Overheard after MSU’s Duel in the D victory vs. Michigan: ‘Felt like Game 7′

DETROIT – A dominating first two periods was enough to carry Michigan State’s hockey team to a 5-2 victory over Michigan on Saturday in the annual “Duel in the D” at Little Caesars Arena. After crumbling in the third period of Friday’s series opener between the top two ranked teams in the country and losing 4-3 in overtime, the Spartans (22-6, 13-5 Big Ten) quashed any comeback hopes for the Wolverines Saturday with an empty-net goal with 2:50 remaining to restore a three-goal cushion. No. 1 Michigan (23-5, 14-4) started to claw back from a 4-0 deficit late in the second and made it a 4-2 game early in the third. The two rivals split the regular season series 2-2, but Saturday might not be...