EAST LANSING, MICH. – Brent Gates' power-play goal at 11 minutes, 14 seconds of the third period was the winner in the Gophers' 4-2 victory over Michigan State on Saturday night in Big Ten hockey.

Gates' sixth goal of the season, set up by Leon Bristedt and Steve Johnson, broke a 2-all tie. Gates, a 6-2 sophomore forward, is a native of Grand Rapids, Mich.

Tyler Sheehy added an empty-net goal for No. 11 Minnesota (9-5-2, 3-1 Big Ten) with 37 seconds left at Munn Ice Arena. It was Sheehy's eighth straight game with a point and fifth consecutive with a goal. He has a team-high 11 this season.

The win gave the Gophers a rare series sweep at Michigan State; they won the first game by the same 4-2 score. This is the first time Minnesota has swept the Spartans on their home rink since 1978-79.

The Spartans (4-8-1, 0-2) took a 2-0 lead in the rematch on goals by J.T. Stenglein late in the opening period on a tip and Thomas Ebbing in the seventh minute of the second on an odd-man rush.

The Gophers tied the score with goals 3 ½ minutes in the middle of the second.

Defenseman Jake Bischoff scored the first, and Rem Pitlick got the second on a power play.

Bischoff also had an assist for his fifth multipoint game of the season.

Minnesota was 2-for-3 on the power play, Michigan State 0-for-2.

Ed Minney stopped 30 shots for the Spartans, Eric Schierhorn had 17 saves for the Gophers.

The Gophers have won five of their past six games with the Spartans, counting last season, and lead the all-time series 112-45-15.