Michigan hockey team routs Minnesota in College Hockey Showcase opener

The second period hadn’t been kind to the Michigan hockey team all season, with the Wolverines scoring just 6 goals in the second frame over their first 12 games. They bucked the trend Friday night against Minnesota, scoring three goals en route to a 6-0 shutout in the first game of the 17th annual College Hockey Showcase.

“We looked like we had a plate full of turkey in our bellies,” said Minnesota coach Don Lucia. “We were sluggish, and we’re not a good enough team to come out and play sluggish.”

Michigan goalie Bryan Hogan made 24 saves for his first shutout of the season as Michigan (6-7, 4-5 Central Collegiate Hockey Association) out shot Minnesota 32-24. (Boxscore)

The Golden Gophers (4-8-1, 3-6-1 WCHA) struggled to get open shots throughout the game, but had a cluster of opportunities early in the first period and toward the middle of the second where they rattled off consecutive point-blank shots and Hogan stood strong.

“Hogey, that’s where he earned his shutout tonight,” said Michigan coach
Red Berenson. “Three or four point blank shots, bang. He made the saves. He was in position. No rebounds.”

Hogan said his confidence grew along with the lead, but his recent struggles weren’t far from his consciousness.

“It gives me confidence absolutely, but in the back of mind I was thinking about those other games that turned right around in two seconds,” Hogan said. “I gotta always be sharp.”

Minnesota goalie Alex Kangas looked sharp early, but David Wohlberg was able to sneak a shot past him with under two minutes to play in the first in a 4-on -4 situation. Wohlberg was assisted on the play by Louie Caporusso as the pair both extended their respective point streaks to four games.

“The best is yet to come,” Berenson said of the chemistry between the two forwards of late. “That line is still a work in progress and still trying to find themselves, because I think they could be two of our top scorers.”

Michigan’s special teams shined in the second as Caporusso and Brandon Burlon each scored power play goals and Carl Hagelin scored the Wolverines’ first shorthanded goal of the season. Michigan was 2-for-7 on the power play while Minnesota was 0-for-7.

“We’ve been working on our power play,” said Hagelin. “Power plays should be a time when it’s a little bit easier to score. Today we showed up in the second period.”

Hagelin, who leads the team in goals with 7 and has registered a point every weekend so far this season, scored again in the third as did Ben Winnett.

Michigan will host No. 15 Wisconsin (8-4-1, 5-4-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) Saturday night in their second game of the holiday showcase. The Badgers beat No. 7 Michigan State 7-3 in East Lansing on Friday.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by e-mail at petercunningham@annarbor.com, or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter /petcunningham">@petcunningham.