Spartans cruise through Oct., prep for Nov.

The MSU hockey team is pretty satisfied with its opening month of the season.

The No. 17 Spartans (6-2-0 overall, 3-1-0 CCHA) swept Clarkson and Western Michigan and split with Maine and No. 1 Miami.

But the real test for the team will come in November, with the Spartans having series against No. 10 Nebraska-Omaha, No. 4 Michigan and No. 9 Notre Dame.

The Spartans also will have single game matchups against No. 18 Wisconsin and Minnesota.

“It’s a make-or-break stretch for us,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said. “You have to win a certain number of games to move to where you want to move to. We are going to be tested in this next month for sure.”

Getting off to a strong start was one of the biggest points of emphasis entering this season for the Spartans.

“We had to get off to a good start,” sophomore goaltender Drew Palmisano said.

“Not only for the incoming freshmen to have confidence, but for the people that were here last year. We needed the extra confidence in this stretch coming up in November.”

Although the month of November appears to be the most difficult for the Spartans, they will have the benefit of playing six of the eight games at Munn Ice Arena — which includes this week’s Thursday and Friday series against Nebraska-Omaha.

Comley called the upcoming series against the Mavericks “every bit as tough a series as anything we will face in the next month.”

The success of October has the Spartans feeling pretty good, especially with the team’s ability to win close games, a trademark failure of last season’s squad.

“We are gelling together and all these close games that we were able to win really help,” sophomore defenseman Matt Crandell said. “We know as long as we stay in the game, we can find a way to win against any team.”

Still jugglin’

Comley also said Tuesday the Spartans’ netminders are likely to continue splitting time.

The coach said he doesn’t have a set plan in place for which goalie will play what games, or how long he will continue to play both goaltenders, but said he’s been impressed with their play so far.

“I don’t have a rotation,” Comley said.

“It’s like the (MSU) quarterbacks, I guess. But you can get criticized by who you play and when you play them.”

Palmisano, who previously was called the starter by Comley, said he doesn’t mind sharing time.

“They could put us in one period in and switch us,” Palmisano said.

“Whatever, as long as the team keeps winning. That’s what’s important.”