Season on the line for Spartans

Marquette — So now it’s win or go home for the MSU hockey team.

After losing 5-3 on Friday, things aren’t looking good for the Spartans.

While MSU did have a handful of quality scoring chances on the night, the Wildcats were clearly the better team.

Thankfully for MSU, sophomore forward Andrew Rowe was able to play tonight after his status was questionable all week.

As expected, the line of Rowe, freshman forward Daultan Leveille and sophomore forward Dustin Gazley was the best line for the Spartans tonight.

They were able to record one goal, but they had a slew of chances throughout the game.

But the story of the night was the Spartans inability to clear the puck in their defensive zone.

On several occasions, the Wildcats kept the puck in MSU’s zone for minutes – yes minutes – and didn’t allow the Spartans to get off the ice.

A lot of the Spartans struggles can probably be blamed on the unfamiliar Olympic-size sheet, but it’s a problem that must be addressed before tomorrow’s game.

“They really hemmed us in at times,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said. “We got tired out there in the second period. We have to change (lines) better tomorrow.”

Senior goaltender Jeff Lerg didn’t look to be his usual self tonight and gave up five goals for the first time since Jan. 24 against U-M.

After the game Comley hinted that Lerg’s knee might still be giving him problems and said that “you can see Jeff’s not very healthy.”

The sad thing is that Lerg played really well tonight.

But it wasn’t his usual outstanding performance that everyone has become accustomed to seeing.

And if the Spartans are going to win the next two games, Lerg is going to have to be outstanding for the rest of the series.

The Spartans have to keep it a low scoring game if they are going to have any chance on Saturday night.

If not, it will be a long trip back to East Lansing.