Friday Night: MSUSpartans.com Recap // MSU All-Access Highlights // Michigan Recap
Saturday Night: MSUSpartans.com Recap // MSU All-Access Highlights // Michigan Recap
Thoughts
First off, sorry for the delay. Let's just blame the Super Bowl. That and I'm not sure what else to say that hasn't already been said. It's been a long season, and this weekend really showed that this team still has a long ways to go. Are they capable of a run? Maybe, but they need to find something in the closing month.
The Spartans had moments this weekend, but unfortunately they didn't have enough of the good moments. The other thing that might be worth paying attention to is how MSU responds after they score. Penn State took advantage (especially Friday) of quick responses. Michigan did the same this weekend - especially on Saturday. This is something that plagued the team under Coach Comley. If MSU gets past the first two minutes after they score, then fans seem to relax a little bit more.
There is still a lot to play for. It's really up to the team at this point to figure out what they want to do to close the season out. There are a lot of parallels people are making to Ron Mason's second season behind the bench. The 1980-81 Spartans finished the WCHA with a worse record than the 79-80 Spartans (Mason's first year). The following season began a stretch of nine straight NCAA appearances and the rest is history.
And maybe that's what this group needs to begin fighting for - the future. And then they can look back as the team that laid the groundwork for the program to reach history once again.
CCHA Standings
| GP | W | L | T | SOW | Points | Total Points Possible | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami | 20 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 44 | 68 |
| Western Michigan | 20 | 13 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 43 | 67 |
| Notre Dame | 20 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 38 | 62 |
| Ferris St. | 22 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 36 | 54 |
| Ohio State | 20 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 35 | 59 |
| Alaska | 22 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 52 |
| LSSU | 22 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 26 | 44 |
| Bowling Green | 20 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 25 | 49 |
| Michigan | 22 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 43 |
| Northern Michigan | 20 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 20 | 44 |
| Michigan State | 20 | 5 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 40 |
Games This Week
Friday
Michigan State at Bowling Green
Michigan at Notre Dame
Ferris State at Northern Michigan
Ohio State at Alaska
Miami at Western Michigan
Saturday
Bowling Green at Michigan State
Michigan at Notre Dame
Ferris State at Northern Michigan
Ohio State at Alaska
Miami at Western Michigan
Well, I guess it needs to be said - Michigan State has been eliminated (officially) from the CCHA title. Also, they can't finish any better than third. More importantly, they sit 9 points behind Bowling Green for 8th place, the final home ice spot in the first round. Basically, if MSU wants to have any shot at 8th place - a sweep is a must this weekend. Also, it's time to start looking at potential match-ups. Michigan State is currently in line to face Alaska in the first round. This would be two weeks after already making the trip out there. It's safe to say that MSU would prefer to avoid making that trip twice.
Right now the playoffs would be:
#11 Michigan State at #6 Alaska
#10 Northern Michigan at #7 LSSU
#9 Michigan at #8 Bowling Green (giving BGSU the edge due to fewer games played at this point)
#5 Ohio State at #4 Ferris State would be the only quarterfinal match-up we'd know - as both teams would get a bye. So for MSU to make a run in the CCHA tournament, they'd have to go to Alaska win two out of three, then they'd face #1 Miami and have to win two out of three. Then, if you assume all the other top seeds win, MSU would have to face #2 Western and #3 Notre Dame to win the CCHA tournament. I'd say at this point it'll be about taking it one game at a time.
CCHA Power Rankings
1. Miami (17-6-5, LW: 3). Miami sits in first place with a month to go - a huge series in K-Zoo is next.
2. Western Michigan (17-6-5, LW: 2). Western dropped 1 point in Big Rapids, and that's the difference in the CCHA standings right now.
3. Ohio State (11-11-6, LW: 6). The Buckeyes have finally hit the .500 plateau, and now they find themselves in position for a first round bye. Can they survive the long trek west?
4. Alaska (12-10-4, LW: 1). The winning streak had to end, but now they get a chance to regroup at home.
5. Notre Dame (16-11-1, LW: 4). 2-7-1 in their last 10 games has the Irish with more questions than answers at this point. With Michigan in town playing better hockey, it figures to be a tough weekend to get back on track.
6. Bowling Green (10-13-5, LW: 8). Anyone notice the Falcons are 8-3-2 in their last 13 games? How about the fact they just beat LSSU by a combined score 11-4?
7. Ferris State (13-11-4, LW: 5). It might be a little harsh dropping the Bulldogs this far for a loss and tie against one of the best teams in the league, but consider this more a function of how well everyone else is playing.
8. Michigan (10-16-2, LW: 10). Will a sweep over MSU set things right in Ann Arbor? A big road series in South Bend is a good measuring stick.
9. LSSU (13-16-1, LW: 7). The Lakers seem to be struggling right now winning one one of their last seven games. They do have a weekend off to regroup before back to back home series.
10. Northern Michigan (11-12-4, LW: 9). Let's see if the weekend off helps Northern, they do play five of their next seven on the road.
11. Michigan State (7-18-3, LW: 11). Will MSU hit a double digit win total this year? Since the GLI - MSU has lost three in a row three times. They have yet to lose four straight.
Big Ten Power Rankings
1. Minnesota (18-4-4, LW: 1). Minnesota didn't win this past weekend! They didn't play either. A big series at current WCHA leader St. Cloud State awaits.
2. Ohio State (11-11-6, LW: 3). They got to .500, but the next step forward is to get above .500 and put themselves in position for a bye. Then maybe home ice.
3. Wisconsin (11-9-6, LW: 2). A rough weekend in North Dakota can be forgotten with a strong finish - 7 of Wisconsin's last 10 are at home.
4. Michigan (10-16-2, LW: 4). Time will tell if the Wolverines have found themselves.
5. Penn State (10-13-0, LW: 6). They swept Ohio (club) this past weekend. Upcoming is UAH.
6. Michigan State (7-18-3, LW: 5). I just can't keep a team that is now 11 games below .500 ahead of someone that isn't.
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