Michigan, BGSU each post shutout

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan Beat Writer

Apparently, one good shutout deserves another.

Just one night after being shutout by Michigan native Jimmy Spratt at Yost Arena, the sixth-ranked Michigan Wolverines rebounded with a Billy Sauer goose egg tonight in Bowling Green in the second game of a home-and-home series.

"I think it was a good gutcheck for our team," UM head coach Red Berenson said. "Bowling Green shut us out last night and we came in here with a changed lineup, a depleted lineup. We lost Chris Summers in the first period and we had to play five defensemen. Billy Sauer hadn't played in a while and I thought it was time to see if he could make a difference. [Greg] Pateryn came in and played well. [Anthony] Ciraulo had to come in for [Matt] Rust (who was sick). We had a lot of players that had to come in and help our team tonight and they did good jobs."

Sophomore defenseman Chad Langlais (pictured) scored the only goal in the 1-0 win at BGSU, his second career goal, and Sauer made 19 saves in his first start since Nov. 29 at Wisconsin in the College Hockey Showcase.

"I felt very into the game," said Sauer. "I think it was the crowd. I felt nervous, but an excited nervous. I didn't ever feel like I was out of the game just because I wasn't seeing a lot of shots. I hadn't played in two months so it was tough getting out there, but I ended up feeling pretty comfortable."

Spratt stopped 38 shots for the Falcons.

Friday night, Spratt, a Chesterfield native, stood on his head and made 29 saves in a 3-0 victory as BGSU won at Michigan for the first time since 2002 and the Wolverines were shut out for the fourth time this season.

"We had enough chances to win this game, just like when we played Western [Michigan] at home," UM forward Carl Hagelin said. "We just couldn't get the puck in the net and it is about mental preparation. If we were ready to go, we would have popped a couple [goals] in during the first period. This was the worst first period we have had all season."

Bryan Hogan finished with 14 saves for the Wolverines (16-8-0, 10-6-0-0 CCHA).

"Jimmy had four to five really good saves that you have to have," Bowling Green head coach Scott Paluch said. "When you play Michigan, your goalie is going to have to make saves. Jimmy certainly did that."

Up next for the Wolverines is a two-game series with the Michigan State Spartans. Game one is slated for Friday at Joe Louis Arena and the second half will be played on Saturday in Ann Arbor at Yost. Both games will start at 7:35 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Detroit.

Photo by UM Photo Services