The goal remains simple for the MSU hockey team - win three out of every four games the remainder of the regular season.
After a split last weekend with Western Michigan, the Spartans (12-11-1 overall, 7-9-0 CCHA) will be forced to win both games this weekend, when they welcome Lake Superior for a two-game series at Munn Ice Arena, in order to accomplish their goal.
"We know we have to win every game at home," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.
"It's plain and simple and none of them are going to be easy. Lake Superior is a much improved team and they're ahead of us in the standings right now because of less games played, so it becomes another big series."
Lake Superior (7-12-3, 6-6-2) and MSU are currently tied in the CCHA standings at 14 points and each and will both be battling for crucial division wins. The Lakers hold an edge in the division because the Spartans have played two more games.
"There's a lot of pressure on everybody," sophomore defenseman A.J. Thelen said. "We all want to do good, we all want to get up in the standings and we all want to perform."
MSU has had the advantage in recent years against the Lakers, winning nine of the last 10 meetings between the two teams. But Lake Superior, who found themselves at the bottom of the standings in past years, is currently holding strong in the middle of the CCHA pack.
"Every point is big right now," Comley said. "I don't ever like to put do-or-die situations with them. I thought last Saturday was a do-or-die game mentally and emotionally and we got to win every game we possibly can, that's the approach we have."
Comley was a four year letterwinner at Lake Superior and began his coaching career there as an assistant. But, he said he treats matchups against his alma mater just as any other game.
"My close ties are with Northern Michigan and even though I played at Lake Superior and coached there, that was so many years ago that you really lose touch after all those years."
Senior forward Adam Nightingale, who transferred from Lake Superior in 2002, also said that he treats this match up just as he would any other.
"That was a long time ago," Nightingale said. "At this point in the year it doesn't matter who you're playing, we've got to win."
Senior forward Kevin Estrada and junior forward David Booth, who were scratched from the lineup last week due to sickness, will be back in action this weekend.
Comley said that Booth began skating Wednesday and is expected to play again Friday, while he plans to skate Estrada the next few days and put him back in the lineup for Saturday's game.
