Tonight's opponent looks a little too familiar. The Wolverines have played scrappy teams like Niagara before, but recent struggles with similar teams make Michigan’s matchup with the Purple Eagles that much more enticing.

Yesterday, Michigan associate head coach Mel Pearson compared the Purple Eagles’ style of play to Air Force and Alaska-Fairbanks. Last year, the Wolverines’ season ended with a 2-0 loss to the Falcons in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Michigan opened this season with a 2-0 loss to the Nanooks. It was the first time Michigan had been shut out in back-to-back games since the 1942-43 season.

“A lot of these teams now, they play solid defensively,” Pearson said. “They’re going to get their breaks on the power play or catch you in odd-numbered rushes. They’re all the same. They pack it in defensively and they don’t give you much."

“You have to keep it simple and at the same time get pucks and players to the net. Don’t look for the cute, fancy, sexy goals.”

The Wolverines couldn’t convert on their few chances a couple weeks ago against the Nanooks in Alaska. Playing simply is easy to say, but it’s another thing to go out and actually play with poise.

Both Nanook goals came off of Michigan mistakes, and Alaska-Fairbanks tightened its defense after taking the lead. If Michigan turns the puck over tonight, it will play right into Niagara’s hands, just as it did for the Nanooks.

“I think we have to get the puck behind their D, get them moving, make their D skate,” junior forward Louie Caporusso said. “Use our speed to our advantage. And use our puck skills to our advantage. I think we have a bunch of guys on this team that can really control the puck and have great hands.”

During the past few seasons, the Niagara has been notorious for giving Michigan tough games. Last year, the Wolverines won 4-2 in a tight contest. Two years ago, Michigan won 5-1 over Niagara in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but Hobey Baker Award winner Kevin Porter scored four goals.

“We expect a physical game,” senior captain Chris Summers said. “They’re kinda known for being a blue collar team, (and) being a team that bangs bodies out there … We’re going to have to come out and play our style hockey and take it right to them.”

Blue-collar hockey is tough and hard-hitting, but Michigan hasn’t played a game since Oct. 10. Berenson acknowledged that the team could be rusty and needs a fast start tonight.

“We have to play Michigan hockey,” Berenson said. “And when I say Michigan hockey, we have to be rock solid defensively. We have to force turnovers. Through good forechecking, and winning more than 50 percent of faceoffs, we (can) get the puck. And then we got to get the puck to the net and put them on their heels when we get the puck.”

Summers said the team is excited to get its home schedule started. Berenson is 21-1-3 in home openers during his coaching career at Michigan, and the team seems ready to avenge its poor play against both the Nanooks and Air Force.

"We got to work just as hard as them," Caporusso said. "When you’re playing a big school like ours, you can get revved up for it. But I think we’re going to be revved up for Niagara too though.”