Detroit - Time was running out for the MSU hockey team when the Spartans found themselves behind late in both games against No. 5, CCHA leading, Michigan on Friday at Yost Ice Arena and Saturday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

The good news for the Spartans (13-11-4 overall, 8-9-3 CCHA) is that they mounted third-period comebacks both nights to earn two conference ties, and two crucial points in the CCHA race.

"They're the toughest team to play defense against because they have such talent and speed coming at you," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.

"Emotionally for us, they're both big games because you score late to tie it, and when you're fighting right now for any kind of points with a limited number of games left, they're big."

With the Wolverines (20-7-3, 17-3-2) skating to a 2-0 lead late in the third period of Friday's contest, the Spartans got the lift they were looking for when sophomore forward Drew Miller redirected a point blast fired by sophomore defenseman Ethan Graham, cutting the U-M lead in half.

With sophomore goaltender Dominic Vicari pulled to add an extra MSU attacker, Miller came through again with a dramatic goal 1.2 seconds left in regulation, tying the game at two and forcing overtime.

Neither team was able to convert in the five-minute extra stanza, and the game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Saturday's game beared many similarities to the previous night.

In front of a sold-out Joe Louis Arena crowd, U-M struck first in the game when forward Eric Nystrom beat Vicari on a 2-on-1 break.

The Spartans saw many opportune chances denied by U-M goaltender Al Montoya, just as they had the previous night, but were finally able to get on the board late in the third when freshman forward Jim McKenzie shoveled a loose puck behind Montoya.

Despite a late third-period U-M power play, the game once again went to overtime, and once again resulted in a tie; this time 1-1.

Vicari stopped 41 shots both nights and 82 out of 85 on the weekend, all while battling the flu - a performance worthy of first-star honors Saturday night.

Comley said the weekend was a big step for Vicari.

"His numbers have been good and I think he's played pretty well, but you've kind of been waiting for him to get to a point where he gets points for you - both games this weekend he did."

Senior captain Jim Slater summed up Vicari's weekend performance as "unbelievable."

"No doubt in my mind (Vicari) should be the defensive player of the week," Slater said.

"He made some key saves when he had to, he was on his game, and if he can keep playing like that, we're going to go a long way. He stepped up this weekend for us."

The last three meetings between the Spartans and Wolverines have gone to overtime. The last time the matchup crowned a winner was Dec. 30 at the Great Lakes Invitational Tournament, when the Spartans knocked off their intrastate rival in overtime.

The two points MSU picked up this weekend is good enough to keep them in a sixth-place CCHA tie, only four points behind fifth-place Bowling Green.

The Spartans will return to action when they travel to Alaska-Fairbanks next weekend for a two-game series.

MSU sophomore goaltender Dominic Vicari stopped 41 shots Friday and Saturday and 82 out of 85 on the weekend, all while battling the flu. The scoring summary for both nights, which ended in a 2-2 and 1-1 tie, respectively:

Source: MSU Sports Information