The last-ever Duel in the D at Joe Louis Arena meant a little more for the Michigan and Michigan State hockey teams Friday night.
After overtime couldn’t decide a winner, the Wolverines needed Sam Piazza’s goal during a sudden-death shoot-out to edge the Spartans, 5-4.
MSU’s Joe Cox and U-M’s Will Lockwood each scored in the shoot-out.
The rivals played with heavy hearts. Not only was it their final regular-season meeting at the Joe before the series moves to Little Caesars Arena next season, but moments before the opening puck drop, both teams learned that Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch had died.