BIG RAPIDS — For a player who will finish his career third among Michigan goaltenders in total wins and total shutouts, it was a fitting way to finish.

But for senior goaltender Billy Sauer, who had his most disappointing season this year, it simply felt good to end Senior Night with a win.

The senior finished the regular season with a 4-0 shutout over Ferris State at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday. Now with eight shutouts, Sauer sits behind just Josh Blackburn (1998-2002) and Al Montoya (2002-2005) on the Wolverines' all-time shutout list.

Sauer was at his best in Saturday's second stanza. Ferris State’s Casey Hines launched a slapshot from the blueline through traffic, but Sauer crouched low enough to see past the Ferris State screen and reached out to make the glove save.

Later in the period, Sauer faced an oncoming breakaway attempt from Bulldog forward Mike Embach, who broke away from the Michigan defense at the blueline and fired a wrist shot that Sauer saved with his left pad.

“To have Billy Sauer come in and get a shutout, that’s terrific,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said. “Good for our team, good for our seniors.”

And it has certainly been a rough season for Sauer. He split time with sophomore goalie Bryan Hogan until Hogan received the starting job after the November 21-22 series against Miami (Ohio) series.

Earlier in the season, Sauer received little goal support compared to his sophomore counterpart. The Wolverines have been shut out three times with Sauer in net and just once with Hogan. But lately, Sauer has received the support needed to win, with the Wolverines scoring four goals in both of his last two games, against Nebraska-Omaha and Ferris State. He has won all three of his starts this semester.

Bulldog brawl: At the end of Saturday's second period, two Wolverines saw their senior night end a little early.

During the second period, senior forward Tim Miller tried to jar a puck loose from Ferris State goalie Taylor Nelson, upsetting the Bulldogs. And the jawing continued after the second-period buzzer sounded. The teams met around center ice, and the action started.

Sophomore defenseman Chad Langlais was checked from behind by Bulldog forward Mike Embach and senior forward Travis Turnbull looked to retaliate. He went over to the Ferris State bench where the pair started trash talking each other and other. Both Miller and Turnbull received game misconducts.

“Turnbull and Miller got to rest in the third period,” Berenson said jokingly. "You notice how during the (senior) introductions, Miller goes straight to the penalty box and shakes hands with the penalty box keepers because he knows them better than anybody else.”

Glendening's top-line promotion: Freshman Luke Glendening wasn’t expected to be the biggest contributor in this year’s freshman class. But his last few weeks of play earned him a spot in the top line Saturday after fellow freshman David Wohlberg was scratched.

Glendening scored two goals in Michigan’s comeback 4-2 win over Nebraska-Omaha on Feb. 14 and has tallied five goals since January.

“Luke can play with anyone,” Berenson said. “I think he’s a good, solid player and adds something with anyone he plays with. He just works hard. You watch him coming back, his second effort is defensive. He just plays strong."