Two fast starts, two hat tricks, and a dominant showing from the Flyers’ sixth overall pick in 2025 capped off Michigan State’s weekend sweep of Penn State. Porter Martone had six points as the Spartans took both games, completing the season sweep of the Nittany Lions.
The series opened Friday night with an early offensive surge from Michigan State. Anthony Romani and Owen West gave the Spartans a quick two-goal lead before Martone got on the scoresheet, recording the first of his six weekend points with a secondary assist on Romani’s second goal of the game. Along the right boards, Martone chipped the puck low to Cayden Lindstrom, who drove toward the net and forced a loose puck into the slot, which Romani was able to capitalize on.
The game settled down in the middle frame until Jackson Smith cut Michigan State’s lead to two. Shortly after, Martone scored from in close for his 15th goal of the season, restoring the Spartans three-goal lead.
Poster Martone collects the loose puck and scores to make it 4-1! pic.twitter.com/qOJfXmPmK0
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 31, 2026
Martone is often found at the top of the crease, and this goal was no exception. After redirecting a point shot, he tracked down the rebound and, after a few whacks, pushed it across the line to extend the Spartans’ lead to three.
Penn State made things interesting in the third period, climbing back within one before the midway point of the frame. However, the comeback bid was halted by a pair of empty-net goals from Michigan State, including one from Romani to complete his hat trick. Martone recorded his third point of the night with an assist on Daniel Russell’s empty-net goal in the final minute.
Saturday afternoon saw the Spartans and Nittany Lions meet outdoors in a back-and-forth contest. Martone picked up his first point just over two minutes into the game, sending a pass from Michigan State’s zone to Charlie Stramel in the neutral zone. Stramel then found Russell driving the net on the rush for the opening goal.
While that first assist might not pop off the screen, Martone was everywhere throughout the game. He generated several high-quality chances that did not find the back of the net, including a setup moments after the opening goal when he created a one-timer in the slot from below the goal line. Martone added his second assist of the afternoon when Stramel buried the rebound of his breakaway attempt.
Charlie Stramel puts us back in front!
2-1 Spartans in the second period after a great stretch pass from Owen West started it pic.twitter.com/hAcEO11xkI
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 31, 2026
Penn State began to tilt the ice, with Gavin McKenna scoring once and assisting on another to give the Nittany Lions their first lead of the weekend. The Spartans responded late in the middle frame, as their power play capitalized just before the horn. With two seconds remaining in the period, Russell fired a quick pass from behind the net to Stramel at the top of the crease to tie the game. While Martone did not record a point on the play, he was once again involved, crashing the net on the opposite side and creating traffic in front. Martone was on the ice for all four of Michigan State’s goals in regulation.
Penn State reclaimed the lead early in the third on a goal from Shea Van Olm, but the lead was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Matt Basgall tied the game at four, finishing off a strong shift from Martone and the Spartans’ top line. Martone earned an assist on the goal after a wraparound attempt sent the puck back to the point, where Basgall and beat the goaltender with a wrister.
The captain Matt Basgall comes in clutch to tie the game at 4-4! pic.twitter.com/DHwUmoJsHq
— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) January 31, 2026
On the very next shift, fellow Flyers prospect Shane Vansaghi took what could have been a costly cross-checking penalty, but the Spartans killed it off to force overtime. Prior to the penalty, Vansaghi was having an active afternoon, disrupting plays on the forecheck, drawing a holding call, and creating a couple of quality chances for his linemates. While more offensive production would be welcome, Vansaghi put together a solid performance in this one.
In overtime, Stramel completed the hat trick after a strong play along the boards by Patrick Geary sent him in alone against Kevin Reidler. With quick hands in tight, Stramel beat Reidler on the short side to end the game and secure the weekend sweep for Michigan State.
Martone now sits at 15 goals and 19 assists for 34 points in 24 games and continues to rank among the most productive forwards in the NCAA. He was scoring at a 1.41 points-per-game pace in early January and has maintained that rate through the end of the month. His current 1.42 points-per-game pace ranks inside the top five nationally and, after sustaining it over a longer stretch, appears to be somewhat of a realistic expectation for where he could finish the season. All in all, it was an excellent return to form for Martone after a relatively quiet weekend against Minnesota.
Michigan State next turns its attention to the rival Michigan Wolverines. Unless the rankings change significantly, the series sets up as a showdown between the top two teams in Division I hockey, presenting a major challenge for the Spartans and a big stage for Martone to continue building on the momentum he’ll be carrying out of the weekend.