Well, the "slump" is officially over.
After a surprising 3-3 tie with Cornell on Tuesday night, the Michigan hockey team was faced with an unfamiliar task: getting back on track. The last time the Wolverines were anything but winners was Nov. 16, when they tied Bowling Green, 3-3.
But the Wolverines (20-1-2) didn't take long to return to form, winning two games this weekend by a combined score of 21-5. Saturday night, they dispatched Ferris State, 8-4, after a 13-1 trouncing of Alaska-Fairbanks on Friday.
Ferris State came into Ann Arbor looking for redemption after an 11-1 pasting at Yost Ice Arena on New Year's Eve. And early on Saturday night, Michigan seemed to be headed for a repeat performance.
The Wolverines flew out to a 5-0 lead after the first period, getting on the board three minutes into the game with Matt Herr's 50th career goal.
Chris Fox's one-timer made the score 2-0, and Mike Legg scored two goals - of four on the night - in 4:30, to double the lead. John Madden added one to finish the scoring for the period, and Michigan coasted into the first intermission.
But the Wolverines coasted after the intermission as well, and scored just once while surrendering four goals to the Bulldogs in the second period.
"The good thing that (the Bulldogs) did was that they really played hard," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "They knew that they could really be embarrassed in this building and they didn't let that happen."
Michigan goaltender Marty Turco was lifted after giving up four goals on nine shots in the period, and little-used backup Gregg Malicke took over in the third.
Malicke was sharp in relief, picking up 13 saves - one more than Turco - in just 20 minutes of work but was reluctant to take much credit.
"The bounces went my way," he said. "I think there were two or three that went off the post tonight. Sometimes luck is just on your side."
Two third-period goals, by Legg and Rominski, finished off Ferris State.
Berenson praised Legg for his work on the offensive end, and Malicke for his job between the pipes.
"That's what I want to see," Berenson said of Malicke. "That he can come in and make a difference in the game."
Friday night's game started in much the same way as Saturday's, but unfortunately for Alaska, the Wolverines didn't have any letdowns.
And the Nanooks could do Na-nothing about Michigan's offense.
Sixteen of Michigan's 18 skaters scored at least one point in the blowout, led by Jason Botterill, whose hat trick among four points included his first collegiate shorthanded goal.
Legg, Bill Muckalt and Sean Ritchlin all had four points as well.
Bobby Hayes emerged as one of the game's stars, notching a pair of goals - his first two of the season - and an assist.
Hayes said although he hasn't been showing up on the score sheet as much as he'd like, he's pretty much satisfied - defensively, at least - with the way he's been playing.
He did admit, however, that certain teammates have kept his spirits up by poking fun at his lack of production. Someone left a copy of "The Bobby Hayes Highlight Film" in Hayes' locker one day after practice. When Hayes tried it out, he found himself watching a blank tape.
Berenson said he was pleased with his team's effort, but, in typical fashion, he downplayed the lopsided score.
"I don't think we're that good and I don't think they're that bad," he said.
In October, the Wolverines beat the Nanooks twice in Alaska, but both games were close - the two wins came by a combined three goals.
Alaska's home ice is Olympic-sized, meaning it is 15 feet wider than Yost Ice Arena. Alaska coach Dave Laurion was asked whether the game might have been closer had the Nanooks been playing on a larger surface, like the one in Fairbanks.
"I don't think it would have mattered if we'd played on Lake Michigan," Laurion said.