Michigan's Chris Brown, left, pokes the puck past Michigan State goalie Bobby Jarosz for the go-ahead goal during third period action of Saturday night, March 13th's CCHA clash between the two teams at MSU's Munn Ice Arena. Michigan downed the Spartans 5-3 to win the series and advance to the CCHA finals next weekend at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

EAST LANSING - Killing penalties was problematic all night.

Here was the Michigan hockey team, trying to pull off an improbable two-game sweep of heavily favored Michigan State on its own ice, clinging to a one-goal lead. But after surrendering three power-play goals earlier in the night, the stop the Wolverines sought finally arrived.

With goalie Shawn Hunwick making one key save after another, Michigan made Chris Brown's game-winner stand up, closing out its CCHA quarterfinal series with a 5-3 win Saturday night at Munn Ice Arena.

"We knew we had a job," defenseman Chad Langlais said of Michigan's third-penalty penalty kill. "We knew we had to shut them down. We had to get something going."

Michigan (23-17-1) advances to next weekend's CCHA semifinals at Joe Louis Arena, while the No. 2 seed Spartans saw their brief playoff run end in shocking fashion. The Wolverines will face either top-seed Miami (Ohio) or Northern Michigan depending on the outcome of a decisive Game 3 of the Miami-Ohio State series.

Regardless of opponent, the goal of reaching the CCHA Tournament Final Four again was realized, albeit on a different road for a team that has won four straight playoff games heading into its semifinal test.

"Our season was over if we didn't emerge from this weekend," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We've never had to come into a situation like this and earn it this way. But we're playoff-tested, we're big-game tested."

Michigan fended off Michigan State's late flurry as the Spartans put 11 shots on net after managing only one shot in the second period. Hunwick - making only his fifth career start in relief of injured starter Bryan Hogan - came up huge, protecting the slim lead.

Some shots from the point Hunwick saw coming. The ones that he didn't hit him while Michigan's troubled penalty-killing unit finally buckled down with the game and the series on the line.

"This team never lost its composure - it just battled hard," said Hunwick, who finished with 18 saves after allowing three straight power-play goals in the first period. "We knew if we stayed out of the (penalty) box, 5-on-5, they had a tough time with our team."

David Wohlberg clinched the victory with an empty-net goal with 32 seconds remaining capped the win and ended the Spartans' playoff run. Michigan State (19-13-6) didn't do itself any favors, falling behind in both games.

"We could have been at our best - our absolute best," Michigan State coach Rick Comley said. "It may not have mattered - Michigan played that well."

Both teams struggled stopping power play chances as four of the first five goals scored came with either the Wolverines or Spartans with a skater advantage.

Michigan appeared to be following a similar script to Friday's 5-1 victory, building a 2-0 lead after Matt Rust and A.J. Treais scored over a 19-second span.

Michigan State, looking for any spark to stave off elimination after Friday night's 5-1 lopsided loss, went to back-up goalie Bobby Jarosz for the second straight night. It turned out, though, all the Spartans needed was a chance to put its power play unit on the ice.

The Spartans converted on three straight chances including twice off the stick of Andrew Rowe, who was forced to take on the lead scoring role after teammate Corey Tropp was forced out of the line-up after stepping awkwardly on a puck during pre-game warm-ups.

Rowe tied the game at 2-2 before Nick Sucharski gave Michigan State its first lead on another power play goal - this time with 7 seconds remaining in an eventful first period.

Not surprising, it was another power play goal that knotted the game at 3. Michigan's Ben Winnett scored at the 3:54 mark of the second period, drawing the Wolverines back even.

Michigan once again took the lead when Brown scored at the 2:40 mark of the third period. Brown, who scored the game-winner in the Wolverines' only regular-season win over the Spartans, forced the puck into the net following up on a Brian Lebler shot, again giving Michigan a lead to work with.

"Fortunately, I hit it good enough and it went in," Brown said.

The win propels Michigan into the conference semifinals having won of six of its past seven games. And after avoiding having to face Michigan State for a third straight day, the Wolverines - who must win the CCHA Tournament to earn a 20th straight NCAA berth - head to Detroit riding a serious wave of momentum following their second straight weekend playoff sweep.

"It's huge momentum," Brown said. "We're on a roll right now. This is the best hockey we've played all year and going into The Joe, this is what we have to do right now. We have to be on a roll."

Jeff Arnold covers Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at jeffarnold@annarbor.com or 734-623-2554. Follow him at Twitter @jeffreyparnold.