There were not really any bright spots at all, as rather more flaws than strengths were shown for Michigan State. 

Here are three takeaways from Michigan State’s two losses to Wisconsin this weekend:

1. The Spartans miss Charlie Combs

When Patrick Khodorenko graduated after last season, one of the biggest questions coming into 2020-21 was who was going to fill his role as the team's go-to goal scorer. As a graduate transfer from Bemidji State, Charlie Combs looked to be that answer.

By no means has he been bad. In fact, he has been a great pickup for head coach Danton Cole and the crew. Going into this weekend, Combs was the team's leading goal scorer with five scores on the season until senior Mitchell Lewandowski tied him this weekend.

Now missing the last four games, his absence from the lineup is making a clear impact on the team.

They struggle to hold the offensive zone, get pucks on the net and simply score – things that Combs has done in his short time at MSU. In the last four games, MSU has scored just four goals.

His leadership has been missed too. Players and coaches on the team have raved about how great of a leader Combs is on and off the ice. The energy he brings has only brought positivity to the locker room.

Michigan State badly needs him to return to the ice to help them dig out of this scoring drought. Luckily, the schedule helps as the Spartans do not have another game until Feb. 9, allowing players like Combs and others to potentially return to the lineup.

2. MSU has no solution to the struggling power play

The power play has been terrible. Simple as that.

Michigan State had four power-play chances this weekend, including a five-minute major penalty and still could not score a power-play goal.

Watching them play, they appear to be doing a better job of moving the puck and getting chances, but that does not really matter when they do not score. At this point, Michigan State is desperate for a solution to the power-play woes.

The last power-play goal came on Jan. 4 against Penn State. Since then there have been no power-play goals by the green and white.

After this weekend, MSU is now 3-of-48 on the season for an abysmal .059 conversion percentage. That is not winning hockey. Good teams are able to capitalize on mistakes such as penalties.

Wisconsin did it this weekend with four power-play goals.

Two of their three power-play goals are from Combs and the other from Jagger Joshua. MSU cannot just rely on those two though on the power play. Somebody needs to step up quickly.

3. Cole Caufield is a star

Looking at the other side of things, Wisconsin sophomore forward Cole Caufield proved why he is one of the best college hockey players in the country.

Riding a three-game goal streak heading into this series, Caufield caught even more fire versus the Spartans.

In the first game, he wasted no time making his presence known scoring a goal less than a minute into the game. He would then score again in that game as well as add an assist.

From there, he got even hotter. In-game two he made a beautiful pass to assist on the first goal of the game. He then assisted on Ty Pelton-Byce's go-ahead goal followed by two more goals of his own in the third period.

It felt like every time he touched the puck, he was making a play, and that is the type of player he is. Teams must account for where he is on the ice at all times because when he has the puck he may be the most dangerous player in the country.

Michigan State failed to do that this weekend and they bit the bullet. They watched as the first-round pick by the Montreal Canadiens picked them apart and demonstrated what the Spartans are missing: a game-changer. Someone that can instantly turn the ice into the Spartans' favor at any moment.