For a stretch of 59 seconds, the scoring punch the Michigan hockey team had lacked all night finally arrived.

By then, though, it was much too late.

The No. 3-ranked Wolverines spent too much of Friday night's 4-2 home loss to unbeaten Nebraska-Omaha playing from behind, plagued again by too many penalties and an offensive attack that was, for the most part, out of sync.

Michigan (2-1-2) saw its four-game unbeaten streak snapped after allowing four straight goals, including three in a decisive second period when the Mavericks broke the game open.

By the time the Wolverines were able to put together 20 solid minutes, too much damage had been done.

"We've got to play with a better sense of urgency," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "I thought they were the more determined team. They were stronger and harder on the puck than we were and it showed.

"They played harder than we did."

Michigan scored twice in a 59-second span of the third period to draw back to within two goals.

Kevin Lynch finally broke the Wolverines' scoring drought at the 13:59-mark of the period before David Wohlberg followed up, delivering the spark the Michigan offense had been missing until that point.

The Wolverines had plenty of chances, especially early in the second period while trailing only 1-0. But when Michigan failed to finish off a series of close-range chances, Nebraska-Omaha (5-0) made certain it took advantage.

The Mavericks used a Brock Montpetit power play goal at 9:03 to push their lead to 3-0 before Matt White followed up a shot that trickled off the top of Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick's glove to extend the lead to four.

"Obviously, it's disappointing to be down 4-0 in any game. We worked hard in the third period, but sometimes it's not enough," Michigan captain Luke Glendening said. "Four goals is a tough deficit to come back from."

Hunwick made key saves on a pair of 2-on-1 UNO scoring chances, keeping the deficit at four goals. Michigan's offense -- which generated 36 shots, but only six strong scoring chances -- didn't respond until Lynch's goal put Michigan on the board.

The Wolverines' power play had a chance to draw Michigan even closer after Wohlberg's goal, but couldn't get anything past Mavericks goalie John Faulkner, who made 34 saves. Michigan finished the loss 0-for-5 with a skater advantage.

Michigan struggled again with penalties, taking four in the first period alone. That, combined with the Wolverines' early lack of offense, allowed UNO -- the nation's top-scoring team -- to build its lead, making the most of the scoring chances the Mavericks got.

"We just didn't have the game we came prepared to play," Berenson said. "We had a little going late in the third (period), but our team knows we're going to have to play a lot better from the start."

Jeff Arnold covers Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com and can be reached at (734) 623-2554 or by e-mail at jeffarnold@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @jeffreyparnold.