It's been a long three seasons for Rick Comley since he left Marquette for East Lansing.
The MSU head coach is just 3-7 against his former team, Northern Michigan, since becoming the Spartans head coach in 2002.
MSU was swept out of the Berry Events Center last season in the only two meetings between the schools and the Wildcats eliminated the Spartans from the CCHA Super-Six in 2003 and 2004.
Now, off to its best start under Comley, MSU is looking to end the Wildcats' dominance when they meet for two games on Friday and Saturday, both at 7:05 p.m. at Munn Ice Arena.
"They have four really elite forwards," Comley said. "They have that defensive pair that is really, really good and they have an outstanding goaltender. They're a defensive team that takes advantage of special teams play."
The No. 8 Spartans are coming off last weekend's split against then-No. 2 Cornell, dropping the opener 4-2 before coming back with a 4-3 victory behind freshman goaltender Jeff Lerg, who picked up the win in his first career game.
"(Lerg's) got to play," Comley said. "He's a very good goaltender. He's got to get his games in and that position is no different than any other one. You want competition, you want them challenging and pushing each other. It won't be long before he is back in there."
Comley said he is undecided on which goaltender will get the nod this weekend.
MSU's power play is struggling again this season, converting just seven of 41 tries.
"We've shown flashes, but we've had so many people out of our lineup," Comley said. "We just haven't been able to settle on a consistent group or two."
Last season, the Spartans were just 2-for-23 on the power play in the two games against Northern Michigan. The Wildcats have allowed just two power play goals in six games this season.
"Their special teams have been outstanding and that's going to be a key to this weekend for sure," Comley said.
Junior captain Drew Miller has seen the power play work before. He said it's just a matter of putting the pieces together.
"If you find something that clicks, you need to just keep doing it and doing it," Miller said.
Northern Michigan goaltender Bill Zaniboni was just named the CCHA Player of the Month for October, going 5-0-0 with a .969 save percentage.
"We just played David McKee, who is as good as any goalie in the country and we were able to get six on him," Comley said.
"Hopefully we can get the puck in the net."
MSU is expected to get a boost with the return of junior defenseman Chris Snavely to the lineup. Snavely has not played yet this season due to a shoulder injury.
"He's a guy who can rush the puck," junior defenseman Ethan Graham said. "He's got good wheels and he's got a good shot from the point."
Freshman defenseman Brandon Gentile (stomach muscle) is not expected to play.
