The University of Michigan hockey team on Thursday scored three straight goals, including two on the power play, and held on for a 3-2 victory over Niagara University in the home-opener at Yost Ice Arena.

Michigan (2-1), which entered the game with the NCAA's best power-play scoring percentage (33.3), converted on two early opportunities.

Freshman A.J. Treais scored 1:47 into the game, assisted by Robbie Czarnik and Chad Langlais, and Carl Hagelin added a second power-play goal 3:28 into the first, assisted by Matt Rust and Greg Pateryn.

The power-play magic stopped there for the Wolverines, though, as they went 0-for-6 the rest of the game.

"In the beginning, we were pretty efficient, but then it kinda went down at the end of the game," Hagelin said. "We need to continue doing it throughout the whole game."

Czarnik added an even-strength goal later in the first, making it 3-0, but Niagara quickly came back.

Niagara scored 15:10 into the first period on a shot by Ryan Olidis, and Paul Zanette added another goal just before the end of the second, making the score 3-2.

"I think we just got comfortable," Czarnik said. "We thought we were gonna blow them out, and they came back even harder than we thought."

Niagara outshot Michigan, 34-33, taking advantage of several errors made by the Wolverines.

"We've got to play better with the puck in our zone, and we have to take care of the puck in their zone," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We turned it over in their zone, and they had too many rushes up the ice. It was a sloppily played game on Michigan's part."

Berenson called junior Bryan Hogan, who made 32 saves, "the difference." While Berenson might not have wanted his goalie to see so much action, Hogan said the pace helped him stay sharp.

"I like playing these games," Hogan said. "It keeps you in it. In those 15-, 18-shot games, it's tough to come up with a big save here and there. Mentally, it's tough."

Michigan helped out Niagara by abandoning the basics, Hagelin said.

"We didn't do the easy stuff at all," he said. "We tried to beat guys one-on-one, or make passes behind our net. You're not gonna win games like that. We were lucky tonight. Hogan helped us out."

Michigan, ranked No. 4 in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll, plays No. 3 Boston University on Saturday. Boston also is coming off of a sub-par performance in which it lost, 3-0, to Notre Dame on Tuesday.

"I think we'll play better our next game," Berenson said. "I think this game was a measurement of where we are, but we all know we can play better.

"I think we needed this game. You can practice so long, but it's so much different and quicker and more physical in games. And I think this will help us in Saturday's game."

James Briggs covers Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com. Contact him at 734.623.2557 or jamesbriggs@annarbor.com, or follow him on Twitter at @jamesebriggs.