CCHA playoff faceoff: Michigan State vs. Michigan

• Times and site: Series is best of 3 - tonight, Saturday and Sunday, if necessary, at Munn Arena. All games at 7 p.m.

• Tickets: Reserved seats ($20) still remain for all three games at the MSU Athletic Ticket Office at Jenison Field House, which will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today. Call 355-1610 for information.

• TV: Comcast (Ch. 900) tonight and Saturday.

• Radio: WVFN 730-AM, all three games.

• Records: MSU 19-11-6 overall, 14-8-6-3 CCHA (second), ranked No. 10/11. Michigan 21-17-1, 14-13-1-0 CCHA (seventh).

• Coaches: Michigan - Red Berenson, 26th season (695-327-69); MSU - Rick Comley, eighth season at MSU (171-119-35), 37th overall (768-594-106).

• Rivalry: Michigan holds a 138-122-18 lead in the series. Last season, the Wolverines swept all five games from the Spartans. This year, MSU holds a 3-1 edge, sweeping U-M, 3-2 and 2-0, in mid-November and splitting in late January, with the Spartans winning 3-2 at Munn Arena and U-M winning 5-4 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Over the past five seasons, MSU is 9-10-5 against U-M; going back 10 seasons, the Spartans are 19-17-10 and in the last 15 years, MSU leads 29-24-12. During Comley's eight seasons at MSU, his teams are 14-15-8 vs. Berenson's Wolverines. In postseason play, the Spartans are 11-4 against Michigan - 2-0 in the WCHA playoffs and 11-4 in the CCHA playoffs.

• Wolverines to watch: Junior forwards Carl Hagelin (16 goals, 25 assists, 41 points), Louie Caporusso (16-19-35) and Matt Rust (12-22-34), freshman forward Chris Brown (12-14-26), sophomore forward David Wohlberg (7-16-23), senior forward Brian Lebler (12-9-21), senior defensemen Steve Kampfer (2-16-18) and Chris Summers (4-12-16), junior defenseman Chad Langlais (4-12-16), junior goaltender Shawn Hunwick (3-2, 1.96 goals-against average, .915 save percentage), junior Bryan Hogan (18-15-1, 2.33 GAA, .901 save percentage).

• Wolverines update: U-M has picked up its offense in recent weeks and is playing better overall, going 4-1 in its past five games. But injuries to key players are making its playoff run more challenging. First, junior goalie Bryan Hogan suffered a groin injury against Notre Dame on Feb. 25 and hasn't played since. Junior backup goalie Shawn Hunwick made his first college start two weeks ago and played the last three games and is expected to face MSU. Last weekend, standout senior defenseman Chris Summers suffered a lower-body injury in the series-clinching 6-0 win over LSSU. Summers is doubtful for this weekend. On a positive note, Caporusso has broken out of his slump and has nine goals in his past nine games.

• Spartans update: MSU has played just four games in the past 33 days, with two full weekends off - Feb. 12-13 and March 5-6. The Spartans are very healthy, with every player on the roster available. MSU is 2-1-1 in its past four as it edged Ferris State for second place, with a split against the Bulldogs and a win and tie (shootout loss) against Bowling Green. Nobody is particularly hot scoring-wise, but junior left wing Andrew Rowe and senior right wing Jay Sprague each have scored two goals in the past four games. Top scorer Corey Tropp (20-22-42) has one goal in the past seven games and linemate Derek Grant, a freshman, has one in nine contests.

• At stake: The winner advances to the CCHA Championship next weekend in Detroit and remains in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth. U-M, which has played in the national tourney for an NCAA record 19 consecutive seasons, has to win the CCHA playoff title to make the tournament. The Spartans probably need to get to Detroit and win one game to be in solid position to get an at-large berth in the NCAAs.

• Analysis: With Hunwick playing against his first top-level team and Summers likely out, Michigan will probably play a more cautious defensive game, trying to eliminate turnovers and limit 3-on-2 and 2-on-1 rushes, which have hurt the Wolverines against MSU this season. U-M is focused on having an energetic, strong start and trying get the lead to take the crowd out of the game and frustrate the Spartans. Still, it's likely that execution and poise in the third period will be the deciding factors. MSU will be eager to test Hunwick with lots of shots and traffic around the net. Playoffs tend to be more defensive, so it's crucial to win the special teams battles and, of course, get high-level goaltending.

• CCHA predictions: MSU over U-M, 2 games to 1; Miami over Ohio State, 2-0; Nebraska-Omaha over Ferris State, 2-1; Northern Michigan over Alaska, 2-1.

- Compiled by Neil Koepke