Heading into this weekend’s home-and-home series against Western Michigan, senior goaltender Jeff Lerg is only 10 saves away from setting the all-time MSU saves record.
The captain between the pipes is trying to pass Dave Versical’s (1975-78) record of 3,108 career saves.
“It would be a nice accomplishment to have coming in here with the amount of great goaltenders that come through this program,” Lerg said. “To come out with the most saves in the program is definitely a huge accomplishment. Hopefully I can put that in my back pocket and take it along with me to the next level and prove that I can play.”
Lerg stopped 52-of-54 shots for the Spartans (3-2-1 overall, 1-0-1 CCHA) against Northern Michigan this weekend and recorded the 11th shutout of his career on Saturday night.
He also stopped two-of-three breakaway attempts in the Spartans’ first shootout of the season on Friday.
“He’s just so quick and thinks the position so well,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said of Lerg’s abilities in the shootouts.
“Most players want to deke, (but) he’s so fast up and down and side to side.”
Lerg was rewarded for his solid performance on the weekend by being named the CCHA Goaltender of the Week. It was the second time in three weeks that Lerg has received the accolade.
A tough crowd
On Saturday night, the No. 11 Spartans are going to have to deal with Western Michigan’s (1-4-1, 0-1-1) boisterous student section — coined the Lawson Lunatics.
Lerg is more than familiar with the Lunatics than any other Spartan, and after losing two of the last three games at Lawson, Lerg admits he has a tough time in the building.
“I’ve struggled there,” Lerg said. “Last year was a great feeling to get a win in that building. We know it’s going to be just as rowdy this Saturday and we know they are a better team this year too.
“Hopefully we can win because that’s the best sound — when it’s silent.”
With the youth of the Spartans squad, Comley hopes his team will be able to deal with the hostile environment.
Freshman defenseman Tim Buttery is excited to get his first taste of a conference road game and thinks a different environment will benefit his fellow freshman teammates.
“I’m the type of player that I really like playing on the road,” Buttery said. “I just really like when the other crowd is cheering against you. I feed off that.”
Two down
Two of the Spartans top fowards will be out of the lineup this weekend against Western Michigan.
Senior forward Nick Sucharski injured his shoulder in Friday’s game and Comley said he will be out three weeks.
Also out this weekend is sophomore forward Corey Tropp, who is still battling mononucleosis. Comley expects Tropp to return to the lineup in two weeks when MSU travels to Ohio State for a weekend set.
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
This makes the Spartans extremely thin on offense and especially at center, where Sucharski was the go-to guy for faceoffs.
Comley isn’t too happy about it, but he realizes he is going to have to play at least two freshman at center this weekend.
“I don’t have many choices and that’s my problem right now,” Comley said. “It’s a thin position for us and offensively everything starts with the center. That’s the player that has to have the puck and distribute the puck.”
The Spartans play the first game of the home-and-home at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Munn Ice Arena.
