Former CCHA rivals, the Irish and Spartans have met 133 times dating back to their first meeting in 1926, which was played at the University Rink in East Lansing, Michigan (Notre Dame won the first game, 3-1).
All-time, the Spartans lead the series 70-48-15.
The first meetings as a Notre Dame varsity sport were in the 1970-71 season when the Spartans came to South Bend and split a weekend series: Michigan State took the first game 10-5, before the Irish bounced back for a 4-3 victory the second night.
Since the turn of the century (2000-01 season), the Irish hold the advantage as Notre Dame is 25-22-10 against Michigan State since 2000.
Of those 55 games, 13 have gone to overtime and 19 have been decided by a single goal.
Since joining the Big Ten, Notre Dame is 11-5-4 against Michigan State.
The teams met earlier this season at Compton Family Ice Arena, with Notre Dame posting a 3-2 win in game one (Dec. 10) and Michigan State rebounding to take game two in overtime by a 1-0 score (Dec. 11).
In that game one win, a pair of second period goals by Spencer Stastney and a third period game winner by Nick Leivermann erased a 2-0 Spartan lead, while Matthew Galajda earned the win with 22 saves.
The Fighting Irish limited Michigan State to nine shots on goal over the final two periods in that victory.
In game two, the Irish outshot the Spartans 30-24, but Drew DeRidder earned the shutout with Mitchell Lewandowski accounting for the overtime game winner.
Ryan Bischel started that second game, stopping 23 of the 24 shots he faced.
Irish head coach Jeff Jackson is 34-20-12 all-time against his alma mater Michigan State (including his time at Lake Superior State).
Jackson graduated from Michigan State in 1978 with a degree in communications, followed by an education degree in 1979.
Jackson coached current Michigan State head coach Danton Cole and current Spartan assistant Chris Luongo during their junior hockey days with the Detroit Falcons and then Jackson also coached Cole during the 1983-84 season with the Fraser Flags of the Great Lakes Junior Hockey League (GLJHL).
The current Notre Dame roster features Michigan natives: Max Ellis (Canton, Michigan) and Ryder Rolston (Birmingham, Michigan).
Notre Dame’s career offensive leaders against the Spartans include Graham Slaggert (16 GP, 3-5-8), Spencer Stastney (16 GP, 2-4-6) and Nick Leivermann (15 GP, 2-3-5).
NEXT – BALANCED ATTACK