Trying to win the CCHA is no easy task to live up to, being preseason favorites.
But while Ohio State (14-12-4 overall, 10-10-2 CCHA) currently sits in eighth place in the conference — four points behind the No. 10 Spartans — MSU head coach Rick Comley knows tonight's game at Ohio State isn't going to be a cakewalk.
"They're capable of playing outstanding," Comley said.
Comley and the Spartans (16-10-7, 10-7-6) got a taste of how dangerous the Buckeyes can be Nov. 15, in the only other meeting of the season, when MSU surrendered a 2-1 lead and fell 3-2 in Columbus.
"It was a good game, we had the lead," Comley said. "Then we got that major penalty, they got a power-play goal then they got going."
Ohio State is coming off a weekend split with Michigan, while the Spartans are riding a sweep over Notre Dame into the contest.
The Spartans, who were in second place in the CCHA after Saturday, were overtaken Tuesday when U-M defeated Western Michigan, and leapfrogged MSU in the standings. Miami (Ohio) still has a commanding lead in the conference.
With only five regular-season games left on the schedule, the importance of each contest can't be downplayed.
"This game is just as important as the last game," freshman forward Nick Sucharski said. "We're looking to take second place and just ride it out right now.
"It really keeps your competition up, it really keeps you going, and it really keeps you enthused to play the next game because you don't know what's going to happen."
Standing between an MSU road win is an underachieving Ohio State team with a talented goaltender in Dave Caruso. In 27 games, Caruso's numbers are among the best with a 1.79 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage.
"He seems to be right on top of things and very alert," Comley said. "We've always had trouble with him."
To match Caruso, Comley said he will start freshman goaltender Jeff Lerg, who was named CSTV/HCA Rookie of the Month in January. Lerg's 1.99 goals-against average and .928 save percentage each rank ninth nationally.
"He's played really well," Comley said. "As long as he plays well, I'll probably go with him."
Like the Spartans, the Buckeyes have a balanced offensive attack.
Forward Tom Fritsche leads Ohio State with 25 points, while junior captain Drew Miller and sophomore forward Bryan Lerg pace the Spartans with 29 points each.
"They've had trouble scoring and they've got some injury situations," Comley said of the Buckeyes. "I expect it to be a defensive game. I think we'll see some fallback and some neutral zone trapping."
Faceoff is set for 8 p.m. and the game will be televised on CSTV. Following the contest, MSU will get a weekend break from action and the Buckeyes will play a nonconference game against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field on Saturday.
