By Andy Knudsen
Daily Sports Writer
DETROIT - Lightning may not strike twice, but the Spartans did.
For the second time this year, Michigan State handed No. 1 Michigan a one-goal loss - this time a 2-1 decision Saturday in front of a sellout crowd of 19,983 at Joe Louis Arena.
With a 5-2 victory over Lake Superior on Friday at Joe Louis, the Wolverines (17-2-2 CCHA, 26-2-3 overall) still hold a five-point lead in the CCHA.
Saturday's loss ended Michigan's school-record 23-game unbeaten streak which began after its 5-4 loss at East Lansing on Nov. 2.
"Every game they've played against us they've played tough," Michigan coach Red Berenson said of the Spartans. "We haven't lost in awhile, but we've got to learn from this loss."
Neither team could get on the board in the first two periods as Michigan goaltender Marty Turco was perfect on 24 shots and Michigan State goalie Chad Alban stopped all 13 shots he faced.
"Turco, probably, was the difference in the game," Berenson said. "He was keeping us in the game more than Alban was keeping them in the game. They were getting better chances and more shots."
Those chances finally paid off for the Spartans in the third period.
Michigan State (13-5-3, 17-9-3) opened the scoring at 5:18 of the third when center Mike York finished off a 2-on-1 break. York's shot just barely rolled inside the left post and over the line before Turco covered the puck.
Just 50 seconds later, the Spartans capitalized on a Sean Ritchlin cross-checking penalty, as defenseman Chris Bogus' shot from the top of the left circle was redirected by Tony Tuzzolino past Turco.
Defensman Blake Sloan finally broke a 79-minute Michigan scoring drought, going back to Friday's game, when his shot from the left point on the power play was deflected off Michigan State defenseman Tyler Harlton's skate and through Alban's five-hole with 3:13 left in the game.
The goal - Sloan's first of the season - sparked the Wolverines' play, as they had a few good chances to tie.
"You always think you're going to get a tying goal," Sloan said.
But the Wolverines couldn't tie it in the closing minutes and were held to less than three goals for the first time this season.
"They blocked a lot; they sacrificed their bodies," Michigan captain Brendan Morrison said. "They made the sacrifices that got them the win; and we just didn't do the little things that we needed to do."
Morrison said that the loss may be good for Michigan.
"I think it was good tonight to sit in our lockerroom and hear Michigan State celebrate," he said. "I think it really hit home hard tonight. This is a good indicator that we need everyone to show up every night."
The Wolverines were also shut out in two of three periods Friday against Lake Superior (14-6-3, 18-10-4). The difference was that they sank the Lakers with five goals in the second.
Right wing Jason Sessa scored at 4:58 of the first period, giving the Lakers a 1-0 lead at the first intermission.
But left wing Greg Crozier tied the game at 4:08 of the second after he stopped a Lakers clearing attempt in the left corner during a power play. He then skated in on goal untouched and beat goaltender John Grahame for his fourth goal of the season.
Thirty-three seconds later, center Mike Legg led a 2-on-1 charge for the Wolverines and scored after the defenseman committed to cutting off the pass rather than Legg.
When center Andrew Merrick was called for tripping at 8:52 of the period, the Lakers had a prime opportunity to tie.
But before they could even say "penalty-kill specialist," John Madden had stolen the puck at his own blue line and was breaking down the ice. He capped the breakaway with his sixth shorthanded goal of the year and widened Michigan's lead to 3-1.
"We need three or four mistakes (by Michigan) to score a goal," Lake Superior coach Scott Borek said. "But Michigan needs half a mistake and it's a goal."
Lake Superior got a shorthanded goal of its own from center Ben Keup at 12:00 of the second period, but a goal from Dale Rominski and another by Madden sent Michigan into the second intermission with a 5-2 lead - which would end up being the final score as well.
With three weekends left in the CCHA race, Michigan now has a five-point lead and two games in hand on second-place Lake Superior. Michigan State and Miami are tied for third with 29 points, seven points behind Michigan.
WARREN ZINN/Daily
Left wing Brian Crane and the Spartans didn't let their confidence get sandwiched by Michigan's No. 1 ranking or its 23-game win streak. Michigan State is responsible for both of Michigan's losses.