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Conference title in reach as Michigan faces Spartans at Yost

Red Berenson couldn't have planned it better.

Of course, he would have liked it if his Wolverines had taken one game from Lake Superior last weekend. But now, Michigan will battle Michigan State with a chance at first-place on the line.

The Spartans could have wrapped up the league title last night with a victory over Bowling Green at home. But the Falcons, who are stuck in fifth-place, rolled out of Munn Ice Arena with a 5-1 victory over Michigan State, increasing their shot at a possible NCAA tournament berth.

Now Spartan coach Ron Mason has to pull his troops together and try to beat the Wolverines (20-6-2 CCHA, 25-7-2 overall) at Yost tonight at 7, or his club will probably fall out of first place for the first time since December.

Michigan State can win its first title since the 1989-90 season if it knocks off the Wolverines tonight.

If Michigan can topple the Spartans, Lake Superior will have the inside track to the title and the automatic berth to the NCAA tourney. All the Lakers have to do is win both road games this weekend at lowly Ohio State and Miami (Ohio). If both Lake State and the Wolverines sweep, the two squads will end up deadlocked on top of the CCHA standings, but the Lakers will get the first seed in the conference tournament by virtue of a better head-to-head record.

If the Lakers split, or even tie one game, and Michigan beats the Spartans tonight and Bowling Green (18-10-1, 24-12-1) tomorrow at Yost, Berenson will have his third CCHA title in as many years.

Western Michigan shot itself in the foot, dropping an 8-3 decision to Alaska-Fairbanks Wednesday night, or the Broncos could have had a chance to wear the conference crown. The Spartans are sure to remember the 8-1 pasting the Wolverines dealt them just two weeks ago at Joe Louis Arena and Michigan's 4-3 victory two months ago in the Great Lakes Invitational championship game.

And it's a pretty safe bet that the Wolverines would love to thump the Michigan State again, for a variety of reasons.

"There's a major sense of urgency; a desperation we feel. We have to win these games," senior forward John Arnold said. "Once we start jumping to conclusions or looking ahead, we're not going to get anywhere."

Anywhere is the NCAA tournament. There could be as few as four at-large bids for the 12-team dance, and while the No. 4 Wolverines aren't exactly on the proverbial bubble, they're not a lock to make it either.

Seem strange? Bowling Green finished second in last year's title hunt, but fell in the first round of the CCHA playoffs and didn't get a bid.

"We're looking at the games to rebound from last weekend and for our overall record as well as our league record for NCAA purposes," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We're not out of the woods in terms of the NCAAs. It's important that we play well in these games to take a step forward and get ready for the (CCHA) playoffs."

The Wolverines find them in a precarious situation. They could lose both games and finish tied for second-place in the league. Then again, they could win both games and end up in third place, finding themselves in a rematch with the Falcons next weekend. Either way, Berenson knows where he'll be next weekend -- right at home. The Wolverines haven't played at Yost, where they have lost just one game all year, since Feb. 3.

And Berenson knows that if Michigan drops a pair this weekend, it won't be because Spartan speedster Anson Carter or Bowling Green netminder Mike Savard beats them. It will be because Michigan beats Michigan. The Wolverines have both the Spartans and Falcons outmanned. Michigan boasts the top four scorers in the league led by national assist leader Kevin Hilton, and two other snipers in the top nine. Michigan has scored 43 more goals than the next highest-scoring team.

"Its good we're coming home, but we have to take advantage of it," Berenson said. "You saw how home ice can be a big factor in momentum and intensity last weekend.

"But if we're not playing our best hockey, it will be over before it should be over."

For Arnold, Hilton, captain Steven Halko and Mark Sakala, these next two weekends are the end. The four seniors will play their last regular season game in Yost tomorrow against the Falcons. The CCHA playoffs next weekend will be the last time the group will skate at Yost. After tomorrow's game, the Wolverines will honor the four seniors for their efforts while at Michigan.