The No. 5 Spartans extended their unbeaten streak to eight games and spoiled Lake Superior State's Senior Night festivities with a 3-2 win Thursday in Sault Ste. Marie.

"Mentally, we knew it would be a tough hockey game," MSU head coach Rick Comley said in a postgame radio interview. "We got better as the game went on which is encouraging.

"It just seems that every night is really, really tight."

Since the new year, MSU has compiled a record of 12-2-2. Thursday's victory guarantees the Spartans (20-10-7 overall, 14-7-6 CCHA) a finish no worse than third in the CCHA and gives them a four-point edge over third-place Michigan.

The Spartans got on the board first when sophomore forward Chris Mueller deflected a blast from junior defenseman Ethan Graham into the net past Lakers goaltender Jeff Jakaitis.

The Lakers (15-12-6, 11-12-4) controlled the rest of the opening period following the goal, but freshman goaltender Jeff Lerg answered every shot until Trent Campbell tied the game early into the second period.

Sophomore forward Bryan Lerg ended the stalemate and put MSU on top again later in the second when he found the back of the net on the power play.

Junior captain Drew Miller gave the Spartans a two-goal advantage 23 seconds later when he blasted a shot home past Jakaitis and the Spartans skated into the second intermission with a 3-1 lead.

With time ticking down in the third, Lake Superior State got a huge boost when forward Nathan Ward potted a shorthanded goal, but the Spartans locked down on the defensive end and held on for the win.

"Sometimes you like to win maybe better or prettier but, whatever, we'll take the win and go home and get ready for Saturday," Comley said.

The Spartans and Lakers will meet again Saturday afternoon in the CCHA regular season closer at Joe Louis Arena. Faceoff is set for 2:05 p.m.