The RedHawks scored two power play goals within the first 10 minutes of the game, but MSU fired right back, as junior forward Matt Schepke scored less than three minutes later to make it 2-1.

Once again, it was Miami’s stellar puck possession that paid off once again, as the RedHawks seemingly toyed with the Spartans at times, applying tremendous pressure in all zones and in all situations.

“They got to play with the lead and we had to play catch-up the whole night,” Comley said. “It takes so much energy out of you.”

If not for the play of junior goaltender Jeff Lerg, the final deficit could’ve been quite large.

Lerg made 15 of his 30 saves in the second period, including several at point-blank range. The Spartans were outshot 15-5 in the period.

“In the second period in that sequence he had two just dynamic saves,” Comley said. “He competes. God, if everyone competed like he did.”

After being stymied for much of the game, the Spartans were finally able to get going in the final seven minutes of the game.

“In the third period last night, we kind of got broken a bit,” Comley said

“Tonight in the third period, we kept coming and coming, so we’ll try to build off that.”

Junior forward Justin Abdelkader, inparticular, had two tremendous chances in that time frame.

On the first, he took a pass from junior forward Tim Crowder and fired it just wide and on the second, he slipped a rebound through the legs of Miami goaltender Jeff Zatkoff, only to have it hit the bottom of the post.

“I thought it was in,” Abdelkader said. “I kind of threw it behind me and hit the post and the puck was just lying there and my guy tied me up and Crowder had a whack at it, too. It’s just one of that plays that it’s a bounce. Sometimes you get them and sometimes you don’t.”

MSU was able to get Lerg to the bench with over a minute remaining, but for the second night in a row, Miami had no trouble in securing the insurance tally, as Ryan Jones sent his ninth goal of the season into the empty net with 28 seconds remaining.

“They came at us so much harder than what we’ve seen in the last month,” Comley said.

Now MSU has to quickly regroup, as the schedule doesn’t get any easier as traditional powerhouses Minnesota and Wisconsin come to Munn as part of the annual College Hockey Showcase next Friday and Saturday.