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Notre Dame latest 'M' blowout victim

Yost Ice Arena isn't the place to go for suspense. If it weren't for pizzas and sieves, the crowd would have nothing left to wonder about.

But even those things are becoming as predictable as Michigan hockey games.

In front of 7,359 Saturday night, the third-ranked Wolverines demolished Notre Dame, 11-1, cruising to their sixth straight blowout.

Michigan chased its opponent's goaltender from the net for the eighth time in its last 11 home games.

And the Wolverines scored the five goals necessary to give the fans half off Cottage Inn pizza -- before the first period was over.

"We're playing pretty well," Michigan coach Red Berenson said with a smirk.

The Wolverines (15-3-0 CCHA, 20-4-0 overall) have reduced their games to a sort of Greek drama. The audience knows the outcome beforehand but comes to watch its favorite actors play familiar roles.

Michigan's leading men did not dissappoint against the Fighting Irish (5-11-3, 6-14-3).

Brendan Morrison had two goals and three assists and has 11 goals and 20 assists in his last eight games. Jason Botterill scored three goals and an assist to extend his goal-scoring streak to five games. And Kevin Hilton, who has recorded an assist in each of his last eight games, notched five assists.

The supporting cast filled in nicely. John Madden scored a couple of goals within a minute of each other. Bill Muckalt, Dale Rominski and Sean Ritchlin all found the back of the net.

And a newcomer to the center stage played an old part well. Junior defensman Chris Frescoln scored his first goal of the season. His only other career goal came at home against the Irish his freshman year.

"A lot of people are getting involved in the play, and we've got confidence," Berenson said of Michigan's impressive puck movement, which has lead to repeated scoring spurts. "When you've got confidence, (the puck) is an egg. Without it, it's a grenade."

There were quite a few explosions on Notre Dame sticks. The Irish, who were coming off of a 1-0 victory at Illinois-Chicago, could hardly get a rush organized and could only muster 19 shots to Michigan's 48.

The only Notre Dame goal came at 15:51 of the second, when Jay Matushak snuck up behind the Wolverines. Botterill had just scored to put Michigan up, 8-0, and a defensive lapse, that may have been influenced by the score, gave the Irish their only opportunity to beat goaltender Marty Turco.

Things were so bad for Notre Dame that, at one point in the first period, the Irish were on the power play and had to chase the Wolverines around the rink because Michigan wouldn't give up the puck.

"Do we have the depth and talent Michigan does, not yet, no way," Notre Dame coach Dave Poulin said. "They're good."

The Wolverines were good on the power play -- again. They went 4-for-8, extending their lead in the CCHA by scoring their 50th goal in 163 chances with the extra man (30.7 percent).

Michigan was good shorthanded -- again. Though the Wolverines didn't score a shorthanded goal, as they had in their last five games, Michigan killed off all five Notre Dame power plays. The Wolverines haven't allowed a goal in 46 straight shorthanded situations.

"I like our concern for defense," Berenson said. "We're still trying to play honest, two-way hockey ... We're winning games we should win. This is not a good time to play Michigan."