Peel away the thick layers of pageantry that surrounded the Big Chill in the Big House and there remains a pretty heated college hockey rivalry.

So while much of a world-record crowd of 113,411 that gathered at Michigan Stadium on Saturday remained in their seats to watch post-game fireworks, the Michigan State hockey team sat on its bench, simultaneously soaking in the atmosphere and stewing over a 5-0 loss to Michigan.

"The whole thing was great. If you can separate losing you can't, as a person involved in hockey, experience anything better than what you experienced tonight," Michigan State coach Rick Comley said.

But there was a loss. The Spartans (6-9-3, 3-8-1-0 CCHA) were shut out for the third time in six games by a Michigan goaltender, Shawn Hunwick, who learned he was starting just minutes before the game.

Comley said “scoring has been a major issue” for his team, which seemed to get a second-period spark from a Brett Perlini power play goal.

But, after a lengthy review, the goal was waved off. Instead of cutting Michigan’s 2-0 lead in half, the Wolverines’ Carl Hagelin would - just minutes later - make it 3-0 on his first of two power play goals.

“I think if we were awarded that goal, it would have been huge for the team. We worked really hard and the bounces may have not gone our way a couple times throughout the game,” Michigan State captain Torey Krug said. “If that goal stands, I think the guys get a little energy from it and we build off that. From there, I think it’s a totally different game. “

Michigan State didn’t get the bounces and, as Comley pointed out in the post-game press conference, Michigan’s power play unit did get a few while converting on three of four extra-man opportunities.

“The first one deflected off of our stick and (MSU goalie Drew Palmisano) had no chance on that, and the third one hit our defensemen in the seat and bounced on their stick,” Comley said. “Sometimes the puck drops where you need it to drop and sometimes it doesn't."

“They are skilled, and when they get opportunities, they are going to take advantage of them."

The Spartans couldn’t take advantage of 34 shots on Hunwick, who found himself in the lineup after announced starter Bryan Hogan suffered a groin injury in pre-game warmups.

It was the first shutout of the year for Michigan and - combined with a 1-0 overtime loss against Ferris State last Saturday - it’s just the second time in Spartan history that they’ve been shut out in back-to-back games.

That’s a lot of negative to swallow, no matter where the game was played or how many people watched.

But Krug said that eventually the sting will wear off and the Spartans will have fond memories of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I think there were just some things a few of the guys in the room would like to have back,” Krug said. “But 10 years from now, I'm still going to remember it as the most fun I've ever had on an ice rink.

“You look at these 23-year-old men, and it was like they're like little kids back on the ice."

Rich Rezler is a sports producer and sports writer for AnnArbor.com. Contact him at 734-623-2553 or richrezler@annarbor.com.