Productivity is the name of the game.
For the MSU hockey team (8-7-1 overall, 6-3-1 CCHA), "production" was missed after grossing just two goals in as many games in the 11th annual College Hockey Showcase this past weekend.
And, making the outlook worse, junior forward Mike Lalonde was responsible for both MSU goals.
"We're supposed to be an offensive team, and being in a game 1-1, we need to find a way to get that second one and put teams away," junior center Jim Slater said.
The Spartans lost 5-1 Friday night to a talented Minnesota team (5-7-1) and skated an evenly paced match with Wisconsin (8-3-3) before an overtime goal by Badgers defenseman Jeff Likens downed the Spartans, 2-1.
"(Friday) night, we were tested by a very, very good team and didn't react real well," MSU head coach Rick Comley said. "And (Saturday), a team that is obviously playing really well with an undefeated streak of nine games, or whatever it was coming in, and I thought we went toe-to-toe with them the entire night."
The Spartans have lost three of their last four at home, which worries Comley. Wins always are expected at home, and the Spartans' schedule plays handsomely into that philosophy, with 23 games at Munn Ice Arena.
"What concerns me the most is not being good enough to win at home," Comley said. "Losing is not being good enough to win, so I'm concerned about the play of some people and the lack of production of a lot of people.
"You got to work hard and face facts and get good enough so you do win. You don't lose for no reason."
On Friday, the Spartans took the game as it was - a loss to a two-time defending national championship team. But on Saturday, the Spartans returned to Munn primed to salvage two points.
Junior goaltender Matt Migliaccio summed up the Spartans' problems, saying "that's just the way our team's luck has been going."
And it seemed as though luck isn't on the Spartans' side after the Badgers' game-winner was just about grabbed by Migliaccio, but the puck took a bounce off his chest and over his shoulder before crossing the goal line.
"It's very frustrating any time you lose at home or not and come with a real solid effort," Lalonde said.
Freshman goaltender Dominic Vicari was showered in net Friday, saving 47 shots. Migliaccio had 33 saves Saturday.
The Spartans' schedule gets no easier. MSU will skate away from the weekend and head into a CCHA weekend showdown against rival Michigan (9-5-0, 5-3-0) beginning on Friday.
