Icers look to end regular season with sweep

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The No. 12 MSU hockey team is one point away from accomplishing a goal set during the offseason.

If the Spartans can get one game of their home-and-home series this weekend against Bowling Green to a shootout, MSU will clinch a spot in the top four in the CCHA standings and receive a first-round bye and home-ice advantage in the second round of the CCHA Tournament.

But the Spartans also are well aware that one point in the last series of the regular season might not be enough to earn a berth in the 16-team NCAA Tournament.

“You have to be a little bit careful because the games have tremendous significance. … Your ultimate goal is beyond league play,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said. “You must win games right now. Every game becomes the most important game of the year, especially as games diminish, and you can’t make up any ground. You are at the time of the year now where a loss at times can end your season. So you better be ready to go.”

With last weekend’s split against No. 14 Ferris State, the two teams remain tied for second place in the CCHA standings. But if both teams sweep their opponents this weekend, Ferris State will finish in second place because of the goal-differential tie-breaker.

The Spartans’ struggles lately mainly have been with consistency. One night the Spartans will come out firing on all cylinders; the next they will come out flat and lackadaisical.

But if the Spartans are able to earn a sweep this weekend — which they haven’t done since Dec. 12 against Bowling Green — MSU could pick up some much-needed momentum leading into the playoffs.

“You look at the last few weekends, and we’ve been strong one night and disappointing the next night,” freshman defenseman Torey Krug said. “Confidence-wise, it would be unbelievable to end this season on a sweep.”

Sprague’s return

In his first game of the season, senior forward Jay Sprague netted a goal in MSU’s 3-2 win over Ferris State on Saturday.

“At this time of the year, you need people to step up, and it’s not always the people you think it should be,” Comley said.

Sprague was kept out of the lineup for the majority of the season due to knee and ankle injuries, both of which required surgery.

“It was great to hear his number called off on Saturday morning to find out that he was playing,” junior defenseman Jeff Petry said. “He was super excited. Then getting into the game, that rebound came to him and he put it away. Everybody’s face just lit up. It was awesome.”

Comley teamed Sprague up with sophomore forward Brett Perlini and freshman forward Dean Chelios and the line contributed several hard-working shifts for the Spartans.

Comley said he will keep the line together for Friday’s game, which is Senior Night for the Spartans.

“That line played really well,” Comley said.

“Putting Jay on that line gave them somebody big, strong with talent. I thought it was one of our better lines, if not the best line on Saturday night.”

Scoring woes

MSU is averaging 1.25 goals a game through its first two series in February, compared to the team’s 3.37 goals per game average in January.

The Spartans also have been outshot in 11 of 12 games since winter break.

Comley said the team’s energy level is to blame for its recent struggles.

“We don’t have the same energy right now,” Comley said. “The effort is good, and the intent is good. But if you are really going to do something this time of the year, then the energy levels have to return.”

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