When freshman defenseman Jon Merrill buried a puck five hole on Lake Superior State freshman goalie Kevin Kapalka for the first score of the game on Friday, the crowd at Yost Ice Arena roared.

Fans of the No. 10 Michigan hockey team haven’t seen many lamplighters on Friday nights this season, but Merrill’s goal less than five minutes into the first period rejuvenated the Wolverines and the crowd alike.

Getting the first goal in the weekend series with the Lakers was important, but how Michigan responded after the Lakers netted the equalizer less than a minute later was more noteworthy.

The Wolverines (7-2-1-0 CCHA, 8-3-3 overall) didn’t just respond with another goal. They exploded offensively, earning their second sweep of the season after beating Lake Superior State 7-2 on Friday and 3-2 on Saturday.

Friday night’s victory over the Lakers snapped Michigan’s streak of tying or losing its last four game one matchups.

"Last year, we started off a little bit slow and we wanted to change that around this year,” sophomore forward Kevin Lynch said. “A couple of Friday night losses, we didn't want to make it another last year. I think this weekend is a stepping stone for the games to come."

Lynch, who only had three goals this season heading into the weekend series, matched his career best with two goals in Saturday’s game after tallying a goal and an assist on Friday.

But Lynch wasn’t the only Wolverine who found his shot this weekend. Every Michigan forward who played in the weekend series recorded at least one point, while Merrill and defenseman junior Brandon Burlon rounded out the balanced scoring attack with a goal apiece.

After this weekend’s sweep, Michigan now has a four-way tie for the team lead in goals. Lynch, junior forward David Wohlberg and senior forwards Carl Hagelin and Scooter Vaughan all have six goals this season.

“We know we play a lot better with the first goal,” Hagelin said after Friday night’s victory. “And even though they got one back right away, we stuck with the game plan and played hard all night.”

The Michigan coaching staff challenged the Wolverines in practice this week to turn up their speed and intensity and to play three full periods each night of the weekend.

And Michigan proved it was up to the task, scoring four even-strength goals in the first period on Friday — its first four-goal period of the season — en route to notching its 500th victory at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines didn’t stop there, though. They outshot the Lakers 77-60 on the weekend for their first home sweep of the season.

Michigan’s goaltenders deserve due credit for the victories, as well. Senior netminders Shawn Hunwick and Bryan Hogan gave up two goals each and made a combined 56 saves to keep the Wolverines in the game both nights.

“That’s a big win for (Hunwick), too,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said after Friday’s game. “A lot of the Friday night, Saturday night talk is centered around goalies. And I try to diffuse that because I don’t think that’s been the case, but it’s still a reality. We’ve got to win on Fridays.”

On Saturday, the Wolverines took a one-goal lead into the third period but kept the puck in the Laker zone for most of the frame, keeping Lake Superior State (3-6-1-0, 5-7-2) from pulling their goalie in the final seconds and getting a chance at the equalizer.

“I thought they had one good scoring chance in the third,” Berenson said. “Our team played better defense. We played hard. We played team hockey. That last shift was a great way to finish the game. You just don't let the other team pull their goalie and get the extra man on the ice."

The Wolverines face road tests at No. 15 Wisconsin and Minnesota this Friday and Sunday. Taking care of business at Yost and getting six points on the weekend comes as a relief for the Wolverines, who don’t have a true home game — besides The Big Chill at the Big House — until their Jan. 8 matchup against rival Michigan State.

“We were so mad about the Friday night games, so I was a little concerned about how we would respond to a Friday night win,” senior alternate captain Louie Caporusso said after Saturday night’s win. “I was pretty happy with it. It wasn't great, that's for sure, it was still sloppy in the first period, but at least we got the win, and that was the biggest thing.”