EAST LANSING - Drew Palmisano is a goaltending lifer. He started his hockey career between the pipes at age 6. The pressure-packed position suits the Michigan State junior well.

Even with all of his experience, Palmisano realizes his next start will be much different. Not only because of where it will take place, but also because of where he calls home.

Palmisano grew up in the shadows of Michigan Stadium, living five minutes from where Michigan and Michigan State will play Saturday in the sold out Big Chill at the Big House outdoor hockey game (3 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Palmisano has watched many Michigan football games on Saturday afternoons. He never imagined that he would skate on a temporary rink inside the venue in a game that is expected to shatter the existing world record for hockey attendance.

"I haven't been able to sleep much," Palmisano said Tuesday. "Just laying in bed, thinking about just walking out there and about going home to Ann Arbor, and just being back in that stadium.

"Just being able to play hockey in an outdoor environment like that is going to be special."

Palmisano graduated from Pioneer High School in 2006 before starting his junior hockey career with the Omaha Lancers. When he started making recruiting visits his second year of juniors, Palmisano considered three in-state schools - Michigan State, Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech.

Even with his hometown roots, he dreamed of being a Spartan. The program has been a pipeline of top-notch goalies over the years, including Ryan Miller, who started in the 2001 Cold War game and who led the U.S. Olympic hockey team to a silver medal in this year's Vancouver Winter Games.

Palmisano has watched the 3-3 tie in the Cold War between the Spartans and Wolverines times numerous times, most recently on Monday with his teammates. But not even video clips can fully prepare him for what he will face Saturday.

"I think there's a difference between being part of the crowd and being the one the crowd is looking at," he said. "But as soon as the puck drops, the stadium, the crowd will all be a blur, and it will be an ice rink out there just like every other weekend. I'll have five guys out in front of me just playing our game."

Palmisano, who is 6-7-3 this season and allows an average of 2.44 goals a game, will play in front of several friends and family members.

He expects to hear from a few of them via text message this week, trying to get into his head before the first of four possible regular-season meetings with the Wolverines in the next six weeks.

Palmisano is coming off one of his best weekends of the season. He allowed three goals in a split against Ferris State. In Friday's 3-2 victory, Palmisano made 17 first-period saves, finishing the game with 32.

Palmisano understands that the nature of the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry changes everything. Especially for someone returning to Ann Arbor wearing a green and white sweater.

"I think it will be special for him - he'll have friends and family in Ann Arbor and maybe he can shut them up a little bit," Michigan State captain Torey Krug said Tuesday. "I don't think it will affect him too much. It's just another game of hockey, and there's nothing better than beating those guys."

Jeff Arnold covers Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by e-mail at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.