When the first period wound down to its final minute on Saturday night, the Yost Ice Arena faithful gave one of the most enthusiastic “How much time is left?” chants of the season, following it up with a 10-second countdown to end the frame — all for the big zero on the shot-on-goal counter.

The Wolverines already had a commanding two-goal lead in the CCHA Tournament quarterfinals. Western Michigan hadn’t managed to even remotely threaten Michigan goalie Bryan Hogan. The Broncos even went on a power play with three minutes remaining. It didn’t matter.

Shots on goal for the period: Michigan 21, Western Michigan 0. It was as dominant a defensive performance as the Wolverines have had all year.

“I’ve never seen a goose egg after one period,” senior forward Miller said.

And Michigan coach Red Berenson didn’t remember the last time the Wolverines’ defense has accomplished such a feat.

The defense — the one unit of a hockey team you usually never notice unless it's bad — was the center of attention.

And deservedly so. The blueliners have played very well in the team’s second-half run from seventh place in the CCHA to No. 3 in the country. Michigan’s defense has let up more than two even-strength goals just three times in the past 20 games. In that stretch, it hasn't allowed more than three goals.

The injuries to senior captain Mark Mitera, junior Steve Kampfer and freshman Brandon Burlon were a big blow to the Wolverine defense in the beginning of the year, but it also provided an opportunity to build incredible depth that is now paying dividends.

“We have a pretty solid ‘D’ core right now,” Mitera said. “Even guys who aren’t playing can contribute at any time. I think it makes practice that much better. (There is) competition at practice where you don’t really know who’s going to be that fifth and sixth defenseman. We have eight guys that can roll.”

Simply put, the unit is stacked. Three of the six that dress on a nightly basis were picked in the first two rounds of the NHL Draft. Among the other three, Kampfer was a fourth-round pick, sophomore Chad Langlais is a finalist for the CCHA’s award for offensive defenseman of the year and Berenson called sophomore Tristin Llewellyn one of Michigan’s most improved defenders this season.

This team’s offense — and a potential Frozen Four run — will be on the backs of those blueliners.

“Giving up one goal again tonight is important,” Mitera said Saturday. “We can’t guarantee we’re going to score six goals or five goals next weekend. It’s going to be a lot tougher.”

As the well-worn cliché goes, it’s defense that wins championships. And there’s no question everyone should be focused on Michigan’s, especially the way it’s playing coming down the stretch.

—Eisenstein can be reached at mseisen@umich.edu.