Sure, the Spartans are on the cusp of accomplishing a preseason goal to finish among the top four teams in the CCHA and secure home-ice advantage in the playoffs. And if the Spartans pick up a pair of victories this weekend against a reeling Notre Dame squad, they will eclipse their first 20-win season since 2007-08.

But for junior forward Kevin Walrod, the worst thing the team can do with the CCHA Tournament around the corner is to discount the Fighting Irish, who sit in a tie for eighth place in the conference after starting the season as the nation’s top-ranked team.

“It’s gonna take our best effort of the season,” Walrod said. “We have had a little success lately, but that doesn’t change anything because the (standings) are so close. Notre Dame’s a team that’s going to be strong like ours. We’re going to have to weather the storm a little bit, but it’s going to take a great effort from every guy.”

The Fighting Irish are 3-9 in their last 12 games against CCHA opponents, including an active streak of five consecutive conference losses. Much of the losing can be attributed to a stagnant offense that has scored just two goals in the team’s last four games.

The Spartans currently sit in fourth place in the CCHA and have guaranteed themselves a finish of no worse than sixth, but could be as high as second heading into the CCHA Tournament.

“What I remember from playing them, you don’t have much time and space with the puck,” junior defenseman Torey Krug said. “Their forwards are relentless on the forecheck, and they’re a very structured team that plays well in their own zone.”

Despite Notre Dame’s shortcomings, MSU head coach Tom Anastos emphasized the importance of the task at hand with the CCHA Tournament being so close. The weekend likely will have the atmosphere of a playoff game in Notre Dame’s new 5,022-seat Compton Family Ice Arena, Anastos said.

“It’s like playoffs now,” Anastos said. “We talked at our team meeting (Monday), it’s playoff time. We’re playing off for positioning this weekend and whether or not we’ll play the next weekend or (sit) a couple weeks out. It’s game on now, which I think is exciting.”

MSU and Notre Dame have yet to square off this season and haven’t played one another since Nov. 20, 2010, where the Spartans fell 4-2.

Although the Spartans hold the 59-38-4 all-time series advantage against the Irish, MSU has a 10-game winless streak against Notre Dame that dates back to January 2008.

Having never beaten the Fighting Irish, Krug said the team will have more than one motive and plenty of goals in mind in the weekend series in South Bend.

“Every point has implications on the standings and the playoff matchups,” Krug said. “For us, our mission is the same as it is every weekend: get six points. Hopefully we can do that.”