EAST LANSING - Despite trailing 2-1 with 15 minutes to play, Michigan appeared to have all the momentum against Michigan State. The Wolverines were outchancing their opponent and had sustained pressure on the Spartan net.

All the momentum, that is, until Justin Abdelkader skated into the Michigan zone.

In 18 seconds Michigan State's one-goal edge became a 4-1 blowout and an eventual 5-2 defeat - Michigan's first loss by more than one goal this season.

The loss also narrowed the Wolverines lead in the CCHA standings to just three points ahead of the Spartans and Miami (Ohio) with three games to play.

The third period onslaught began when Abdelkader went down the left wing and suddenly wristed a shot past Sauer's glove, extending the Spartan lead to 2.

But Michigan State wasn't done.

Just 18 seconds later the score was 4-1 after Tim Kennedy easily scored on a rebound.

Michigan had the momentum in the first period, too. But like the third it didn't translate to the scoreboard.

The Wolverines dominated Michigan State (17-5-3 CCHA, 21-8-5 overall) in every category in the first period: shots, chances - even faceoffs. But the Spartans had all the juice, taking a 2-0 lead on just three shots in the first 20 minutes.

Even Michigan State's goals were an indirect result of the Wolverines' powerful offensive effort.

Two minutes into the game, Michigan's third line had an excellent chance down low, but when the puck squirted away from the net, Michigan State broke out on a 3-on-2. The Michigan defenseman misplayed the oncoming Spartan rush, and paid for it.

The puck came in on the left wing and was deposited on a cross-crease pass to defenseman Jeff Petry, who had jumped up on the rush. Michigan goalie Billy Sauer had no chance to get back across for the shot.

It was Sauer's worst night of the season. The junior stopped fewer than 80 percent of Michigan State's shots.

The Spartans other first period goal looked much the same.

With another Spartan odd-man advantage down low, none of the Wolverines picked up Tim Crowder trailing on the play. Crowder took the feed from Andrew Rowe in the slot and easily beat Sauer.

With a two-goal advantage before the end of the first period, the Spartans had already established the biggest lead for either team in the three matchups this season.

The usual intra-state tensions bubbled up before the horn sounded. Six minor penalties were called in the final 20 seconds of the period.

Despite trailing at the first intermission, Michigan didn't play poorly in the first period. It boiled down to two Michigan defensive breakdowns and Michigan State goalie Jeff Lerg standing tall on all 15 Michigan shots.

It wasn't until the game's 31st minute that the Wolverines (18-3-4, 25-4-4) finally got on the board. Working on its fourth power play of the game, freshman Max Pacioretty buried a shot from the slot past Lerg's right pad. A crisp Aaron Palushaj pass from the corner set up the goal.

The teams meet again tomorrow night at Joe Louis Arena where Michigan hopes to avoid going 0-fer on the season against the Spartans.