Michigan takes both from RedHawks

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan Beat Writer

It took an extra day, but Michigan still got the job done.

After Yost Arena suffered structural damage from the snow and wind storms over the holidays, Friday night's series opener between Michigan and Miami was postponed and the two-game set became a Saturday-Sunday series.

For the Wolverines, no sweat.

"These were huge wins, especially where we are at in the season - the first part of the second half," Michigan captain Chris Summers said. "Some teams are second-half teams and hopefully, we can be one of those teams. Obviously, we didn't have a great start to the season this year, but we are hoping to build off this weekend and build off each practice and just go from there."

Saturday night, 10 Wolverines tallied at least one point and Bryan Hogan made 25 saves as No. 11 Michigan scored three times in the first 4:51 on its way to a 5-1 victory over eighth-ranked Miami.

Summers, Brandon Burlon, Brandon Naurato, Carl Hagelin and Brian Lebler scored for U-M and Aaron Palushaj and Louie Caporusso each chipped in two assists.

"I guess from our perspective, we obviously got off to a good start," Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. "We were working hard and we got some bounces around the net. We got the puck a lot, we got the breaks and we got the bounces, but we were working hard. And then when that little extra work ethic slowed down, it was a shinny game after that. There wasn't much going on, there were too many penalties and we were on our heels more than we were in their zone."

Yesterday afternoon, Hogan recorded an 18-save shutout and Luke Glendening scored his first career goal - the game-winner - and also added an assist in a 4-0 rout over the RedHawks.

"It was cool," said Glendening on his first NCAA goal. "(David) Wohlberg made a great pass and I just kind of went to the net. I didn't really do much. Wohlberg put it right on my tape. It was nice, though."

Wohlberg, Matt Rust and Steven Kampfer, with his first of the season, also tallied for the Wolverines (15-7-0, 9-5-0-0 CCHA), winners of six straight.

"There were definitely a lot of blocked shots," said Hogan. "The defense played very well in front of me. I couldn't see anything with those (Miami) guys in front of me. (U-M's defenders) were all blocking shots and that really helped out."

"We were killing a lot of penalties and we were on our heels and in our zone a lot," added Berenson. "We all understand and agree that we have to be a better shot-blocking team. That helps the goalies - it helps everyone. It gets you in the game even as a team builder on the bench. The players get excited when they see another player put it on the line for the team by blocking shots."

Next weekend, Michigan plays a home-and-home with Bowling Green starting Friday night at Yost at 7:35 p.m. On Saturday, Michigan will travel to BGSU for a 5:05 p.m. game that will also be televised by Comcast.