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.
