February 4, 2012 - 2:34am
Michigan best RedHawks, 4-1, in series opener
BY DAILY HOCKEY BEAT
- Jed Moch/Daily
Maybe it was the bye week. Or maybe just a little bit of birthday luck for Chris Brown and Jon Merrill. Regardless, Michigan had no difficulty avenging last November’s sweep by Miami (Oho) to bounce back Friday night, 4-1.
Brown wasted no time setting the pace for the Wolverines. Less than two minutes into the first period, the forward beat RedHawk netminder Cody Reichard to the bottom right of the net.
Michigan coach Red Berenson always stresses the importance of winning the little battles, and relies on his captain, forward Luke Glendening to set an example for the rest of the team.
So it was only fitting that Glendening set up Michigan’s second goal. Glendening checked a RedHawk in the neutral zone, and dished the puck to junior forward A.J. Treais who was waiting in the middle of the circle. Treais fired a wrister past Reichard to put the Wolverines up by two.
With less than four minutes left in the first period, two RedHawks went to the penalty box. Perfect opportunity for Michigan’s improving power play — Treais’ shot from the corner rounded out Michigan’s scoring in the first stanza.
Miami’s Reilly Smith responded to the Wolverines with a goal of his own. But sophomore forward Luke Moffatt widened the goal-gap with an assist from Merrill.
Fifth-year senior netminder Shawn Hunwick got laid out during a Michigan power play midway through the second period. Though his helmet was knocked off, and he took a few moments to come to, he didn’t seem to be too fazed by the collision.
Moffatt’s goal was the last of the evening. But Michigan’s special teams did work all night — the second and third frames saw a slew of penalties from both sides, and Miami sent players to the box with one second left in the final frame — and the Wolverines had little difficult starving off the RedHawks.
