Averaging only three goals per game, the No. 4 Spartans are far from flashy. But clutch goaltending, a solidified defense and the ability to put enough goals on the scoreboard have the Spartans riding a nine-game unbeaten streak headed into the postseason.

After an up-and-down first half of the season, MSU is 12-2-3 since Jan. 1 and finished second in the CCHA. The Spartans will host a best-of-three playoff series the weekend of March 10.

"The real positive thing about a tough schedule is if you end up having a good year then you've been battle-tested," MSU head coach Rick Comley said. "You don't have to worry about how are we going to do against a nationally ranked team."

Offense

Sophomore Bryan Lerg and junior captain Drew Miller pace the Spartans in points with 34 each.

Senior David Booth has been playing well since the new year and Comley believes sophomore Jim McKenzie and senior Colton Fretter will become more of a scoring threat in the postseason.

The Spartans have generated almost 32 shots per game this season but haven't found the back of the net to the team's potential.

"We're untapped offensively yet," Comley said.

Defense

Since the start of January, the Spartans defense has only given up 1.8 goals and 27 shots per game.

Aside from that, junior Tyler Howells has been an offensive threat from the point at even strength and with the man advantage. Howells comes in third on the team in scoring with 33 points.

"Certainly, I'm confident enough now defensively that I don't think we have to score four (goals) to win," Comley said. "That's a real nice feeling going into a game."

Goaltending

Freshman Jeff Lerg has played all but one game the second half of the season, earning the unofficial starter position headed into the postseason.

Although Comley said he hasn't lost any confidence in junior Dominic Vicari, Lerg's 1.98 goals-against average, .926 save percentage and 12-4-6 record have been too good to take him out of the net.

"The two things he does that have really helped us become a better team is he can find the puck in traffic and he controls the puck around him," Comley said. "He finds pucks that are coming at him."

Special teams

The power play has been operating at .187 percent and the penalty killing has been near perfect.

Since Booth started playing the point on the power play, the Spartans have been able to create more offense and move the puck better.

Lerg's ability to see the puck and read shots in net has sparked an MSU penalty kill that has struggled in the past.