The No. 16 MSU hockey team could be satisfied with a quality series against then-No. 3 Minnesota. The Spartans (8-5-1, 4-4-0 CCHA) could be content with a more aggressive style of play and increased competitiveness at both ends of the ice.
And with wins against Western Michigan and Northern Michigan, the team could gain a sense of entitlement against lesser opponents, such as Bowling Green, at Munn Ice Arena this weekend.
But Tom Anastos will use the opportunity to teach the Spartans how to handle their newfound success.
“We’re not a team filled with all this skill and talent,” Anastos said. “For us to have success, we can’t just show up and our skill, and talent is good enough to win. We’ve got to compete real hard, and I think everybody recognizes that among our team. But we have to demonstrate it.”
Going from playing one of college hockey’s premiere scoring offenses in Minnesota (3.06 goals per game) to the statistically worst-scoring offense in the CCHA (1.88), it would be easy for the Spartans to overlook Bowling Green (6-8-2, 1-8-1-1).
But with the series against No. 19 Michigan (7-7-2, 3-5-2) looming, the team will appreciate the opportunity to seize conference wins whenever it can.
Despite turning some heads with their early season success, the schedule doesn’t get much easier for the Spartans.
After the two game home-and-home series with in-state rival U-M, the team travels to Detroit for the Great Lakes Invitational to face No. 20 Michigan Tech and securing a rematch with either the Wolverines or No. 2 Boston College to close out the tournament.
For the players, it’s important to be poised and not deviate from the philosophy Anastos and his staff have been preaching since the season opened in October.
“We’re (not) going to approach (Bowling Green) any differently,” said sophomore defenseman Jake Chelios, who Anastos praised for his performance in extended ice time against Minnesota.
“Every college team that’s DI — especially this year — a team has a chance to beat anyone. So we’ll probably just stick with our game plan and let them play us.”
Swagger like us
With success against some of the best teams in college hockey, the Spartans are developing a confident style of play, and it’s translating to wins on the ice.
In three consecutive series against ranked opponents, the Spartans went 4-1-1, and grinded out tough goals against college hockey’s elite programs.
“We understand we can play with anybody, and I think it kind of brings, you know, you have that swagger when you’re walking into the rink every day,” junior defenseman Torey Krug said. “You have a chip on your shoulder, and you might not be recognized nationally as much as you want to. But you keep that in the back of your mind as motivation.”
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