After the Minnesota Gophers men’s hockey team ascended to the No. 1 spot in the weekly rankings, it set up an important weekend showdown between Nos. 1 and 3 with Minnesota hosting third-ranked Michigan State.

The weekend series could possibly cause another shift in the rankings.

The two teams skated to a 3-all tie on Friday and the Spartans came back Saturday with a 5-3 win, scoring four goals in the third period to surpass the Gophers (15-3-2).

Skating with a 3-1 lead, Minnesota allowed goals to Isaac Howard, Maxim Strbak, Charlie Stramel and an empty-netter by Red Savage over the final 8:52 on Saturday.

Brodie Ziemer, Aaron Huglen and Brody Lamb scored for the Gophers, after Michigan State had taken a 1-0 lead midway through the second period. Ziemer had three goals in the weekend series and has eight on the season. Lamb’s power-play goal on Saturday was his 12th overall and second of the weekend.

Liam Souliere made 25 saves in goal for Minnesota, which was outshot 30-27.

The Gophers are now off until Jan. 3-4 when they host Mercyhurst for a weekend series.

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