The time has come. It’s a rivalry of epic proportion. MSU versus Michigan is one of the most heated and famous encounters in college hockey. Throw in the fact that U-M hockey is No. 1 in the country and that raises the ante for this weekend’s home-and-home series.
“It’s what separates teams,” MSU head coach Rick Comley said. “It’s college hockey at its best when the two of us are having good years and we’re going to match up in a big series.”
History shows the Spartans have struggled against the Wolverines, as the school down the road leads the series 131-117-17. The teams met six times last season with MSU only winning two of those games. U-M won three and the two teams skated to a tie during last year’s game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.
U-M’s Kevin Porter is the national leader in goals (22) and points (39). Along with Chad Kolarik, the two are the top scoring duo in the nation with 71 total points.
However, the Spartans are coming off a four-point weekend sweep at Ohio State, including a shutout — the first in nearly a year. The positive momentum could help MSU this weekend.
“You put everything into it,” senior forward Chris Mueller said. “You really don’t care how it goes in or when it goes in. If you get that last goal that puts you up … that’s the best feeling to win against your rival.
“It’s not just two teams playing against each other. It’s college versus college. It’s university versus university. ... It’s a war.”
The Wolverines’ Porter is first in CCHA scoring and leads the nation with 12 power play goals.
MSU has not allowed a power play goal in the past seven games, which extends the streak to 28 consecutive penalty kills.
Between the pipes, junior goaltender Jeff Lerg has a nearly .960 save percentage with a 1.32 GAA and leads all collegiate goaltenders in minutes played.
Lerg’s latest performance has earned him yet another CCHA Goaltender of the Week honor — the 10th of his career. He earned it once as a freshman and four times as a sophomore. Lerg will have to be strong in the net for the Spartans against a high-powered Wolverines offense. U-M averages 4.12 goals per game and has the league’s third best power play at 21.6 percent. Porter alone has accounted for 12 of U-M’s 27 power play goals.
Junior forward Justin Abdelkader is on a hot streak as of late. In the Ohio State series, Abdelkader scored three third period goals in two games.
“This (weekend) is a great opportunity for us to prove ourselves,” Abdelkader said.
“We’re still chasing for the league title. It’s still a big weekend. It’s an important weekend.”
Abdelkader said the usual sold-out crowds at both arenas give the Spartans the extra oomph for the much needed adrenaline rush.
“It feels like a playoff-type atmosphere,” he said. “Both teams are amped up, and there’s pressure for both teams to win.
“We know this will be a big series for us and nationally.”
The Spartans head to Ann Arbor tonight for a 7:35 p.m. game at Yost Ice Arena. The two teams will meet at 7:35 p.m. Saturday at Munn Ice Arena. Both games will be broadcast on FSN Detroit.
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