Apparently, the Michigan hockey fans have good foresight — because they sure didn’t miss much Saturday night.

In one of the rare games when the student section wasn’t full, the Michigan hockey team played one of its most boring games of the season but they still beat Lake Superior State 2-1.

“It was an ugly win, but we got through it,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said.

No. 4 Michigan (15-7-0-0 CCHA, 21-9-0 overall) started its sweep of the Lakers by winning 6-2 Friday. The Wolverines came into the game needing a sweep to stay among the top four teams in the CCHA, all of whom receive a first-round bye in the opening round of the conference playoffs. Currently, the Wolverines sit alone in third place with 30 points, just two behind Miami (Ohio) and six behind Notre Dame.

The Wolverines have six remaining regular-season games before the CCHA playoffs, against Nebraska-Omaha, Ohio State and Ferris State. The Buckeyes are currently fourth in the conference with 28 points. Nebraska-Omaha and Ferris State have 26 and 23 points, respectively.

In both games this weekend, the Lakers took a 1-0 lead in the first period. And in both games, Michigan goals at the end of the frame swung the momentum, and the game, to the Wolverines’ side.

In Friday’s game, sophomore forward Matt Rust stole the puck in the neutral zone and skated up the side boards. Rust then flipped the puck from backhand to forehand and beat Lake Superior State goalie Pat Inglis over his right shoulder.

To make matters worse for the Lakers (6-10-6-1, 9-13-8), Rust's goal was shorthanded with just four seconds remaining in the period.

“You have to be able to make the reads here and there,” Rust said. “And I was one step ahead of the defender and got lucky and was able to pick up the puck. I have been trying to keep my feet moving.”

Though there were 40 minutes left to play, the late goal sucked the life out of the Lakers for the second period.

And Michigan made them pay.

Including Rust's first goal, the Wolverines scored five unanswered tallies — before the Lakers lit the lamp again.

After Lake Superior State notched the opening goal Saturday, Michigan answered again. Sophomore Carl Hagelin tied the game with 28 seconds left in the first frame on a wicked wrist shot from the slot that beat Inglis on his glove side.

Hagelin’s tally Saturday was perhaps the most important of the weekend — not only because Michigan won by just one goal but also because the Lakers were prepared to play.

In the second period, junior Brian Lebler scored the game winner on a rebound from a shot by sophomore Aaron Palushaj. The goal was enough for Michigan to hold onto the lead and sweep the series.

“That was a huge goal that Hagelin got, kind of like Rust's goal (Friday) night, to get us back in the game in the first period,” Berenson said. “And then we scored on a rebound, and we hung on for a one-goal game. It's hard to beat a team twice in this league back-to-back.”

Lake Superior State missed several late opportunities, including a second-period opportunity off a rebound. Senior Tim Miller was in position to take the forward down, and though he took a penalty, Miller kept the Wolverines in the lead.

Hogan kept Michigan on top, registering 26 saves and 45 on the weekend.

“It was just one of those games where we weren't in sync and we just had to battle the whole way," Berenson said. "They were a tough team, a good team. Bryan Hogan had to make some big saves.”