It’s rare that senior forward Matt Rust is content after a game. The alternate captain is his own biggest critic and constantly looks for ways to improve.

But according to Michigan assistant coach Billy Powers, all Rust needed was a little confidence — something he found in front of 113,411 fans for Michigan's 5-0 win over Michigan State in The Big Chill at the Big House.

“(Rust) got his power game back but some poise to go along with that,” Powers said. “That’s when he’s at his best. Even though he’s played well (this season), I think this was a game that should catapult him to a good second half.”

The Bloomfield Hills native finished the night with three assists — the fourth three-point game of his career, tying his career high. Rust earned an assist in each period on Saturday, setting up freshman defenseman Jon Merrill in the first and senior forward Carl Hagelin in both the second and third.

Last season, Rust tied for fourth in team goals, finishing the season with 13 goals and 27 assists. Out to a slower start this year, the senior has only found the back of the net three times during the first half of the season. But Powers and Rust know that hard work leads to puck luck and both are hopeful that Saturday could be a turning point for Rust this season.

“My hard work, hopefully, is paying off now,” Rust said. “It was a rough start to the season. (There were) definitely some ups and down for me and the team, but hopefully… everything came together tonight and hopefully we can keep it going.”

HAGELIN HEATS UP, TOO: Rust wasn’t the only Wolverine to catch fire in the cold, as his linemate, Hagelin, also found his stride outdoors.

Hagelin finished the night with three points as well, netting two power play goals and earning an assist on Merrill’s second goal.

“That line (of Rust, Hagelin, and junior Luke Glendening) looked terrific all week in practice,” Powers said. “I had a good feeling that they were going to get that puck luck that they’ve been denied because they clearly earned that. They earned some confidence in practice this week.”

With friends and family in town from his hometown of Sodertalje, Sweden donning maize jerseys with “SWEDEN” written across the chest, Hagelin didn’t let anyone down. His two goals were his eighth and ninth on the season and moved him atop the team in both points and goals.

“I think we all get goosebumps,” Hagelin said. “The whole crowd was going crazy … Everyone on the team — everyone just felt great being a part of history so that’s something we can take with us. We just loved being out there today.”

OFFENSE ON DISPLAY: In their 5-0 rout of Michigan State, the Wolverines scored five or more goals for the fifth time this season.

Despite being outshot by the Spartans 34-29, Saturday’s game was a display of the offensive weapons Michigan has on each line. While Merrill and Hagelin each finished the night with two goals and junior forward David Wohlberg added one, four additional Wolverines recorded points on Saturday.

“Call it puck luck, call it whatever you want, but it’s nice that one led to two and two led to three and that we kept going,” Powers said.

The Wolverines’ power play unit had only scored on 15.4 percent of its previous chances heading into The Big Chill, but Michigan went 3-for-4 on the power play on Saturday, Just like with Rust and Hagelin finding some fuel outside, the Wolverines know that netting three man-advantage goals is an important step in the right direction heading into the second half of the season.

“Maybe this will be the game that (helps our power play) turn the corner,” Powers said. “The fact that our power play was able to contribute three of those five (goals) was big.”