame Hockey (@NDHockey) February 20, 2026
Knuble had an up-and-down series. There was plenty to like, but a couple of turnovers directly led to Michigan State goals. He was better in game one and particularly noticeable on the penalty kill. Two of his turnovers resulted in Martone goals, the empty-netter Thursday and the breakaway tally Friday, while another was a power play giveaway to Männistö.
After a stretch of back-and-forth play, it appeared the Spartans had taken a 3-2 lead, but an early whistle negated the goal. Soon after, Kempf left the game with an injury following a collision on a rush. Luke Pearson took over and would go on to start game two. A few minutes after the change in net, Gavin O’Connell scored in the final seconds of a power play to break the tie. Cayden Lindstrom has had an underwhelming season, especially for a former top-five NHL draft pick, but he made a strong cross-ice pass to O’Connell after drawing the attention of three Irish penalty killers.
The third period opened with heavy Notre Dame pressure, at one point holding a 10-1 shot advantage in the frame. Augustine was critical in preserving the one-goal lead and effectively won the period for Michigan State. Martone picked up his first goal of the series on an empty net to seal the game one victory, stealing the puck from Knuble in the neutral zone, and out-racing an Irish defender to hit the empty cage.
Game 2: Michigan State 8, Notre Dame 2
While game one was competitive right to the end, Michigan State fully took over on Friday night. As the Spartans completed the series sweep, the story of the game was Martone’s first collegiate hat trick. The Flyers’ 6th overall pick found the back of the net early, just over a minute into the game with the man advantage. Martone accepted a pass from Matt Basgall along the right boards and fired a shot that deflected in off of an Irish defender.
Although Michigan State capitalized early with the man advantage, the penalty parade soon followed, with nine minor penalties called in the first period alone. It was a physical contest that included a handful of major reviews. On one of Notre Dame’s power plays, Michael Mastrodomenico slipped down from the blue line, took a pass, and tied the game at one.
Just 20 seconds into the second period, Sutter Muzzatti was assessed his third penalty of the game, and Ryker Lee restored the Spartans’ lead with a shot from the right faceoff circle. Soon after, it appeared Shane Vansaghi had picked up an assist on a rebound goal, but Notre Dame successfully challenged for a missed major penalty on Lindstrom for a check to the head of Knuble, wiping the goal off the board. It was the correct call, though unfortunate for Vansaghi, who has struggled to find points this season. Lee had created the original chance with a slick pass from behind the net.
Martone scored his second of the night with an impressive individual effort, transitioning from defense to offense and finishing with a one-handed tuck to extend the lead to two.
The heart, the hustle and the muscle – Porter Martone's second goal of the night makes it 3-1! pic.twitter.com/LL0RCwuXPf
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 21, 2026
While killing a penalty, Tommi Männistö intercepted a pass in the defensive zone and raced up ice, gaining a step on the defender before beating Pearson short side. Männistö will be a name to watch as a college free agent when he turns pro.
Notre Dame answered later on the same penalty to trim the lead to two, but that was as close as it would get. The Spartans cruised from there, adding goals from Owen West, Griffin Jurecki, Lee, and Martone’s third to complete the hat trick.
🎩🎩🎩 pic.twitter.com/xrNUn8pVES
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 21, 2026
Up next for Martone and the Spartans are the Ohio State Buckeyes, who will finish their series with Penn State tonight after an 11-4 loss Friday night. They’ll meet on Friday and Saturday night, with both games slated to be televised on the Big Ten Network. For Knuble and the Fighting Irish, they will face that same Penn State team whose offense just exploded in the first of their two games this weekend.
