The Michigan hockey team begins its CCHA season tonight, and its area of focus heading into this weekend's series against Lake Superior State is strikingly familiar.

The Lakers plays host to the fifth-ranked Wolverines in Sault Ste. Marie. Lake Superior State's strengths are its physical play and defense — two facets that will make it easier to keep the already-struggling Michigan offense stagnant.

“Lake State is a blue-collar, hard-working, hard-checking team, and they’re going to play at a high (competitive) level every shift the whole weekend,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said.

The attributes Berenson listed are the same labels he gave No. 16 Alaska-Fairbanks and Niagara before games against those teams earlier this month.

Michigan (2-2-0) didn’t fare well against either team, losing to the Nanooks in its season opener and struggling offensively after a quick start in a win over the Purple Eagles.

The fact that the Lakers (4-1-0) have a similar defensive style to Alaska and Niagara, compounded with the Wolverines’ inconsistent offense, could be a cause for concern. But Michigan came out of its shell in its last game — a loss at No. 4 Boston University — by tallying two goals and 21 shots in the final period.

“We’ve had a little trouble with the Lakers in the past. I remember last year, we didn’t have our best weekend against them,” sophomore defenseman Brandon Burlon said. “If we just build off the game we had in Boston — especially the third period — I think we’ll come out with two wins.”

Michigan found an offensive spark in its 21-shot third period against the Terriers when a series of penalties and ejections led to line changes that lasted the remainder of the frame. Because of the success with different lines and because of players missing practice this week due to illness, Berenson hadn't determined his forward lines before the team left for Sault Ste. Marie Thursday.

One of those players is junior forward Louie Caporusso, who didn’t practice Tuesday or Wednesday, but skated Thursday. A healthy and effective Caporusso would drastically improve the team’s offensive woes. He was the team’s leading goal-scorer last year and a Hobey Baker-finalist, but has yet to register a point in four games this season.

Lake Superior State’s clamp-down defense will come as no surprise to Caporusso and Michigan. Berenson knows what type of Lakers team to expect.

“I’ve played them a lot and seen them a lot,” Berenson said. “And their team doesn’t change a lot. It’s amazing that whoever wears their uniforms plays the same way. That’s their creed ... the culture of their program.”

The Lakers wrap up a six-game home stand with this weekend's series against the Wolverines. They had a four-game winning streak snapped against Ohio State last Saturday in a weekend split. The stingy defense hasn’t been the team's only asset — Lake Superior State also boasts the highest power play percentage in the CCHA at 30.8 percent.

The power play has helped the Lakers to a fast start, but their extra-man attack has been another weak point for Michigan. The Wolverines haven't scored on its last 10 power plays, dating back to the win over Niagara on Oct. 22.