BIG RAPIDS - After winning its first CCHA regular-season championship since 2002 and celebrating the colorful careers of Kevin Porter and Chad Kolarik during the annual Senior Night festivities last night, could the Michigan hockey team supposed to get pumped up for tonight's rematch with Ferris State?

The quick answer is no.

The Wolverines fell to the Bulldogs 4-3 in overtime at R.L. Ewigleben Ice Arena.

With just under two minutes to play in overtime, the Bulldogs launched a serious attack on the Michigan net, eventually poking the puck behind freshman goalie Bryan Hogan for what seemed to be the game-winning goal. But before the lamp lit up, the ref has blown the play dead.

But five seconds later, Ferris State senior Adam Miller tipped in a shot that trickled slowly under Hogan for the real game winner.

The crowd erupted in "overrated" chants after the goal, but the Wolverines were lucky the game was that close.

In the first five minutes of the contest, Michigan displayed some of its most lackluster, unmotivated play of the season. The Wolverines, who gave up three power play goals to the Bulldogs in last night's 5-3 win, fell behind by two early.

Once again, the Michigan penalty kill was dismal - Ferris State notched both early goals with a man advantage.

The Bulldogs' power play, which came into the weekend making due on just 15.5 percent of its opportunities, used precision passing and quick puck movement to keep the Wolverines' penalty killers on their heels and out of position.

Hogan's nerves could have played a role in the Bulldogs' quick lead, too. Hogan, who made his first appearance in an away game tonight, has said after each of his four starts before tonight that he gets very nervous before skating out to the crease.

With the raucous Ferris State student section looming large directly behind him for two-thirds of the game, Hogan's nerves might have got the better of him in the first five minutes.

Last night, junior Mark Mitera said the motivation for tonight would be that the Wolverines wouldn't want to lose their last regular season game. A two-goal hole seemed to be enough to wake Michigan up.

Three minutes after falling down 2-0, freshman Carl Hagelin punched in his first goal in eight games, wristing a quick shot after a pass from Mitera.

Little-by-little, the Wolverines inched back into the contest, eventually taking a 3-2 lead midway through the second period. Freshman Max Pacioretty notched the only goal of a fast-paced second frame. The tally seemed to take away any momentum Ferris State had left from the first five minutes.

Four minutes into the final period, however, the Bulldogs knotted the score at three when junior Justin Lewandowski took a slapshot to give Ferris State its first even-strength goal of the weekend.

Neither team could muster much offensive production for the remaining 16 minutes, sending the game into sudden death overtime.

Michigan will have next weekend off before playing in the second round of the CCHA tournament.

Check Monday's edition of the Michigan Daily for more comprehensive coverage of this weekend's action.