Entering the Michigan hockey team's fifth game last season, Wolverine forward Louie Caporusso was still searching for his first point after being a Hobey Baker finalist during his sophomore season.

But when it came to the postseason, Caporusso was ready to play. He notched five goals and eight assists in an eight-game run during the CCHA Tournament and NCAA regional play.

This season, Caporusso has carried on his torrid scoring pace as a senior, wasting no time in finding his way into the box score.

Just fifteen minutes into the Wolverines’ season opener against Mercyhurst, Caporusso took a pass from senior defenseman Chad Langlais and buried the puck in the back of the net to give Michigan (2-0-0-0 CCHA, 2-0-1 overall) a 1-0 lead.

And he hasn’t slowed down yet. Through three games this year, Caporusso has a team-high six points — a number he didn’t reach until the 12th game in 2009.

Caporusso acknowledges that his early-season success has taken a load off his shoulders.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself last year, coming into my junior season,” Caporusso said after practice Wednesday. “I expected a lot of myself, people expected a lot out of me and I got down on myself too much and didn’t get a chance to play well because I was so hard on myself.”

A key turnaround for Caporusso last season came in the form of Michigan coach Red Berenson's decision to group the center with then-sophomores Luke Glendening and David Wohlberg.

That line proved to be the Wolverines’ strongest throughout the postseason, and Berenson has kept them together in the early-goings this fall.

“They have a lot of camaraderie and chemistry on that line right now, and Louie isn’t the only one playing well. They’re all playing well,” Berenson said.

Caporusso is the first to credit his linemates for bolstering his early-season performance. Wohlberg is tied with Caporusso and senior forward Matt Rust with a team-leading two goals apiece.

“When you’ve got the same guys on your line, it helps so much,” Caporusso said. “You know what to expect, you know what you’re going to get every day. You start to get a feel for each other, and right now I just feel so in tune and in sync with Luke and Wally.”

DUELING GOALTENDERS: After junior netminder Bryan Hogan went down with a groin injury during the final weekend of the regular season last year, Berenson and the Wolverines were forced to live or die by the goaltending of backup Shawn Hunwick.

Fortunately, they lived, riding Hunwick’s 5-foot-7 frame all the way to the NCAA regional finals in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

When the team reconvened this fall, both goalies were back for their senior years, and the starting job has been up in the air since.

Through three games and two exhibition matches, Berenson has alternated goaltenders in every game. But he switched up the order this week, playing Hogan in a 4-0 shutout of the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 team on Tuesday. That decision will give Hunwick an opportunity between the pipes against No. 9 New Hampshire this Saturday.

Berenson has not discussed any plans to select a starter yet — he may keep flip-flopping the two goalies all season if they both continue to perform up to expectations.

“We think they’re both going to play well, and it gives us a one-two punch in goal,” Berenson said. “It was a good game for Hogan (on Tuesday), Hunwick’s got a tough game going into New Hampshire. They don’t lose much at home, so this will be a good challenge for him.”

INJURY REPORT: Rust participated in practice on Wednesday after sitting out earlier this week due to a lower body injury sustained against Bowling Green last Saturday … Glendening took a puck to the hand before the USNTDP game, but was able to return to the game … After dinging his shoulder during the second period on Tuesday, sophomore forward Kevin Lynch did not practice the following day. According to Berenson, Lynch will practice on Thursday.