The MSU hockey team heads into the CCHA Super Six quarterfinals game today at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit against a Nebraska-Omaha team it has much in common with.
The Spartans and Mavericks have identical overall records of 19-15-4 and split their only regular-season series in late October with respective 5-2 decisions.
The Spartans were all over Nebraska-Omaha the first game of the series, only to come out flat in the second game.
"Probably the game I think we played our worst in was that second game way back in October," MSU head coach Rick Comley said of the Oct. 30 loss. "It kind of set the tone, I think, for the year."
Comley said he sees many similarities between the Mavericks' offense and the Miami (Ohio) offense, a team the Spartans swept in the first-round CCHA playoffs last weekend. The Mavericks have good speed and excellent puck skills, Comley said.
"Their forwards are as good as any forwards in the league," he said. "It's a team I think we're comfortable with knowing what they do, now we just have to make sure we play."
Forwards Scott Parse and Bill Thomas lead the Mavericks in offensive production with a combined 94 points and have been essential to the team's turnaround from 12th place in the CCHA last year to fourth this year.
One advantage Comley sees in this matchup is experience of play at Joe Louis Arena.
Although Nebraska-Omaha has no experience playing in Detroit, the Spartans have played in Detroit three times this year, posting an undefeated 2-0-1 record.
"We just got to keep playing like we have been, we got to keep working hard," junior forward Colton Fretter said. "Obviously, we played against them and that was a long time ago, that was early in the season, so both teams have matured since then."
The Spartans are riding a five-game winning streak into the matchup. They will be without junior forward David Booth, however, who has been making progress from a fractured rib.
With a win over the Mavericks, the Spartans will advance to the semifinals of the Super Six and will meet either Ohio State or Michigan, depending on seeding, for rights to play for the Mason Cup.
Tickets still can be purchased through the MSU ticket office at (517) 355-1610.
