In a season plagued by inconsistencies and the inabilities to string together wins, the MSU hockey team walked away with another split in a home series against No. 7 Ohio State, a split indicative of how the season has evolved.
The only conference sweep the Spartans picked up this season was in November against Ferris State.
Against Ohio State, MSU (14-14-4 overall, 9-12-3 CCHA) picked up two points in the CCHA race, good for eighth place in the conference and four points out of sixth place.
This is a spot the Spartans will need to be if they want home ice in the first-round CCHA playoffs.
"We're still in a position to get home ice and as disgusted as everybody is right now, that's the nature of the beast," MSU head coach Rick Comley said.
"I'm more concerned about the next four than I am about (Saturday's game) right now."
The Spartans have two games in hand over Alaska-Fairbanks and Miami (Ohio), with each team also in the hunt for home ice. The Nanooks have a two-point lead over the Spartans, and the RedHawks lead MSU by four, making the final four conference games crucial for the Spartans.
After rolling to a 6-3 win over the Buckeyes (23-8-3, 20-5-1) on Friday, thanks in part to a hat trick from freshman forward Jim McKenzie, the Spartans had the favor returned to them the next night, when they were downed 5-1 in a penalty-filled contest.
The Spartans fired on all cylinders Friday, playing in front of an appreciative, avid crowd, but met a more determined Buckeyes team the next night and were unable to gain momentum off the lone goal fired in by senior captain Jim Slater.
Ohio State goaltender Dave Caruso, who was chased from the net Friday in favor of backup Ian Keserich after allowing four goals on 33 shots, bounced back Saturday, stopping 14 of the 15 Spartan shots fired at him.
"The pride's the only thing that hurts right now," Slater said. "Getting beat 5-1, it's tough to take, especially when you beat a team last night like that, but Ohio State is a good team - they're a really good team."
Ohio State, which plays a physically grueling, chippy style of hockey, made its physical presence felt in the series, as the Spartans played without several key players this past weekend.
Junior forward David Booth (strained ribs), junior defenseman Corey Potter (hip), and McKenzie (ankle) all played limited time in the series and are all listed as day-to-day on the injury report.
"I think you always have to be careful and look at the whole picture," Comley said. "We were missing some key players (Saturday) and some other ones that played hurt, and (Ohio State's) too good."
MSU's struggle to pick up series sweeps this season is a key factor in the reason why the Spartans are fighting for home ice in the CCHA race.
"You've got to take the positive," sophomore forward Drew Miller said. "Two points is two points, and you move on from there."
Slater called Saturday's loss "disappointing."
"The positives are we got another win against a top team in the country, and that's a benefit for us because we know we can play with those teams, it's just a matter of how long," he said.
MSU moves on to more CCHA play next weekend when they play Bowling Green in a home-and-home series. Friday, MSU plays at Bowling Green.
