When it comes to offensive production, the Michigan hockey team's success often hinges on its Big Three.

But coming off a Great Lakes Invitational championship in which Carl Hagelin, Louie Caporusso and Matt Rust accounted for only one of the Wolverines' 10 goals, a cast of secondary scorers carried the bulk of the load.

The No. 7 ranked Wolverines understand if they are to remain in contention for a CCHA title and beyond, the usual scoring suspects need to perform well.

"They know their role on the team - it's pretty obvious," Michigan coach Red Berenson said Monday. "They lead our team in ice time, they're out there on all the important (power kill or penalty play) situations, they're playing on the front lines.

"But I think sometimes, they think it's just going to happen. We don't want them squeezing their sticks too tight, but we want them to come to the rink with the idea, 'If I don't play well, we have no chance.' That's the feeling they should have."

Through Michigan's first 21 games, Hagelin, Caprousso and Rust - all seniors - have produced 19 of the Wolverines' 73 goals. Hagelin has remained Michigan's top skater and Caporusso - who is known for his second-half surges - has been among the Wolverines' hardest workers.

But after scoring nine goals in the first half last season, Rust has three this year. Michigan (12-5-4) has found scoring from other sources, most recently in the GLI when nine goals came from players who had combined from six players who had combined for seven goals last week.

Berenson said he can't expect role players like A.J. Treais - who had two game-winners in the GLI - and Lindsay Sparks, Lee Moffie and Jeff Rohrkemper - all who scored their first goals of the season in the two wins - to contribute the way they did last week.

That turns the focus back to the seniors.

"I think all three of us have started to pick it up in the last three or four games," Hagelin said Monday. "We've kind of been up and down all year and we're known to be a lot better in the second half so it should only be positive things coming from now on."

Caporusso, who scored in Michigan's 6-5 come-from-behind championship win over Colorado College, said the key isn't to push too hard. Berenson said Monday he has moved Caporusso, who has scored seven goals and has 11 assists to left wing, shifting David Wohlberg to center, giving Caporusso some more mobility.

While he expects the second half to yield more production from The Big Three, he said the need for improvement - both offensively and defense - runs throughout Michigan's roster.

"All of us have to turn it up - me, Carl and Rust have to pick it up," Caporusso said. "But everyone else does too."

Back at full strength

Michigan will get sophomore forward Chris Brown and freshman defenseman Jon Merrill back for this weekend's home-and-home series with Michigan State. Both have spent the past two weeks with the United States world junior team, which will play Russia in the bronze medal game Wednesday in Buffalo, N.Y.

Brown scored a goal in the United States' 4-1 semifinal loss to Canada Monday night and Merrill has been a solid force for the Americans throughout the junior world championships.

But how big of a role Brown and Merrill will play this weekend against the Spartans remains up in the air.

"If they're healthy and they're motivated, we'll see - but if they're whipped and they've got their tail between their legs, we don't need them to play," Berenson said. "I want them to come back, step in and sense the importance of our games. In the past, we've had both - we've had guys that can't wait to get back, and we've had guys that come back and they need a breather."

This and that< Senior goalie Bryan Hogan continues to heal from the torn groin he suffered in warm-ups prior to the Big Chill At The Big House. Berenson said he is getting stronger, but wouldn't put a timetable on his return, saying he would do that when it's a matter of days, not weeks. Shawn Huwwick continues to win in goal, notching his third straight win and being named to the all-tournament team. ... Saturday night's game against Michigan State is nearly sold out, but tickets still remain for Friday night's game at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing. One reason? Michigan State students remain on break, leaving plenty of empty seats for the second meeting between the Wolverines and Spartans this season.

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.