By Mark Snyder
Daily Sports Writer
DETROIT - It was only a matter of time before one team broke the ice.
Unfortunately for Michigan, along with the cracking of the frozen surface, Michigan State also snapped Michigan's 23-game unbeaten streak with a 2-1 victory Saturday.
The secret to beating Michigan lay in the hands of a veteran coach, Michigan State's Ron Mason, who saw the win as nothing more than good timing.
"Tonight we were able to pick up a couple (goals) at the right time," Mason said. "And we held on to win."
And, as the last three months suggested, against Michigan that is no easy feat.
The first team to score in the game would have a decisive advantage in the tightly fought contest.
Michigan State kept the game close until the final period, giving itself a chance to win at the end.
The contest remained scoreless until Michigan State center Mike York put his team in front 5:18 into the third.
His rebound shot dribbled off Michigan goaltender Marty Turco's pads and just over the goal line for the first Michigan State score.
Fifty seconds later, York was again at the center of the action, feeding right wing Tony Tuzzolino for Michigan State's second goal.
The last time the Wolverines lost was on Nov. 2, and ironically enough, they fell to the Spartans.
The Spartans are the only team to beat Michigan this season, as the Wolverines have compiled a national-best 25-2-3 record.
So what do the Spartans know about Michigan that no team in the last four months could figure out?
"Nothing," Mason maintains.
But if history suggests anything, Michigan State was at least well-prepared to face Michigan.
As the winningest coach in college hockey history, Mason has guided teams to big wins time and time again. He has won two national championships (one NCAA and one NAIA) and knows strategy.
A victory over a top-ranked team may be expected of a Mason-coached team, but the standings did not reflect similar optimism.
Michigan State came into the game nine points behind CCHA-leader Michigan following Friday's 6-3 loss to Western Michigan.
"We haven't been able to get a good win," he said. "We've lost some games just because of a lack of scoring, (but tonight) we played good defense. And that's all we tried to do tonight was play good, solid defense."
It was that strong opposing defense which may have been a chink in Michigan's armor.
And Michigan State exposed the imperfection.
One day after having six players, including two goalies, sit out against Western Michigan with fighting suspensions, Mason thought their return was important to the victory.
"The biggest thing is that Tyler Harlton is such a big force for us behind the blue line," Mason said. "And having (goaltender) Chad (Alban) - what a difference."
Other explanations for the upset were suggested by both teams, but Mason said that Michigan State doesn't have any secrets to defeating the Wolverines.
"The rivalry (between the schools) has a lot to do with it," he said. "I think that overall we've got some skill players, too. It's just that ours are a little younger than theirs. When we play them, though, it's always a good game."
Only 24 hours earlier, Lake Superior coach Scott Borek outlined his plan for defeating Michigan.
"You have to play 60 minutes of perfect hockey to beat them," he said.
Although Borek's plan proved unsuccessful, falling to Michigan, 5-2, Mason must have been listening.
Because on Saturday, the Spartans did what was unusual for every other team against Michigan but normal for them.
They won.
WARREN ZINN/Daily
Marty Turco had a good night in the net Saturday, but Michigan State's two goals in 50 seconds made the Spartans 2-1 winners.