Spartans hockey fans may be criticizing the team's recent play, and MSU head coach Rick Comley probably won't blame them.
"I've known all along that we have some good points and that we have some deficiencies," Comley said. "And right now, the deficiencies are showing."
MSU's 2-1 loss Saturday to the CCHA's last-place team, Bowling Green, was the team's fourth loss in five games. It was the third time during that stretch the Spartans failed to score more than one goal.
Comley has acknowledged all season that the team's success rests on defensive play and sophomore goaltender Jeff Lerg. After the loss, Comley questioned his team's effort.
"I thought we had some kids play hard, but we had some guys not do very much," he said. "Some of our good players weren't very good players.
"Our best sense of urgency came during the five-minute penalty (in the third period). That's what we've seemed to have lost the last couple of weeks."
Even players on the ice noticed a lack of energy. With a first-round playoff bye already clinched, a sense of desperation also may have been absent.
"It's just disappointing to see us come out like that," senior captain Chris Lawrence said. "That game means a lot to us, and we didn't play like it."
With two weeks until their next game, the Spartans have time to tweak their offensive game plan and rest. But getting quality performances from the team's top players will be paramount to the team's success.
"Every team, no matter what the sport, has four or five guys that have to be good players every night, and if they're not then it's really tough," Comley said.
One advantage the Spartans have over their eventual second-round opponent is home ice. But with MSU losing its last two games at Munn Ice Arena, even that may not be as important as initially believed.
"We just got beat by Bowling Green," Comley said. "So it doesn't matter."
Bracketology 101
The Spartans finished in fourth place in the CCHA, meaning they earned a first-round bye. The team's first playoff series is a best-of-three stint beginning March 9 at Munn Ice Arena.
MSU will play the highest remaining seed from teams five though 12. Possible opponents include Nebraska-Omaha, Ohio State, Western Michigan or Lake Superior State.
Should MSU win its series, the Spartans would travel to Detroit to play in the CCHA semifinals March 16 at Joe Louis Arena.
Poll dancing
MSU continued its downward slide in the national rankings. The Spartans entered the weekend ranked 13th but fell to 14th Monday.
Two weeks ago, MSU held the 6th overall ranking.
Since then, the Spartans are 1-4-0.
