EAST LANSING, Mich. — Jake Hildebrand knows where he wants to go.

He’s just not in any hurry to get there.

The Center Township resident and Michigan State University junior goaltender has already played at Joe Louis Arena and the Xcel Energy Center — homes of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and Minnesota Wild, respectively — and has played an outdoor hockey game at Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers.

Last weekend, he donning the pads in an outdoor game at Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears.

“Playing in all of these pro venues just adds to my hunger to get there,” Hildebrand said of the NHL. “But I’m not thinking about that now.

“I’m excited about our team, where we’re at and what we may be capable of doing this year.”

The Spartans are 10-12-2 overall, 4-4-2 in the Big Ten. They posted a 2-1 upset of 13th-ranked Michigan in front of 20,000 fans at Joe Louis Arena. They lost to the Wolverines, 4-1, at Soldier Field.

Michigan State hosts Penn State this weekend.

Hildebrand stopped 29 of 30 shots in the win over Michigan and was stellar while snuffing out a Wolverine power play late in that game. That performance was good enough to earn him the Big Ten’s First Star of the Week for the second consecutive week and third time this season.

“That was the biggest crowd I’ve ever played in front of. The atmosphere was awesome ... It was special,” Hildebrand said.

“To perform the way he did against a rival in that type of big-game atmosphere was another positive step for Jake,” Michigan State coach Tom Anastos said. “Since mid-December, he’s been playing as well as I’ve seen him play since he’s been here.”

Before that point? Different story.

“To be honest, Jake was inconsistent earlier this season,” the coach said. “He had some good games, other games he’d struggle. As our team got better, he had to go through an adjustment period.

“Earlier in his career here, we were a young team that was learning and Jake was facing a barrage of shots every game. A goalie can get into a rhythm that way. We’re better this year and he’s not facing as many shots. That requires a different mind-set and level of concentration.

“Some goalies can handle that. Some can’t,” Anastos added.

Hildebrand is handling it just fine these days.

He’s allowed only two total goals in his last three games. In six of his last seven games, Hildebrand has allowed two or fewer goals.

Overall this season, he is leading the Big Ten with a 2.35 goals-against average and .920 save percentage.

“I’m most excited about the 10 wins,” Hildebrand said. “That’s the most I’ve had here and we’ve got a number of games left.”

Hildebrand said he’s watching more video this year than ever before and has picked up on the “post lean” technique of Los Angeles Kings netminder Jonathan Quick.

“It’s playing the very end of the net, guarding against wrap-arounds and quick moves in close,” Hildebrand said. “It’s pretty effective. I see a lot of NHL goalies are playing that way now.”

Anastos isn’t surprised his goalie is studying more video.

“That’s all part of the maturation process,” the coach said. “Try to use every resource possible to gain an edge. We don’t force guys to do that, but we encourage it.

“Jake’s conditioning has impressed me. So has his concentration. He’s dialed in right now.”

Hildebrand has started every game for the Spartans and leads the Big Ten in minutes played. He is among the top ten in the nation in that category as well.

With his senior season still ahead, the 6-foot-0, 187-pound communications major figures pro hockey can wait.

“Getting my degree is important,” he said. “Pro scouts have been watching our games, but I don’t worry about it. We have a family advisor who monitors that stuff.”

Anastos acknowledged that scouts have been checking out Hildebrand. No longer eligible for the NHL draft, he can be signed as a free agent at any time.

“Jake isn’t your prototypical NHL goaltender these days, standing 6-2 or taller, but you can’t measure the size of a guy’s heart,” Anastos said.

“That’s a very high level, being able to face the shooters in that league and perform consistently. I hold Jake in very high regard. He can use his senior season to continue developing and refining his game.”

But can Hildebrand one day play in the NHL?

“Anything’s possible,” Anastos said.