By Mark Snyder
Daily Sports Writer
For Michigan left wing Jason Botterill, this weekend placed him back where he finished last season - as one of Michigan's primary offensive weapons.
 | Botterill |
Against Ohio State on Thursday and Bowling Green on Saturday, Botterill recorded four goals and one assist to spark Michigan's 6-1 victories in each contest.
When Michigan ended last season and began this campaign, Botterill was on arguably the top line in the nation, paired with center Brendan Morrison and right wing Bill Muckalt.
The three were Michigan's top returning scorers and always in the mix of the Wolverines' power play.
But about a month into the season, Michigan coach Red Berenson moved Botterill to a line with center John Madden and forward Warren Luhning. Instantly, Botterill's focus was altered as he was playing on a line with fellow enforcer Luhning.
"(Playing with different lines) is a good practice to get into," Botterill said. "If you're used to playing with a bunch of different individuals, it's not going to be that much of a change."
He moved once again, before the halfway point of the season, to a line with center Mike Legg and right wing Sean Ritchlin - a trio that led Michigan this weekend with 13 points between them.
Botterill, Michigan's largest player at 6-foot-4, and more than 220 pounds, takes his assistant captain title to heart. He continued his physical style of play recently, leveling opponents with hard checks, but now the goals have started coming as well.
"I've been trying to take the body out there," Botterill said. "Whenever you can get a goal, it makes taking the body more enjoyable."
In the last three weeks, Botterill's numbers have begun to reflect his hard work.
Beginning with his four-point night against Alaska-Fairbanks on Jan. 10, Botterill has been on a hot streak. He has scored nine goals to go along with four assists in the three-week stretch.
With his hat trick Saturday, Botterill tied forward Matt Herr for the team lead in goals with 23.
Against Bowling Green on Saturday, he showed why he is so highly coveted by the NHL team that owns his rights - the Dallas Stars.
In the middle of the second period, Michigan was hanging on to a 2-1 lead and the game remained in doubt - an unusual situation for the Wolverines. But Botterill put to rest any doubts of a Michigan defeat.
He netted two goals in a 4 1/2 minute span, highlighting the team's most explosive period this season in terms of shots on goal.
Of Michigan's 26 shots, eight came off of Botterill's stick, a fact not lost on Bowling Green coach Buddy Powers.
"He got two of those tough goals around the net," Powers said. "He's a big, strong guy who we just couldn't control."
As if to make his three-week streak fitting, Botterill scored a goal of the highlight variety to repeat his effort against Alaska with another hat trick - this time against the Falcons.
Botterill slapped at the puck just inside the blue line while charging toward the net and tucked the puck inches below the crossbar and inside the pole.
"He just put a bullet in the corner of the net for (his) third goal," Powers said.
The senior forward was not troubled by how many men were on the ice, as his gaze was fixed on the net. With his first goal on the power play, the second at even strength and the final one shorthanded, Botterill has proven he is multi-talented.
"I'm a specialist," he said jokingly, of his second career shorthanded goal.
Michigan's opponents probably aren't laughing.