By Matt Mackinder/Michigan Beat WriterThe Michigan Wolverines journeyed to Alaska for two games last weekend with the two Alaskan universities and came away with a deflating loss and a dominant win at the Kendall Hockey Classic.
Michigan's season opener Friday night with the Alaska Nanooks saw the Wolverines get blanked in a 2-0 shutout, even though they outshot Alaska, 23-13.
"We just had isolated rushes," UM head coach Red Berenson said. "I thought Carl (Hagelin) was our most dangerous player, but we didn't get a lot of sustained pressure. The first half of the first period and part of the second period I thought we carried the play, but then we got behind and couldn't catch up. We needed that equalizing goal and we couldn't get it."
Bryan Hogan made 11 saves for Michigan.
The Wolverines rebounded Saturday night with a 6-1 drubbing of Alaska-Anchorage.
Freshman Chris Brown tallied two goals and an assist, Matt Rust had a goal and two assists, and Hagelin had one goal and one assist. Brian Lebler and Ben Winnett also scored to back Hogan's 15-save outing.
"I thought we played with a lot more bite," Berenson said. "We played more physical. I thought we played harder on the puck. When you do that you get your breaks. Last night, we couldn't score. We really weren't paying the price to score. We had some isolated chances, but we were a different team tonight."
"Guys were taking care of their responsibilities and doing what they were supposed to do," added UM senior captain Chris Summers, a member of the all-tournament team with Rust. "That makes a huge difference when you have a guy on any given line that can go out there and give it their all and get back off the ice and wait for their turn again. We had quick shifts. We definitely shortened up our shifts and tightened up in the defensive zone, so I think it paid off."
The Wolverines (1-1-0) are off next weekend before hosting Niagara for the Yost Ice Arena opener on Thursday, Oct. 22.
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