A tie for eighth place isn't where the Spartans want to be in the CCHA standings with six games left. But after being swept by Alaska-Fairbanks last weekend, eighth place is where they stand.

Coming into the season with a No. 10 pre-ranking nationally, the Spartans would have to go on the road in the first-round CCHA playoffs if the regular season were to end today.

MSU head coach Rick Comley insists that there is no quit in his team, despite the way things have gone so far.

"I haven't given up on this team," Comley said. We can be an effective team in the playoffs, and anybody that plays us - I don't think it's going to be a good draw for them.

"We come, and we play, and we battle and we compete. We just don't always get it done."

The Spartans said they are using their current CCHA status as motivation for the rest of the season.

"Our goal is to get home ice," junior defenseman Jared Nightingale said of the playoffs. "We know we're fighting for our lives right now to do that."

Junior forward David Booth said the team needs to remain positive.

"You have to try and take positives out of everything and build on the things that you have to build on," Booth said.

Lost luggage

Comley said in his Monday press conference the team had about half the equipment back from its road trip to Alaska.

Comley said Tuesday the team had gotten all the equipment back, but still isn't quite sure what happened to it.

Nonetheless, the retrieved equipment prevented the team from having a very interesting Tuesday practice, as the team had the day off Monday.

Playoff hockey coverage

The weekend of March 18, college hockey will be massively covered across FOX Sports Net and other affiliate stations as part of the College Hockey Breakaway Weekend.

FSN Detroit, North and Rocky Mountain are scheduled to the CCHA Super Six Tournament. Other FSN networks confirmed to carry coverage are Chicago, Ohio, New England and New York. FSN South will also carry coverage.