ANCHORAGE — The Michigan hockey team has a good problem — too many talented players are capable of starting.

After the Wolverines were shut out 2-0 in their season opener, Michigan coach Red Berenson made a change before Saturday's game against Alaska-Anchorage.

Instead of starting the first line — preseason First-Team All-CCHA selection Louie Caporusso, sophomore David Wohlberg and junior forward Ben Winnett — Berenson started the second line.

Juniors Carl Hagelin and Matt Rust and freshman Chris Brown skated first and made an immediate impact.

Hagelin scored in the first period, while Brown and Rust each had tallies in the second period. Brown had another goal in the waning minutes of regulation.

The line posted a combined four goals and four assists.

“I don’t think we have a first line,” Berenson said. “I would tell you that I have a lot of confidence in Rust’s line to play against any team’s top line. And on another night it might be Louie’s line that plays against them. … Rust’s line, they love that challenge. And they did tonight and they had a great night.”

Shopping at the gap: Alaska-Fairbanks sealed its 2-0 win over Michigan Friday with their heartbreaking second goal.

After Michigan turned the puck over, Alaska defenseman Joe Sova took a slap shot from the blue line right into the back of the net. Michigan senior captain Chris Summers said a lack of gap control led to the goal.

“We want to make sure the forwards are coming back and the defensemen are staying up," Summers said. "We probably did a terrible job of that.”

Handling the puck better could serve to improve that problem on defense.

On Saturday, Michigan’s defense gave up a three-on-one breakaway right before the end of the second period, which led to the lone Alaska-Anchorage goal. But the gap control was already improved from the day before.

Summers said that it was something the team focused on before Saturday’s game. He saw the forwards' effort to get back, and to him, that made all the difference in closing the gaps.

“Our defense was much better,” Berenson said. “We still put ourselves in a trapped position, we give up two or three two-on-one’s. But they’re a good team. We have to give them credit, too.”

See you in January: Even though they lost to the Nanooks, the Wolverines felt like their game plan was good enough to win. And when Michigan faces Alaska again Jan. 15 and 16 in Ann Arbor, they won't alter much of their strategy.

“We’re not going to change a lot,” Berenson said. “But obviously we know how precious goals are. We know how you have to take care of the puck. Some of our passing was sloppy."

Michigan had just two power plays the entire game, which didn't give the Wolverines much of a chance to capitalize in man-advantage scenarios.

Berenson said that Hagelin was the Wolverines’ most dangerous player in the loss. Hagelin agreed with his coach about staying the course against the Nanooks.

“I think we had enough chances to win this game,” Hagelin said. “They play strong, but they don’t take a lot of penalties, so you’re not going to get a lot of power play chances. You’re not going to get a lot of chances in general.”

Notes:The Wolverines fell to 19-4-3 in season openers in Berenson's tenure. The Wolverines had won their last four season openers before Friday’s loss. ... It was the first time the Wolverines have ever been shut out by the Nanooks in their 45-game history, which Michigan leads, 37-8.