ANCHORAGE — The Michigan hockey team may want what happened in Alaska to stay in Alaska — well, at least part of it.

The fourth-ranked Wolverines were shut out in their season opener for the first time in program history, losing 2-0 to the Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks on Friday. Dating back to last year's 2-0 loss to Air Force in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Michigan was shutout in consecutive games for the first time since the 1942-43 season.

The Wolverines played in the 19th annual Kendall Hockey Classic in Anchorage this weekend. They took second place out of four teams after topping the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves at Sullivan Arena on Saturday night, 6-1.

On Friday, Michigan (1-1) knew it was facing a stingy Nanook defense that wasn’t going to give them a lot of room.

“You’ve got to make your chances count, because goals are precious against them,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said Oct. 6.

The turning point in the game came when Michigan junior defenseman Chad Langlais was called for holding 7:34 into the second period. Alaska couldn't convert on the power play, but an unsuccessful Michigan line change at the end of the man advantage led to an open shot for Chad Gehon, who put the Nanooks up, 1-0.

Alaska added another goal in the third period when Joe Sova launched a slap shot past the glove side of Michigan junior goalie Bryan Hogan.

“The first goal of the game was really important,” Berenson said. “And Fairbanks, when they got it, they milked it pretty good. They played good (defense). And when they got the second one, that’s all they need.

"We’re a team that has to get something going. And when we score we get a little better momentum, like any team. But we couldn’t get that going."

Berenson wasn’t pleased with the Wolverines' sloppy passing and poor execution on offense. The unit had multiple isolated attacks and even outshot the Nanooks 23-13, but Michigan couldn’t sustain any pressure on Alaska goalie Scott Greenham.

“It’s frustrating,” senior captain Chris Summers said. “They’re a solid, shutdown team. You give them a lot of credit. But we got to work through that. We’ve got to learn to pull out a victory in those types of situations.”

Saturday’s win over Alaska-Anchorage was just the opposite for the Wolverines, where they scored early and often. Michigan gained the momentum when junior Ben Winnett stole the puck from the Seawolves' goalie in the first period, who was handling it behind the net. Winnett then played it off of a Seawolves defender for the team's first goal of the season.

“We played harder on the puck, and when you do that, you get your breaks,” Berenson said. “We were a different team (Saturday).”

Five different Wolverines scored and the defense did its part, forcing Hogan to make just 15 saves.

“Our veteran players, they now got a feel for this (Michigan) team," Berenson said. "Now, we’re not going to win the Stanley Cup because we won one game, but it’s a good sign.”