Neil’s Notebook: New Calendar Year, Old Rivalry

By Neil Koepke MSUSpartans.com staff writer EAST LANSING – In most cases, this would not be a good scenario to be facing:

You’ve lost four straight games, have won only one of your last 12, and while your defense is showing signs of improvement, the offense is struggling to score goals, and your upcoming opponent is the third-highest scoring team in the nation and ranked No. 8 in both major college hockey polls.

But in Michigan State’s case, the challenge of picking up its game and playing an elite-level team might be just what the Spartans need to get back on track in the 2016 part of the schedule.

This weekend, MSU will play two games against one of the best in the country and its biggest…