MSU is coming off a lackluster weekend against Western Michigan, dropping both games to the Broncos and scoring only one goal.

Princeton is the opposite of MSU, coming to East Lansing with some momentum after a road win over then-No. 4 Quinnipiac.

The Tigers reeled off three goals in the final 10 minutes to beat the ranked foe last Saturday.

MSU and Princeton haven’t seen each other on the ice since 1980, when the Spartans topped the Tigers, 6-1. MSU holds the all-time advantage over Princeton, with a 3-0 record.

While MSU and Princeton haven’t seen each other on the ice in more than 30 years, they have played familiar foes this year. Both have lost to UMass-Lowell on the year, with MSU losing 4-1 and Princeton losing 2-1.

Head coach Tom Anastos will look to use the final non-conference series as a tool to find the young Spartans’ identity and solve some unanswered questions before Big Ten play.

“We’re in search of an identity, we really are. I think that has been an ongoing thing for awhile,” Anastos said. “Until we can establish one, it’s going to be a struggle so we are trying to get there as soon as we can.”

One of the elements currently missing from the Spartans’ identity is finding the back of the net. MSU’s offense has been the low point of the team so far this year, only averaging 1.9 goals per game through 10 games. The Spartans rank last in the Big Ten in goals per game and 55th out of 59 in the country.

“I just think we need to do a better job at getting chances in front of the net,” junior forward Matt Berry said. “Got to get more pucks there and create more rebounds on the opposing goalies which would really help us generate rebounds and more scoring chances.”

Princeton might be the right team for the Spartans to get some offensive confidence, with the Tigers averaging 3.64 goals against per game, which ranks 51st in the country.

Princeton is led offensively by junior forward Tucker Brockett who has 11 points on the season. Senior goaltender Sean Bonar is the Tiger’s best option between the pipes, with a 2-5 record, .889 save percentage and 3.42 goals against average.

Senior forward and captain Greg Wolfe understands the Big Ten is going to be tough and wants strong play before conference play begins. Wolfe said he wants consistent play throughout the weekend to get the team momentum going into a big series next weekend against No. 1 Minnesota.

“I want to see six consistent periods, I want great effort for six periods,” said Wolfe, who is the Spartans leading scorer with five goals and two assists. “I want our team to outplay them in every aspect, I want to have a lot of energy and I think that’s something that we can put together. A couple of consistent efforts (and) get a couple of wins. That’s a lot of confidence we can take into the Minnesota series.”