Michigan brooms Lake Superior State

By Matt Mackinder/Michigan Beat Writer

With their two wins over Lake Superior State at home this weekend, Michigan has vaulted into third place in the CCHA standings.

The Wolverines (21-9-0, 15-7-0 CCHA) scored five straight goals Friday night after being down 1-0 en route to a 6-2 win and then came from behind again Saturday night for a 2-1 victory.

Even with the sweep, UM head coach Red Berenson was far from ecstatic last night.

"Well, as (Detroit Red Wings head coach) Mike Babcock would say, it was an ugly win, but we got through it," said Berenson. "It was just one of those games where we weren't in sync and we just had to battle the whole way. It's hard to beat a team twice in this league back to back. There is not much to choose between the teams and emotionally, they came out really hard."

Friday night, Matt Rust and Louie Caporusso each scored twice and Bryan Hogan made 19 saves in the win.

Will Acton opened the scoring for LSSU and Rick Schofield also scored for the Lakers, who got 35 saves out of goaltender Pat Inglis.

David Wohlberg and Luke Glendening tallied the other Wolverine goals.

"I didn't think that the score was indicative of the game," said Berenson. "In the first period, [Lake Superior State was] as good as anyone we've played. In the second period, we got some quick goals and took advantage of some chances. We got lucky in the third period that they didn't get back in it. They missed a little bit of an empty net at some point and we went down and scored and that's how the game played out. They're a good team and we put our chances in."

Then last night, Brian Lebler and Carl Hagelin were the goal-scorers as Michigan completed the sweep.

Hogan finished with 26 saves and Inglis recorded 29 for the Lakers (9-13-8, 6-10-6-1 CCHA), whose lone goal came from ex-Wolverine Zac MacVoy.

"I felt like in our neutral and in our defensive zone, we couldn't get crisp passes up to our forwards and our centermen," said Lebler. "The puck was bouncing over their sticks and everywhere. But overall, I don't think it was too sloppy of a game."

Next weekend, Michigan hosts Nebraska-Omaha. Friday's game will begin at 7:35 p.m., while Saturday's contest is slated to start at 8:05 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports Detroit as part of "Hockey Day In Michigan" festivities.

LSSU hosts Miami next weekend.