Junior goaltender Jeff Lerg leaps on the puck during the MSU vs. Michigan game Saturday at Munn Ice Arena. Lerg just received the title of Goaltender of the Week from the CCHA for the fourth week in a row.
In the race for CCHA standings, the MSU hockey team knows that the remaining 10 games of the season hold vital points to play catch-up.
“We’re still chasing Michigan, still chasing Miami (Ohio),” MSU head coach Rick Comley said. “We haven’t given up that chase yet. We’re still trying to get wins (to) qualify nationally. We’re not there yet. We haven’t met any goals yet. We’ve got to keep plugging away.”
Hitting some bumps
Tying with U-M at Saturday’s game at Munn Ice Arena with less than two minutes to go in regulation took some wind out of the Spartans’ sails. Prior to this, on Jan. 13, MSU also let a victory slip away in South Bend, Ind., as Notre Dame squeaked a late third-period goal past junior goaltender Jeff Lerg.
Because ties are worth one point, the Spartans might have shortchanged themselves.
“Sometimes you do need to hit some bumps and use that as a springboard to get better,” Comley said.
“We’ve still got lots of question marks. If we ever dare think we’re where we need to be, then we’re going to be frustrated down the stretch, and we’re just starting the stretch.”
Comley added that the team will not underestimate its upcoming opponents.
“Believe me, (Nebraska-Omaha) is tough,” he said. “(Western Michigan) is impossible and Bowling Green’s tough. It’s unfortunate their records are what they are because the perception is they should be easy to beat.”
Holy goalie
Lerg earned his fourth consecutive CCHA Goaltender of the Week honor, his sixth overall for the season.
He is the first to do so since the CCHA began recognizing netminders weekly during the 2004-05 season.
“The kid works so hard,” senior defenseman Daniel Vukovic said. “His attitude is amazing. He’s doing everything he can to prove people wrong.”
Lerg has allowed 10 goals in the past eight games, giving him a 1.23 GAA and a nearly 96 percent save percentage.
So what’s his secret?
He’s getting in the heads of the other teams, Comley said.
But Lerg said it’s all about technique.
“I’ve really been working on staying on top of the crease and not backing up as quickly as before,” Lerg said. “I think that’s been benefitting me and what players can shoot at.
“And I’ve been working a lot on controlling the rebounds. I’d like to keep on continuing the streak I’ve got going on here.”
Weekend series
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MSU takes on Nebraska-Omaha in a two-game series Friday and Saturday at Munn Ice Arena.
“We’ve got to finish off games,” Vukovic said. “Those are things you’ve got to do to win championships. We can’t afford to lose these games if we want any chance at the title. We have to be really focused to play.”
Nebraska-Omaha owns an 8-9-3 record in the CCHA, but MSU can’t let those numbers deceive it, Lerg added.
“We’re not on top,” he said. “We’re not even second. We’re still chasing everyone. These four points on the weekend are big.”
