By Bob Miller/Michigan Beat WriterIn an early season showdown of highly-ranked teams, fourth-ranked Michigan swept their home series against sixth-ranked Ferris State, placing both programs right in the middle of the CCHA standings.
Michgan slots in fifth in the conference with Ferris State right behind in sixth.
Michigan beat the Bulldogs, 5-2, on Thursday night and followed that up with a 4-0 blanking of Ferris State on Friday at Yost Ice Arena.
The Wolverines, searching for an offensive identity, continue to receive that offense from a very balanced attack. Combine that with the experience of Shawn Hunwick in goal and you have the formula for a strong start to the season.
Ferris entered the series unbeaten in six games, only allowing five goals overall in those six opening contests.
Hunwick made 28 saves in the opening game win for Michigan and followed that effort up with 24 more on Friday, strategically using the goal posts often in his shutout effort on Friday.
In the series, Michigan's balanced offense featured two goals from Phil Di Giuseppe (pictured, named the CCHA's rookie of the week for his effort) and Travis Lynch. Single makers came from David Wohlberg, Derek DeBlois, Alex Guptill, A.J. Treais and Chris Brown.
Frustrated by his perception that his team came out lethargically in the opener, Ferris State coach Bob Daniels thought that the series finale was a much closer game than the 4-0 score indicated.
“Even though the score was worse, I thought we played better tonight,” said Daniels of his team's follow-up performance. “I thought we had a little more jump. I think, chance-wise, we were okay tonight. We just couldn't convert on our chances.”
Michigan coach Red Berenson is warming to his youthful team's improvement.
“I learned that if we are really focused and dialed in, we can play really defensively,” said Berenson. We want to take price in our goals against.”
Photo/UM Photo Services
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