EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) -- Drew Palmisano enjoyed all 60 minutes in goal as Michigan State blanked Michigan 2-0 on Saturday night.
But the final moment and the ensuing celebration will be savored forever.
"I had chills going through me," said Palmisano, an Ann Arbor native. "To have 7,000 people here and have everyone on their feet the last 30 seconds was something I Chris Forfar and Andrew Rowe scored from close range for the Spartans (9-2-1, 6-1-1-0 CCHA), who moved into sole possession of first place and extended their unbeaten streak to seven games. They beat the Wolverines 3-2 on Friday night in Ann Arbor.
"It was a big weekend of college hockey," Forfar said. "Their place is notorious. And it was nice to come back to a sold-out barn."
Neither team scored a power-play goal in the series, but Michigan State converted enough other chances before the fifth-largest crowd in Munn Arena history.
"They're a dangerous team," Spartans coach Rick Comley said of Michigan (4-6-0, 2-4-0), which dropped its fourth straight game. "They The Wolverines have scored just four goals this month, dropping two games to Miami and one to Michigan State in Yost Arena before hitting the road.
"We The Spartans did at 12:58 of the first period after a steal by Mike Merrifield, who grabbed his own rebound, went behind the net and fed Forfar at close range.
"Merrifield did all the work on that play," Forfar said. "I was just in the right spot at the right time and put it upstairs."
That was all the help that Palmisano needed. He made 31 saves to just 17 for Wolverines netminder Bryan Hogan and saw the puck exceptionally well.
"I knew they "Their first or second shot was one I didn't get a real good look at. It went off my glove, then off the crossbar. After that, I knew it would be my night."
Michigan State's insurance goal was another fine individual effort with a steal and a sweet assist. Dustin Gazley swiped the puck, deked a Michigan defenseman to the ice, then passed to a wide-open Rowe at the edge of the crease.
"They turned it over and gave us a two-on-one," Gazley said. "I almost shot it. Then, I slid the puck over."
The surprising Spartans, picked to finish eighth in the league, are 13 points up on the Wolverines as they prepare to welcome Notre Dame to Munn on Thursday night.
"The whole night was awesome," Gazley said. "Michigan-Michigan State is the biggest college hockey rivalry. And it was great that the freshmen could see what it Palmisano, who understudied Jeff Lerg last season, saw the series from a new vantage point, too.
"It's the first time for me to sweep them and the first time for Michigan State in a while," Palmisano said. "If you'd said we'd do this last summer, we'd be ecstatic. But we had a goal to come out and prove ourselves."