A hockey observer looking at the CCHA standings might think Michigan State is just a basement dweller without much promise. After all, the Spartans are sitting in 10th place coming into the second half of the regular season.

But Michigan hockey coach Red Berenson knew the Wolverines’ in-state rival would be a “better team” in the latter part of conference play. And the 27-year head coach was right — at least for the first weekend in January — as Michigan and Michigan State split their weekend home-and-home series.

The Spartans secured a 4-3 overtime victory at home on Friday night while the Wolverines bounced back and trounced Michigan State, 4-0, at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday.

“I think they were maybe a little overconfident after the Big Chill game and the Joe Louis experience,” Berenson said of his team after Saturday night’s game. “Maybe our team thought we had an edge.”

In the first game of the weekend series, the Spartans had a clear edge through the first 55 minutes of play inside Munn Ice Arena. And with a 3-1 lead heading down the stretch, Michigan State looked to be in control.

That was until the Wolverines’ special teams and David Wohlberg emerged.

After surrendering two power play goals earlier in the night to Spartan captain Torey Krug — who eventually notched a third goal against Michigan — freshman Luke Moffatt tallied the Wolverines’ second power play goal, tipping in a wrist shot with just under three minutes left in the game to bring Michigan within one goal.

Looking for the equalizer with less than a minute to play in regulation, Berenson pulled senior netminder Shawn Hunwick to gain the extra attacker. And with 13 seconds left on the clock, junior forward David Wohlberg threw a backhand from behind the goal line off Spartan goalie Will Yanakeff’s back and into the net.

The goal was eerily similar to Wohlberg’s game-tying goal at Ferris State on Oct. 28, when he scored with 13 seconds left on the clock as well.

Against the Spartans, the momentum at the end of regulation didn’t carry into overtime. Spartan defenseman Matt Grassi let a slap shot go from the right point, which was tipped in by Daultan Leveille.

“It’s a tough loss for sure,” senior co-captain Carl Hagelin said. “We showed a lot of character today coming back the way we did … Right now, it doesn’t feel good, that’s for sure. (Saturday’s) another day, and we know we can beat these guys.”

Berenson added: “Good home win for Michigan State, and it’s a bad road loss for Michigan.”

Even with the tough loss, Michigan (10-4-1-0, CCHA, 13-6-4 overall) had the opportunity to bounce back and secure a series split. And prior to the second game on Saturday, the Wolverines had their customary morning meeting in which Berenson and the coaching staff address the team, discussing the previous night’s contest and the gameplan for the upcoming game.

Following Saturday night's win, Berenson said his team had to be more disciplined against the Spartans and “play better without the puck” too.

And after a scoreless first period — in which Michigan was a little “vulnerable,” according to Berenson — Hagelin got the Wolverines on the board first as he threw a bad-angle shot on net from the right half boards. The attempt caught netminder Drew Palmisano offguard, and the goal was the first of two on the night for the Swedish native.

Additionally, after a penalty-filled contest on Friday night, the Wolverines took just three penalties on Saturday and took advantage of their own power play attempts once again.

With Michigan clinging to a 2-0 lead late in the third period, A.J. Treais iced the contest with the team's second power play goal of the night. Then, freshman defenseman Mac Bennett scored his first goal of the season to put the Wolverines up by four.

“Tonight was huge. It was an opportunity to climb back in the standings,” Hunwick said on Saturday. “We knew Notre Dame won last night so we knew we were four (points) back so we know we need to put together some wins.”