Spartan athletes and fans celebrate a goal during a hockey game against Penn State on Jan. 24 at the Munn Ice Arena. The Spartans defeat the Nittany Lions, 4-2.

Coming into the night, MSU was in a dead heat with the Nittany Lions for second place in the Big Ten, and coach Danton Cole had his team ready for this moment.

On the back of senior Patrick Khodorenko’s career night, Michigan State hockey was able to secure a monumental win at Munn Ice Arena, winning 4-2 versus the Penn State Nittany Lions.

In the first period, the Spartans may have played their best period of the season. The green and white dominated possession and total shots with 15 shots compared to the Nittany Lions' six. Early in the first, Brody Stevens got the Spartans going with a one timer right into the chest of Penn State goalie Peyton Jones. The chances kept coming for the Spartans, including a scrum for the puck right in front of the goal which saw both Tommy Apap and Gianluca Esteves have chances at goal before the referees called the play.

Then lightning finally struck for Michigan State as Khodorenko secured his 50th goal of his career off an Esteves feed and slung the puck onto the back of the net, giving MSU its first lead of the night.

👏 Khodorenko's 50th career goal puts the Spartans up 1-0 in the final minutes of the first period ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/sApneq53Vl — MSU_Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 25, 2020

Khodorenko had been searching for career goal number 50 for well over two weeks and was finally able to secure it when his team needed it most.

“It obviously felt good,” Khodorenko said. “I hadn’t put the puck in the net myself in a while. I don’t really look into the 50 number, but it was nice to get a few.”

Left wing Mitchell Lewandowski (9) fights for possession during a hockey game against Penn state on Jan. 24, 2020 at the Munn Ice Arena. Final score, Spartans defeat the Lions 4-2. — Alyte Katilius | The State News

The script flipped in the second period however, as Penn State began to dominate the possession and shots with 12 to the Spartans' zero to begin the second period. However, MSU goalkeeper John Lethemon would not be deterred as he continued his strong play from prior games, keeping the Spartans in firm control.

“He’s (Lethemon) been outstanding for us,” Cole said. “I think the guys rally behind him.”

“That is what your job is as a goalie,” Lethemon said. “You expect to make those saves.”

Lethemon’s strong play translated into a breakaway chance for Khodorenko as Dennis Cesana poked the puck away from the Nittany Lions and found a streaking Khodorenko for a one-on-one opportunity with Jones. The experienced senior sent it flying past Jones, securing a 2-0 lead right as Penn State was beginning to surge.

🏒 Goal number 51 for 55.



Patrick Khodorenko with his second on the night on the breakaway.



No. 19 @MSU_Hockey is up 2-0 midway through the second. pic.twitter.com/99nqjbmtI6 — Michigan St. on BTN (@MichiganStOnBTN) January 25, 2020

However, the Nittany Lions would not let this game slip away from them so easily, as their chances finally turned in results when junior Cole Hults flung one past Lethemon on a one timer, keeping the game within reach for PSU.

The third period had fans on the edge of their seats, as everyone knew how consequential this period would be for both teams. All year, the Spartans have been a team that were ahead of schedule, a team that nobody expected to be where they are now. That narrative still remained true in the third as the Spartans yet again found a way to win.

Early in the third, chances were abundant for the Spartans, and a goal finally came as sophomore Cole Krygier came up big with a goal to essentially deliver the dagger in East Lansing.

& THE CROWD GOES WILD! Spartans up by ✌️ after a goal by Cole Krygier with 12 minutes to go in the 3rd! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/9mwMUGo0Hi — MSU_Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 25, 2020

“That’s a huge goal,” Cole said. “It’s a great play, changing the angle and the calmness on the backside and a great pass from Adam (Goodsir) coming off the wall and finding the backside.”

Khodorenko minutes later pushed the dagger deeper into the wound by capping off a big night with his third goal, to secure his first hat trick (second of his career) since 2018 versus Ferris State.

“He was on the puck and he was strong.” Cole said. “I don’t think people realize how fast he is. He is pretty smooth, he plays with tempo, and he plays like a skill guy.”

“It’s not a big surprise by any means,” Lethemon said. “The guy is phenomenal, and he finally got his 50th goal on a hat trick. ... He’s going to go really far in the game.”

In the final minutes, the Nittany Lions were able to cushion their loss with a goal from freshman Tyler Gratton.

About an hour after the final buzzer sounded, the Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes, allowing the green and white to slide into sole possession of first place before their second matchup against the Nittany Lions tomorrow.

MSU will look to hold onto first place in the Big Ten tomorrow when they finish the weekend series against Penn State at 6 p.m. on Saturday.