DETROIT – There’s a new leader in the Big Ten hockey standings.

The second-ranked Spartans jumped out to a 4-0 lead and held on to beat No. 1 Michigan 5-2 Saturday at the annual “Duel in the D” at Little Caesars Arena. They took four of six points during the two-game series to pull one point ahead of Michigan, which won Friday’s opener 4-3 in overtime at Yost Ice Arena.

After squandering a two-goal lead in the third period Friday, the Spartans (22-6, 13-5 Big Ten) jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead Saturday and continued to build off it.

Senior forward Tiernan Shoudy scored off the rush at the 5:38 mark of the second period to give MSU a 4-0 cushion, prompting Wolverines head coach Brandon Naurato to call a timeout.

Michigan (23-5, 14-4), which had its seven-game win streak snapped, threatened another third-period comeback when junior forward Nick Moldenhauer cut the deficit to 4-2 at the 5:01 mark. The Wolverines started to tilt the ice in their favor, but MSU’s Tommi Mannisto added an empty-netter with 2:50 remaining.

MSU, which has won the “Iron D” Trophy for three straight years, held all the momentum in the second period and nearly made it 5-0 with two straight shifts with extended time in the offensive zone, but Michigan responded with a goal at the 18:56 mark. Josh Eernisse’s initial shot missed wide, but a juicy carom off the end boards went right to Jayden Perron, who scored his sixth goal in the past seven games.

Michigan star goalie Jack Ivankovic made his return from injury after missing the past five games but had little chance at stopping three of MSU’s goals. He made his first save 1:06 in but wasn’t tested much early until the midway point of the period.

That’s when Anthony Romani connected with a streaking Patrick O’Connell entering the offensive zone, and he beat Ivankovic blocker-side.

The Wolverines won the special teams battle Friday with a power play and shorthanded goal, but it was the Spartans who received a boost from their top power-play unit Saturday. Porter Martone, a first-round pick of the Flyers, fired a missile into the top corner with Charlie Stramel providing a screen in front.

Stramel went down the tunnel earlier in the first period and missed a few shifts, but his return proved vital for the Spartans. The team’s leading scorer added his 18th of the season early in the second. Four Michigan players got caught puck-watching and left Stramel alone on the doorstep for a tap-in goal on a feed from Maxim Strbak.

The two teams split the season series 2-2 for a second straight year.  

Up next: Michigan hosts No. 6 Penn State next Friday and Saturday, while MSU is off until Feb. 19-20, when it hosts last-place Notre Dame.