While the No. 8 Michigan hockey team’s power play has been stagnant — the man-advantage unit hasn’t tallied a power play goal since its game against Ferris State on Oct. 30 — the Wolverines' penalty kill has picked up the slack.

After allowing at least one penalty kill goal in all of its prior matchups this season, the Michigan penalty kill hasn’t let up a goal in its past four contests. This past weekend against Lake Superior State, the Wolverines' penalty kill stifled all six Laker power plays, holding Lake Superior State to just three power play shots all series.

Senior forward Scooter Vaughan even tallied a shorthanded goal in Friday night’s 7-2 rout of the Lakers.

“It’s part of our game,” junior defenseman Brandon Burlon said after practice Monday. “If our power play is not working, our penalty kill has to be. Right now, we’re struggling with our power play a little bit, but we definitely know that our penalty kill is going to help us win games. We can’t just rely on our power play on special teams.”

The Michigan penalty kill unit currently ranks 21st in the nation, having killed 59 of its 69 penalties. But the recent rise in the Wolverines’ effectiveness with a man down has been accompanied by a decline in penalty minutes taken per game.

Before the Notre Dame series two weekends ago, Michigan (7-2-1-0 CCHA, 8-3-3 overall) had taken an average of 18.3 minutes per game, tied for fifth-highest in the country at that time. But the Wolverines have shaved nearly three minutes off that total in the past two weekends. Michigan now ranks 19th in penalty minutes, averaging 15.43 minutes in the box per game.

“We are a team that prides ourselves in playing good (defense),” senior forward Carl Hagelin said. “We have a lot of good penalty killers out there, but it always helps to have a low penalized game. We’re trying to cut down our penalties, and if the refs want to keep it low, it’s fine with us. We know we can kill off three or four penalties each game because we know we’re capable of doing that. We create a lot of chances on the (penalty kill) as well.”

OFFENSIVE OUTPUT: When the Wolverines put up seven goals on Lake Superior State on Friday, each forward recorded at least one point, with the exception of freshman Jacob Fallon.

Friday’s game marked the first time Michigan scored seven goals in one game this season. It was also the first time the Wolverines have scored four goals in one period (as they did in the first), and the fourth time they have scored three or more goals in a period this season.

The four-line contribution on offense this weekend was a morale booster for the Michigan forwards, who know they don’t have to rely on just one guy to score. As this weekend proved, the Wolverines have multiple go-to guys who can put up points in any game.

“Hockey is a huge confidence sport,” Hagelin said. “If you feel good about yourself and you feel good about the team, it’s easier to play. You want to work hard because you know it’s going to benefit you in the long run. Going into this weekend, we know we’re going to play offensive teams … we know we’re going to get our chances and hopefully put a few in.”

NOTES: With only 17 days remaining until The Big Chill at the Big House — the outdoor hockey game to be played by the Wolverines and Michigan State in Michigan Stadium — construction on the Olympic-sized ice rink began this past weekend. There is a live web cam on the athletic department’s website that will track the progress of the rink’s construction. … Michigan faces two non-conference road contests at Wisconsin and Minnesota this weekend during the 18th annual College Hockey Showcase.