Michigan State hockey vs. Wisconsin will decide Big Ten champion

This weekend’s Wisconsin vs. Michigan State hockey series is going to decide the regular-season Big Ten title.

Michigan State hockey has had a remarkable season this year, and it all comes down to this weekend with the Big Ten regular season championship on the line. The first-place Spartans travel to Wisconsin, who just so happens to be in second place in the Big Ten.

MSU is coming off a series split against Ohio State, and now they put all their chips in the center of the table as they look to win their first Big Ten championship in program history.

Here’s how MSU can win the Big Ten

Here are the current Big Ten standings as we head into the final weekend of the regular season.

1. Michigan State: 49 points
2. Wisconsin: 47 points
3. Minnesota: 37 points
4. Michigan: 34 points
5. Notre Dame: 31 points
6. Penn State: 21 points
7. Ohio State: 15 points

The two point advantage Michigan State has over Wisconsin is critical as it makes it much easier to win the Big Ten. In hockey, teams earn three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime win and one point for an overtime loss.

With two games against Wisconsin this weekend, here is how MSU can win the Big Ten.

How Michigan State can win a share of the Big Ten

In order for Michigan State to win a share of the Big Ten title with Wisconsin, they need to earn two of a possible six points this weekend. They can accomplish this by earning one overtime win or two overtime losses.

This, however, is not the goal for the Spartans, as we all want to see them win it outright. So here is how they can accomplish that.

How Michigan State can win the Big Ten outright

MSU will need at least three of six points in their series against Wisconsin to win the Big Ten outright. There are two scenarios that will accomplish this including winning one of two games in regulation. The result of the other game is irrelevant if MSU gets a win in regulation as those three points is enough to win the Big Ten outright.

Michigan State can also win the conference outright by earning one overtime win and one overtime loss. Two straight overtime games is unlikely, but this would get the job done. In a perfect world, MSU will win the first game on Friday night in regulation to clinch the conference outright. But an overtime win to secure at least a share of the conference title wouldn’t be bad either.

MSU has put itself in position to win the Big Ten, so now it’s time to finish it off. A first-place finish would also give MSU the 1-seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a first-round bye. The Spartans have already beaten Wisconsin twice in East Lansing this year, so hopefully they can repeat that again.

Both games this weekend are somehow not on TV, but they can be found online on BTN+. Puck drops at 9 p.m. EST on Friday with the regular season finale also beginning at 9 p.m. EST on Saturday.