Michael Eisenstein:
Sophomore forward Matt Rust and senior forward Travis Turnbull will both score at least 10 goals in the regular season. They have seven and eight right now, respectively.
Michigan will not let up another power-play goal the rest of the regular season. Recently, the Wolverines’ penalty-kill unit has been overwhelmingly dominant, and is currently second-best in the CCHA with a 90.5 kill percentage.
Miller will score a pair of goals against Notre Dame in the CCHA Championship game, and be named CCHA Tournament MVP. Miller scored all four of his goals last season at Joe Louis Arena, where the CCHA playoff semifinals and finals are played. Playing on the top line alongside sophomore forward Louie Caporusso and Wohlberg, Miller is playing some of his best hockey right now.
Gjon Juncaj:
Sophomore forward Louie Caporusso (22 goals) will leapfrog Air Force’s Jacques Lamoureux (25) to finish the season as the nation’s top goal scorer. The Wolverines’ Hobey Baker Award hopeful is due for a hot streak — just in time for the end of the regular season.
Sophomore third-string goaltender Shawn Hunwick will play in net in the Feb. 28 regular season finale against Ferris State at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines will likely have their CCHA Tournament seeding determined before the game. Expect an easy victory over the Bulldogs, and look for Hunwick to make his second career appearance.
Michigan will win the national championship. The Wolverines are on a tear, winning 14 of their last 16 games, including a sweep of No. 5 Miami (Ohio) and a victory at No. 2 Notre Dame. Their slew of quality wins solidifies one of the most impressive résumés in the country, which puts them in prime position for a title run.
Nicole Auerbach:
Matt Rust will have a hat trick sometime during the last four regular-season games. He’s been on fire since returning from the World Junior Championships, and is currently tied with sophomore forward Carl Hagelin and freshman forward Luke Glendening for the most lamp-lighters since the start of January (five goals apiece).
Louie Caporusso will score at least 30 goals by the end of the postseason. He’s got 22 now , and when he scores, they usually come in pairs (or bunches). A couple more multi-goal games will do the trick.
Michigan’s fourth line will score the game-winning goal in the CCHA Championship game to defeat Notre Dame. The third and fourth lines have tallied crucial goals in recent weeks, and both lines have great chemistry.
Chris Meszaros:
Senior goaltender Billy Sauer will see significant playing time before the season ends. Michigan coach Red Berenson has said that he plans on having both Sauer and sophomore goaltender Bryan Hogan ready for the playoffs, and Hogan has very limited playoff experience.
Freshman Brandon Burlon will end the season by leading Wolverine defensemen in points. Burlon has 13, trailing both junior Chris Summers and sophomore Chad Langlais, who each have 16. Burlon has been hot lately and has four of his five goals in the second half of the season.
Michigan won’t play in the Grand Rapids bracket, since it will lose to Notre Dame in the CCHA finals. The Fighting Irish are just too good for the Wolverines to beat come tournament time. Instead, the Wolverines will chase their NCAA dreams in Minneapolis.