MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- It was the kind of night for Ben Grotting and his Wisconsin linemates where they didn't have to play much in their defensive zone.

"It's nice to have games like that, where you can just get the puck in deep and cycle around, keep control of the puck and get shots," Grotting said. "Things were just kind of going our way tonight. It's nice to have those nights."

Grotting scored a goal and added assists on John Mitchell and Matt Thurber scores as the Badgers outshot Michigan State by more than a 4-to-1 margin en route to a 3-1 victory on Friday in the College Hockey Showcase.

Grotting's line combined for nine of Wisconsin's 53 shots on goal, seven points and a plus-9 rating as the Badgers improved to 6-1-1 in their last eight games.

Wisconsin held the Spartans to 12 shots on goal, a season low for Badgers opponents and for Michigan State.

But Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves didn't want to use the word dominating in connection with his team's performance.

"We fired a lot of pucks," Eaves said. "We had possession in their zone and we didn't give up a lot. I'm afraid to use that term."

Jeff Lerg made a season-high 50 saves for the Spartans, who have lost seven in a row and haven't scored more than one goal in any of those games.

Michigan State (4-9-2) has been outscored 27-6 in the last seven games, but Lerg at least gave the Spartans a chance against Wisconsin.

"I think he was about as good as he could play," Michigan State coach Rick Comley said.

Tim Crowder scored a third-period, power-play goal to cut Wisconsin's lead to 2-1, but Thurber answered for the Badgers (6-7-2), batting home a rebound of a Mitchell shot just before it hit the ice.

"My line knew that it was our duty to go out there and make sure that we create the energy, that we let the guys know that the game is far from over," Grotting said.

Shane Connelly made 11 saves for Wisconsin.

It took the Badgers 32 shots on goal and over 36 minutes to finally crack Lerg, and it was a rebound of the 31st shot that broke the scoreless tie. Lerg turned back Jake Gardiner's shot on a rush into the zone, but it went right to Grotting for a quick putback.

The goalie didn't get over in time to stop Mitchell's shot in the third period, which gave Wisconsin a 2-0 lead. Mitchell got a pass from Thurber on a 2-on-1 rush and scored his sixth goal of the season.

Michigan State wasn't credited with a shot on goal in the 10 minutes, 43 seconds between the first two Badgers goals.

The Spartans' losing streak is their longest since they lost eight in a row in the 1980-81 season.

"We have a long way to go," Comley said. "I don't know what to tell you. You can't make it up."

Lerg tied a career high by making 18 saves in the first period.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)