MSU enters the rivalry series 1-2 against U-M this season. MSU won the first matchup, 3-0, in the consolation game in the Great Lakes Invitational. U-M (16-10-4, 8-6-2-1) then would sweep the Spartans in a two-game series in January, winning the first game at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, 2-1, and the second game at Munn Ice Arena, 5-2.

In both MSU losses, the game was tied at some point in the third period, before U-M pulled away.

MSUenters the series in fifth place in the Big Ten, but can make up ground in the standings. The Spartans would be within 2 points of third-place U-M with a sweep.

Freshman forward JT Compher has emerged as the leading scorer for the Wolverines. His 28 points leads U-M and all freshmen in the Big Ten.

Compher exposed MSU in the last meeting between the rivals, finishing with two goals and two assists in the game.

Sophomore goaltender Jake Hildebrand was in net for the Compher show on Jan. 24, and made it clear he wasn’t happy with his performance that night.

Hildebrand, who is 2-5 against U-M, said other than the 5-2 loss, his Spartans have been right there against the highly-ranked Wolverines.

“We know we can play with them,” Hildebrand said. “We won the first game and the second game was so close right down to the last couple minutes and I thought we had chances in that game.”

MSU most likely will need to win both games to give them their first winning record in a season series against U-M since the 2007-08 season.

MSU potentially could play U-M again in the Big Ten and NCAA tournaments, but neither of those match-ups are expected based on both teams’ current records and the conference standings.

Spartan seniors, like Greg Wolfe, have more on their mind outside of getting their first season series win against the Wolverines. Wolfe said he is excited for his final trip to Yost. He said he's looking to do something he’s never done before in the historic rink - win.

“I want to win at Yost, I need one, I haven’t had one yet,” Wolfe said. “... It would be cool to win there, it’s something I’d like to say I did.”

Wolfe added that it has briefly crossed his mind that it’ll most likely be his final time lacing up the skates against U-M, but he does expect that factor to give him extra motivation this weekend.

Head coach Tom Anastos is looking to use the series as another chance for his team to improve before the Big Ten Tournament.

Anastos said his Spartans are still working toward solving some issues to reach the program's highest playing level in the final weeks.

“We’re still trying to find answers on how we can get better and win some games, and feel good about our game going into the end of the season and the Big Ten Tournament in particular, because we have to have great success in that for our season to continue,” Anastos said.

Injury update

It appears MSU will be without junior defenseman RJ Boyd for another weekend. He still is recovering from a sprained ankle during warmups at Wisconsin on Feb. 21.

“He seems to be progressing daily, whether or not he’ll make the progress he needs to make to be able to play this weekend, I’d say right now, we’re probably planning not to have him,” Anastos said on Tuesday.

Boyd has missed the last three games, including an exhibition matchup with the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 team last Saturday.

U-M also could be down a man on the back end, with senior defenseman and captain Mac Bennett status unknown for the weekend series. Bennett experienced an upper body injury on Feb. 22 against Penn State, and hasn’t returned to the lineup since.

Bennett has one goal and one assist in the three games against MSU this season.