Michigan hockey team hosts No. 1-ranked Miami (Ohio) for two games

WHAT: No. 1 Miami (Ohio) vs. No. 4 Michigan.

WHERE: Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor.

WHEN: 7:35 p.m. Friday, 7:35 p.m. Saturday.

LAST MEETING: Michigan won, 4-0, on Jan. 11. Michigan leads the all-time series, 68-20-3.

ON THE AIR: Television: Comcast Local. Radio: WTKA-AM (1050).

RUNDOWN: Two weeks after losing to Boston University, another top-five opponent, the University of Michigan hockey team gets a shot a top-ranked Miami.

After losingÂ in last year's national championship game, Miami (6-1, 3-1 CCHA) again is off to a strong start. The Wolverines (4-2, 2-0) swept Lake Superior State in two games last weekend.

A win against Miami would solidify Michigan's standing as a legitimate national championship contender.

"It's another real strong program in our league. Just like Notre Dame has emerged, Miami has been emerging for some time," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "This will be another test like (Boston). I think this team is better than BU."

Michigan has improved its offensive efficiency from two weeks ago. Junior center Matt Rust has scored at least one point in five straight games, and both Louie Caporusso and David Wohlberg scored their first points of the season last weekend.

The penalty kill continues to be a strength for Michigan, which has stopped opponents' power plays 91.2 percent of the time - the fifth-best percentage in the nation. Of course, it helps that goalie Bryan Hogan is saving nearly 92 percent of the shots he faces. Hogan has a 2.01 goals-against average.

These game are important not only to the national rankings, but also in the CCHA standings.

"If you have any chance of finishing ahead of a team in this league, then you have to win the series against them," Berenson said. "And if you don't, you probably won't."