Revenge — how sweet it can be.
That’s the motto surrounding the MSU hockey team this week as it prepares
for its first-round playoff series on the road against Northern Michigan starting tonight.
Lerg, team looking to extend season through weekend
Senior goaltender Jeff Lerg watches as a puck he deflected passes by the net. Lerg made his 3,934th career stop, giving him the CCHA all-time saves record in the Spartans’ 2-1 loss against Notre Dame Feb. 28 at Munn Ice Arena.
Last year, the Wildcats came to Munn Ice Arena and eliminated the Spartans from the CCHA Tournament in the second round.
But this season the tables have turned, and the Spartans are in the underdog role heading to Marquette this weekend for a best-of-three series.
“It’s a role reversal from where we were at last year,” senior defenseman Kurt Kivisto said.
“We were ahead of them and they came down here and beat us in three games. So we are hoping we can return the favor this year.”
Both teams will need to win the CCHA Tournament to extend their season into the NCAA Tournament, and MSU senior goaltender Jeff Lerg doesn’t want this weekend to be his last time in the Green and White.
“It’s going to be one of those weekends where you have to lay it all out there,” Lerg said.
“You aren’t holding back for anything. We are going against a real tough opponent — a team that’s kind of made for playoff hockey. It will be a long summer if we can’t find a way to do whatever it takes to get this weekend done.”
The Spartans (10-21-5 overall, 7-17-4-3 CCHA) took four points from the Wildcats earlier this season in two games played at Munn. But Lerg said the past is the past, and the playoffs are a whole new ball game.
“Nothing else matters up to this point,” Lerg said. “The playoffs are a new season and now is the time where maybe if you haven’t had a good couple weeks, now it’s time to turn it up.”
Sophomore forward Dustin Gazley said he is one of
the players who needs to
pick up the slack this weekend, as he is currently riding a nine–game pointless streak.
“I’ve been struggling lately getting the puck in the net,” Gazley said. “I’m getting my chances, but I’ve just got to finish on them. That’s going to be a key point of this weekend.”
Northern Michigan head coach Walt Kyle is expecting a low-scoring series, where games will be won and lost with the men between the pipes.
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“When you get to this time of the year goaltending is always a big factor,” Kyle said. “MSU is blessed to have a returning Hobey Baker (Award) candidate in Lerg and everybody knows he’s one of the best in the country. But we’ve got a pretty good one in (goaltender Brian) Stewart. I’m sure both will be at the top of their game this weekend.”
The Spartans have witnessed Stewart be the hero in games against MSU, but also the goat. MSU head coach Rick Comley said his team will have to get pressure on the Wildcats netminder right away if they are going to have any success.
“Stewart is the guy we have battled with more than anybody over the last several years,” Comley said. “When he’s good he gives us fits, but then there are times we’ve chased him.”
With the Spartans averaging only 1.58 goals a game — the worst in the CCHA — Comley said scoring the first goal will be critical.
“If we score first, then I like our chances,” Comley said.
“But if we fall behind, then it gets that much more difficult.”
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The loser of the series will see their season come to an abrupt end, and Gazley isn’t ready to hang up the skates just yet.
“We have to play like we know we are capable of playing,” Gazley said.
“This is the playoffs and any team can beat any team in this league.
That’s important and we have to have that in the back of our minds. We have to go into this weekend full force.”
