After getting swept at home in a weekend series for the first time since 2001, the University of Michigan hockey team is 4-4, and has slipped from No. 4 to No. 6 in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll.

One big reason for Michigan’s sputtering start has been the power play. The Wolverines went 1-for-14 last weekend, including 0-for-8 in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to Miami (Ohio). They’ve converted on just 15 percent of their power plays this season.

That won’t win many games.

“It’s apparent, it’s pretty awful right now,” center Matt Rust said. “We’ve been working on it. I guess we’ve just got to work a little harder. We’re just not moving the puck quick enough. We’re trying to be too cute with it. We look bad - there’s nothing else to say.”

The Wolverines seemingly have done all they can to improve the power play, but nothing has worked.

“They can pass the puck in practice every day like it belongs to them,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said. “And then they get in the game situation, and they get a little jittery and a little nervous, and the puck’s bouncing off their stick, and they look like they’ve never practiced it.

“We’ve practiced the power play more this year than we have in any year I’ve been here up until this point. It’s been a daily event. We’re not getting rewarded for it.”

Michigan’s struggles haven’t been limited to the power play. The Wolverines are averaging three goals per game, a number that’s inflated by a couple offensive outbursts against weaker opponents.

Freshman Chris Brown has been a pleasant surprise with 5 goals and 2 assists, but several upperclassmen have performed well below expectations.

“Guys that are supposed to be able to score are not scoring,” Berenson said. “The power play can usually get you out of that. It hasn’t done that.”

Michigan must find ways to score this weekend during a home-and-home series against Michigan State. The games are at 7:35 p.m. Friday in Ann Arbor, and at 7:05 p.m. Saturday in East Lansing.

After finishing 10-23-5 last season, the Spartans are 7-2-1, 4-1-1 CCHA, and two points behind Miami for second place in the conference.

They’re averaging 3.5 goals per game, led by junior forward Corey Tropp, who has 8 goals and 7 assists. Like Michigan, the Spartans also have gotten major contributions from a freshman, Derek Grant, who has 5 goals and 7 assists.

“It’s going to be a similar series (to Miami)” Rust said. “State’s having a lot of success early this year.”

The Wolverines will be in trouble, though, if they play too much like they did against Miami. Everyone on the team agrees they have to be more prepared for Michigan State.

“I think the biggest problem (against Miami) was you saw our forwards get outmuscled, outworked. They were able to push our forwards around, and that’s unacceptable,” Rust said. “No one showed up. It’s not skill or confidence. It’s just hard work.”

James Briggs covers Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com. Contact him at jamesbriggs@annarbor.com.