Michigan to Take on Rival MSU with Bragging Rights at Stake for Duel in the D

Friday, February 11

Ann Arbor, Mich.

7:30 PM

Michigan

Michigan State

Michael Pastujov (Michigan Photography)

Michigan to Take on Rival MSU with Bragging Rights at Stake for Duel in the D

2/9/2022 7:47:00 PM | Ice Hockey

By: Kristy McNeil

» The Wolverines have won the Duel in the D each of the last four times it has been played.
» Michigan outscored MSU 10-4 in the series in November.
» Michigan will be without its top-four scorers as they compete in the Olympics.

• Complete Game Notes (PDF)

PROMOTIONS
• Feb. 11: Blue Out, T-shirt Giveaway (first 2,000 fans)
• Full Promotions Schedule

• Social Media: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Note: Effective Jan. 1, 2022, the University of Michigan has instituted a proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative-test protocol for indoor athletic events. Face masks continue to be required and must be worn during all home indoor athletic events. [ U-M Vaccination Policy ]

The most storied rivalry in college hockey heats up this weekend as the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team squares off with Michigan State in a two-game set, including the annual Duel in the D at Little Caesars Arena. The teams will meet in Ann Arbor on Friday (Feb. 11) for a 7:30 p.m. game broadcast live on CW50 and streamed live on B1G+ before the Duel in the D on Saturday (Feb. 12) at 7 p.m. That game will be broadcast live on Bally Sports Detroit and TSN, and streamed live on B1G+.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan is 21-7-1 after defeating the USNTDP in an exhibition and being idle last weekend.

• This week, U-M checks in at No. 4 in the USCHO and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls.

• Michigan's four leading scorers are all representing their nations in the men's hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Matty Beniers leads the Wolverines with 36 points (16 goals, 22 assists) while fellow Team USA forward Brendan Brisson has 32 (17G, 15A). They are followed by a Canadian pair, as Kent Johnson has notched 30 points (6G, 24A) while Owen Power has 26 (3G, 23A).

• Sophomore center Thomas Bordeleau leads this weekend's contingent for U-M with 24 points (seven goals, 17 assists) and a 58.8 percent track record in faceoffs. Blueliner Luke Hughes leads the way on the back end with 23 points (10g, 13a). Then it is a pair of forwards who are tied with 18 points apiece: one of the oldest in Michael Pastujov (9G, 9A) along with one of the youngest in freshman Mackie Samoskevich (5G, 13A). Samo notched his second three-point game at Wisconsin.

• Owen Power leads U-M in blocked shots with 37, while the captain Nick Blankenburg has 32.

• Sophomore Erik Portillo has started every game in net for the Wolverines this year. He has a 21-7-1 record including two shutouts, a .926 save percentage, and a 2.20 goals-against average. The Swedish stalwart is second in the NCAA with 793 saves and 21 wins.

Scouting the Spartans

• Michigan State enters the weekend in seventh place in the Big Ten with an 11-16-1 record and 14 points in 18 conference games thus far. The Spartans have dropped eight straight games.

• Freshman Jesse Tucker leads MSU with 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) and scored a goal in his last appearance at Minnesota. Veteran forward Mitch Lewandowski is tied for second with 18 points (7G, 11A) in just 15 games, but has not appeared in a game since the end of December. Also with 18 points is the team's leading goal-scorer, Jeremy Davidson (10G, 8A). Erik Middendorf (9G, 6A) and Josh Nodler (5G, 7A) provide depth scoring up front while puck-moving defenseman Dennis Cesana paces the team on the back end with 11 points (6G, 5A).

• Senior Drew DeRidder has been very good in net for the Spartans, assembling a .934 save percentage with 648 saves and an 8-10-1 record. DeRidder also has two shutouts on the year.

Series History

• The most-played rivalry in college ice hockey, Michigan holds a 168-137-24 advantage in the all-time series with MSU.

• Michigan won both meetings in November, a 7-2 victory game at Yost and a 3-2 win in East Lansing.

• The Duel in the D, the annual game in Detroit, began in 2016.

• The "Iron D" trophy was claimed by MSU in its first year, but U-M has kept it ever since with four straight wins.

Up Next

Friday, Feb. 18 -- vs. Ohio State (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 19 -- vs. Ohio State (Yost Ice Arena) 8:30 p.m.