Michigan's David Wohlberg, bottom right, celebrates after banking a shot off the back of Michigan State goalie Will Yanakeff's leg with 12.5 seconds left to force overtime Friday night at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing. The Spartans won in OT, 4-3.

Photo courtesy University of Michigan

EAST LANSING - For the shortest of times, the Michigan hockey team managed to regain some momentum.

But almost as quickly as a David Wohlberg goal in the waning seconds of regulation allowed the Wolverines to dodge defeat once, Michigan State delivered a deciding blow.

Daultan Leveille redirected a Matt Grassi shot from just inside the blue line 1:54 into overtime, giving the Spartans a 4-3 win at Munn Ice Arena Friday night.

The loss was Michigan's first in the past five games against its biggest rival.

Leveille's game-winner salvaged the game for the Spartans after Michigan (12-6-4, 9-4-1 CCHA) erased a two-goal deficit in the final 3:02 of the third period.

Wohlberg forced overtime with just 12.5 seconds remaining, banking a shot off the back of Michigan State goalie Will Yanakeff's leg. The goal tied the game at 3-3 after Luke Moffatt's power-play goal with 3:02 remaining drew the Wolverines to within a goal.

But after scrapping its way back into the game and nearly scoring on the first shift of overtime, Michigan couldn't hold off the Spartans.

"It's a tough loss for sure," senior captain Carl Hagelin said. "We showed a lot of character coming back the way we did. Right now, it doesn't feel good.

"We're all disappointed."

Michigan State (8-10-3, 4-8-1 CCHA) led 3-1 after captain Torey Krug scored his third goal - and his second of the third period - at the 14:09 mark. Both of his goals came with the Spartans skating on a 5-on-3 advantage.

The Wolverines were called for 11 penalties, giving the Spartans five power play chances. Michigan State didn't solve Michigan's power kill until the final 20 minutes, when Krug took advantage of the 5-on-3 situations.

Despite falling behind for the second straight game, Michigan battled back. After drawing to within a goal on Moffatt's power-play goal, the Wolverines pulled goalie Shawn Hunwick with 1:12 remaining.

Michigan controlled the puck for much of the final minute before Wohlberg gained control behind the Michigan State net. Trying to generate any hopes of a last-second comeback, Wolhlberg directed a shot into the crease, using the back of Yanakeff's leg to find the back of the net.

Game officials reviewed the play for several minutes before awarding Michigan the game-tying goal.

"Give us marks - we came back and got the goals we needed to tie the game," Michigan coach Red Berenson said.

The celebration was short-lived.

After Michigan nearly ended the game during its first shift in overtime, the Wolverines were again done by failing to get the puck out of the defensive zone. After winning a face-off, Michigan tried to clear the puck, but Grassi grabbed it inside of the blue line.

He sent a shot on goal, where Leveille got enough of the puck to push it past Hunwick for the game-winner.

"It was just too easy," Berenson said.

Michigan, which had won four straight games, will try and salvage a split Saturday night at Yost Ice Arena (7:05 p.m., FSD Plus), continuing Friday's feud when the two rivals were combined for 20 penalties, including several for roughing after the whistle.

"It's always tough to play these guys because they try and get in your head and get in your face," said Hagelin, whose second-period power play goal tied the game at 1. "But we took too many penalties - that's the bottom line. Hopefully, tomorrow, we realize they should be the team that has to take penalties."

Jeff Arnold covers Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by e-mail at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.