Michigan gains sweep over Bentley

By Bob Miller/Michigan Beat Writer

Red Berenson's Michigan Wolverines followed a similar script in both games of their first full weekend of regulation action Friday and Saturday at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor.

Friday night's 5-1 victory over Bentley was eerily similar to Saturday's 4-1 besting of the Falcons.

In both games, Michigan dominated play both on the ice and in the "shots taken" department in the first period.

Bentley rallied to even the level of play in the second each night, and then the Wolverines used a flurry of late goals to make the final score of each game look more substantial than the play on the ice. Bentley trailed 2-1 late into the third period both nights and simply were unable to find the offensive spark to even things up on the scoreboard.

In Friday night's opener, Michigan used goals by five different scorers to beat the Falcons, a great sign for a team concerned about where their offense would be generated.

Greg Pateryn, David Wohlberg, Alex Guptill, Luke Glendening and A.J. Treais all scored single markers for the Wolverines.

The play of senior goaltender Shawn Hunwick maintained Michigan's slim 2-1 lead until a three-goal spurt put things out of reach late in the third period.

“Give them marks,” pointed out Berenson of Bentley's play. “They came in here and played a good game. We got better in the third period and we got re-focused.”

Phil Di Giuseppe's two-goal performance led the Wolverine offensive charge on Saturday night. Similar to Friday's pattern, Michigan held a large edge in offensive chances in the first period, followed by an evenly played second period.

Although Michigan again held a 2-1 lead deep into the third period, it was a game-turning sequence of events that put them into that position.

After tying the game, 1-1, midway in the second period, Bentley scored the apparent go-ahead goal, but the score was waved off due to a goaltender interference call.

Michigan converted on Di Giuseppe's second goal of the night just seconds later to swing momentum in their direction.

Luke Moffatt, who set up Di Giuseppe's go-ahead tally said, “That was a really big momentum switch. It boosted up the whole bench.”

Two late third period goals iced the game for the Wolverines.

Berenson's charges next hit the ice Thursday night, hosting St. Lawrence and looking for the same stingy defense that topped Bentley twice.

“When we give up only two goals on the weekend, we have a good chance to win those games,” said Berenson.