Although No. 5 MSU clinched a first-round CCHA playoff bye and is a lock to finish no lower than fourth in the conference with last weekend's sweep, the Spartans know there are bigger goals to accomplish.
Heading into its final two regular-season games against Lake Superior, the Spartans want to claim second place in the CCHA and ride out the season on a winning streak.
"Everybody knows the significance of the games and the time of the year," MSU head coach Rick Comley said. "We want to win two hockey games this weekend."
The Spartans (19-10-7 overall, 13-7-6 CCHA) currently sit in second place in the league, with two points in hand on third-place Michigan and a three-point advantage over fourth-place Nebraska-Omaha. Miami (Ohio) clinched the CCHA regular-season title last week.
At least one win this weekend would guarantee a finish no worse than third place, but the Spartans' focus isn't to come away with just a split.
"It's huge just for the mental approach of the team to stay on a roll, to stay sharp," junior forward Chris Lawrence said. "We want to go in (to the playoffs) with a positive mind frame and not have a negative feelings.
"If we had a letdown this weekend, I think it would really hurt us."
But the Spartans are aware that they might be in for Lake Superior's best hockey this weekend. After being swept by Northern Michigan last weekend, the Lakers (15-11-6, 11-11-4) still have hopes of finishing with a playoff bye.
"They still can finish in the top four," Comley said. "Worst case scenario, they want home ice so we stand in their way."
MSU's season-best seven-game unbeaten streak will be on the line today in Sault Ste. Marie and then again Saturday afternoon at Joe Louis Arena when the Spartans prepare to meet a veteran Lakers team.
"They're an older, bigger, stronger team, and those teams have given us a little bit of trouble at times because we're a younger team," Comley said.
The Lakers present a balanced offensive attack, having 11 players with more than 10 points on the team.
They've also established a solid goaltender in Jeff Jakaitis, who comes into the series with a 2.24 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage.
MSU had all the recent success in matchups with a 12-2-1 mark in the past 15 meetings.
