Anyone who missed Saturday night's Michigan hockey game against Ferris State at Yost Ice Arena also missed an important Wolverine making his most important contribution thus far.
Friday night, junior goaltender Gregg Malicke saw some action once the game against Alaska-Fairbanks reached the blowout stage - Michigan won, 13-1. After taking over midway through the second period, Malicke played well, stopping 10 Alaska shots on goal.
Saturday night, the situation was much different when Michigan coach Red Berenson made the switch.
With the Wolverines in danger of letting the game get away, Malicke came in and completely shut Ferris State down for the entire third period.
After Michigan jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first period, the Bulldogs went to work immediately, scoring just 21 seconds into the second period.
Junior goaltender Marty Turco and the Michigan defense went on to allow three more goals in the period, cutting the Michigan lead to 6-4. Turco was beaten on four of nine shots on goal in the period. Each of the Ferris State goals came in a different fashion - power play, even strength, shorthanded and four-on-four.
"The puck was going in too easy, and we had to make a change," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "Whether Turco becomes the scapegoat, not that it was his fault, we needed to make a change in the whole direction of the way the team was playing."
And that's exactly what was accomplished. Malicke stopped all 13 shots he faced in the third period, many of which came on Ferris State power plays.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Wolverines, who had been outhustled by the Bulldogs in the second period, came back to life in the third, buoyed by Malicke's play.
"If we need (Malicke) in crunch time then he got a taste of it tonight," Berenson said. "That's what I want to see. I want to see this kid come in and show the team and show everybody that he can make a difference in a game."
Malicke also made a difference after the game. As the buzzer sounded, some extracurricular activity ensued in front of the Michigan net and Malicke got involved.
"When you got a guy that's like 6-(foot)-6, 6-7 in front of you all the time, trash-talking, you can't get thrown off your game," Malicke said. "But I see them trying to jump on our guys and we won the game, it's over ... that just really makes me mad.
"That's the key to being a good goaltender, always being in control. But with no time on the clock, I don't care. ... I was defending my teammates."
JONATHAN LURIE/Special to the Daily
Gregg Malicke, shown here in action earlier this season, made a strong contribution in Michigan's 8-4 victory over Ferris State on Saturday. The junior played a scoreless third period in relief of Marty Turco, making 13 saves.