Dominic Vicari doesn't want the MSU hockey team's two-game matchup starting tonight to be about him vs. Michigan goaltender Al Montoya.
But it's hard not to compare the two when both are a backbone of their respective teams.
When Vicari, a freshman, and Montoya, a sophomore, faced each other for the first time in December, each traded the same 2-0 shutouts. But back then, they only played for school and state pride.
Tonight, exactly three months later, much more is at stake once the puck drops. The two long-time archrivals are playing not only for bragging rights but for the chance to call themselves CCHA champions. The Spartans can claim the top spot in the league only if they sweep the Wolverines and Miami (Ohio) earns no more than two points over Ohio State.
Since goaltending remains the key, the comparisons will keep coming. Take a look at the numbers: Vicari has a 2.12 goals-against average and a .924 save percentage with six shutouts, which leads the nation. Montoya isn't too far behind with a 2.31 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage with five shutouts.
But these two have no hostility toward one another. In fact, Vicari and Montoya were roommates during the U.S. National Junior Team's gold-medal run in January. In Finland without their families, the Spartans and the Wolverines spent Christmas and New Year's together.
"I think the rivalry's definitely more between the schools than it is between us," Vicari said. "I got to know him a lot over at the World Juniors - he's a great guy, and I like him a lot."
Vicari can breathe a sigh of relief, since the Spartans don't have to travel to Ann Arbor's Yost Arena. Game two is at 7:35 p.m. Saturday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
"The game was kind of funny," Vicari recalls of his Yost debut Dec. 5. "I was real nervous for that game because it was (at) Yost and (against) Michigan. Their crowd is unreal, how they get on you so hard."
The Spartans are coming off a one-week hiatus and the Wolverines are coming off two losses to Notre Dame. But none of that will matter as both teams close out their regular-season schedule.
"Their loss is irrelevant," MSU head coach Rick Comley said. "You can tell in our kids; it's a totally different atmosphere."
In order for the Spartans to earn four points this weekend, they have to play close to a perfect game both nights and keep the puck in the offensive zone.
"You've got to make them come to our zone," Comley said. "You can't cut the ice down for them because they take advantage of that. If you make them play at their goal line, it takes the speed
out of their game. If anything, the place where they're most vulnerable is their defense."
Line 'em up
The Spartans are without the services of freshman forward Drew Miller and junior forward Kevin Estrada for tonight's game.
Both earned game disqualifications for fighting Feb. 21 against Nebraska-Omaha.
"Kevin's line has become one of our better lines, and Drew is one of the best penalty killers in our league," Comley said. "And Michigan's power play is one of the better ones in the league. We lose two key players who play key roles for us."
Comley put junior Lee Falardeau up with sophomores David Booth and Colton Fretter. The player who centers the line, Comley said, "will be decided on who's winning faceoffs."
The top lines, of Mike Lalonde, Jim Slater and Tommy Goebel; and Brock Radunske, Ash Goldie and Adam Nightingale, will remain intact. The fourth line will consist of freshmen Tyler Howells and Chris Lawrence and junior Steve Swistak.
"The key line will be Goldie's line," Comley said. "I expect Slater's line to be real competitive, very involved."
