The last time Michigan and MSU met on Oct. 22 in Ann Arbor, no winner was decided, and the two teams skated to a 3-3 tie. The game was typical of the two schools' past three meetings, all which ended in draws.
Tonight at Munn Ice Arena, the Spartans and the No. 6 Wolverines will clash in the first of three meetings within the next two weeks.
"The Michigan game is always a fun game to play in," junior captain Drew Miller said. "The importance is just another two points at our building. We'll be geared up and ready to go."
Only one point separates fourth-place U-M (13-7-1 overall, 8-4-1 CCHA) from the fifth-place Spartans (12-8-5, 6-5-4). In the CCHA, only seven points separate second place from last place, making points crucial in the second half of the season.
The Spartans have won their past four games and have been victorious in six of their past seven contests. The Wolverines are coming off a 4-3 exhibition win against the United States National Team Development Program.
"Obviously, this Michigan game is huge for us after coming off back-to-back, double-win weekends," freshman forward Justin Abdelkader said. "This Michigan game could really put us over the edge here."
In the first meeting against U-M, Abdelkader, along with freshman line mates Tim Crowder and Tim Kennedy, combined for two goals in the tie. Kennedy forced a turnover in the game's first period to score the first goal of his collegiate career.
"When I scored that goal, it was the greatest feeling I've had in hockey so far," Kennedy recalled. "This game is the reason why I chose to come here."
Although the Wolverines are without the services of forward Jeff Tambellini and goaltender Al Montoya — who both signed with their respective NHL teams rather than play their senior years — U-M still has plenty of firepower.
Forward T.J. Hensick paces U-M in points with 30, and the addition of defenseman Jack Johnson and forward Andrew Cogliano make the Wolverines among the best in the nation.
Tonight will be the third game in the past five days for the Spartans, but MSU head coach Rick Comley doesn't see the condensed schedule as a deciding factor.
"It's what you want from a good league and good balanced competition," Comley said. "It should be a whale of a hockey game."
MSU will be without the services of sophomore center Chris Mueller, who was given a game disqualification following Saturday's 2-1 win against Alaska Fairbanks when a series of fights broke out along the Nanooks' bench.
Freshman goaltender Jeff Lerg was strong between the pipes during the weekend, stopping 44 of 45 Nanooks' shots in the weekend sweep, but Comley is still unsure of who he will start in net against the Wolverines.
Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net.
Honored
Kennedy earned CCHA Rookie of the Week honors for his four-point weekend in the sweep against Alaska Fairbanks.
Kennedy scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in Friday's 4-0 blanking of the Nanooks and recorded two helpers in Saturday's 2-1 victory.
