The Michigan hockey team has had to deal with all the usual problems that arise during the six-month grind of a college hockey season.
And now, beginning with tonight's 7 o'clock game at Ohio State, it will have to deal with one that is not-so-usual.
On top of their everyday bumps and bruises, the Wolverines will have to perform without the services of one of their top offensive threats, as a result of the less-than-common "separated-shoulder-after-a-fight-with-a-teammate" ailment.
Junior winger Bill Muckalt is expected to miss three weeks after a skirmish in practice Monday with goaltender Marty Turco.
Which makes tonight's game - at the State Fairgrounds in Columbus - all the more interesting.
Ohio State is coming off a big win over Michigan State, handing the Spartans a surprise 3-2 loss in East Lansing last Saturday.
And the Buckeyes' impressive performance can be summed up in two words: Ray Aho.
Aho, a freshman goaltender, has been named CCHA Defensive Player of the Week for two consecutive weeks. Against Michigan State last weekend, he stopped 78 of 83 shots, including 44 in Saturday's victory. He made 76 saves the previous weekend.
"That's what they're looking for, is a hot goalie," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "And right now, they've got one."
But Aho - who at 5-foot-6, 145 pounds makes Michigan backup goaltender Chris Daddario look big - did not have much luck in the last meeting between these two teams.
On Nov. 8, Aho was yanked after facing just 10 shots - and giving up three goals - at Yost Ice Arena. Michigan went on to win that game, 7-2.
And Ohio State has not fared well since. The Buckeyes, winners of just five conference games in 18 tries, will probably need Aho to be on top of his game if they hope to compete with the Wolverines.
Ohio State's top two scorers - senior Chad Power and freshman Hugo Boisvert - are tied for 22nd in the CCHA, with a combined 58 points between the two of them.
By comparison, Brendan Morrison leads the Wolverines with 55 points of his own.
Add to that the two highest-scoring Buckeyes, who are a combined minus-44 for the season, and you can see why Ohio State is not among the league's elite.
Still, tonight's game comes on the heels of an emotionally draining weekend for Michigan (14-1-2 CCHA, 23-1-3 overall), after two big conference victories over Miami (Ohio). And with Muckalt's absence, the Wolverines will be playing with a shuffled lineup.
"They're not a last-place team. They're a threat to knock a Michigan off," Berenson said. "They've got a little confidence now. They went up to Michigan State and gave up five goals in two games."
Earlier this season, Michigan allowed five goals in East Lansing - in one game. The Wolverines lost that game, 5-4.
Berenson said that senior Warren Luhning will most likely take Muckalt's spot on the Morrison-Matt Herr line. Dale Rominski is slated to skate with Bobby Hayes and John Madden in Luhning's usual spot.
Interestingly, the November meeting of these two teams was one of just five games this season in which Muckalt was held scoreless. He has 43 points (18 goals, 25 assists) on the season.
JONATHAN LURIE/Special to the Daily
The Michigan hockey team will play tonight without Bill Muckalt, seen here in action during the College Hockey Showcase in November. Muckalt is expected to miss about three weeks after suffering a separated shoulder in practice on Monday.