The No. 3 Spartans struggled from start to finish and were routed, 6-0, by No. 1 North Dakota in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game in Grand Forks, N.D.

The Spartans could never get anything going on the offensive end, as North Dakota goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux recorded a 23-save shutout.

The high-powered North Dakota offense took full advantage of MSU’s defensive miscues, scoring almost at will off odd-man rushes and forcing MSU into penalties.

The major turning point seemed to come when North Dakota forward T.J. Oshie, who had given the Fighting Sioux a 1-0 lead just minutes earlier, was ejected from the game for hitting junior forward Justin Abdelkader from behind.

The Spartans were given a 5-minute power play, but it went to a 4-on-4 in short order when Abdelkader was whistled for interference.

And that’s the way the game went.

North Dakota’s next two goals were off bad bounces for the Spartans.

The first went in off senior defenseman Jeff Dunne’s skate while the second proved bizarre as a shot from the point went wide and bounced out on the other side where it was batted out of mid-air into the goal.

After that, it was all but academic.

Although the Spartans outshot the Sioux, very few of the chances were of a quality variety.

Junior goaltender Jeff Lerg was hung out to dry on several occasions as the Spartans were burned for odd-man rushes, including multiple 3-on-1’s.

But don’t get overly worried about this result. Did the game snowball and get out of hand? Yes. But is it something we’ll see for the entire season? Not a chance.

North Dakota’s offense is powerful and took it to a young MSU defense. When the Spartans get a chance to grow as a team, good things will happen.