Wolverines don't slip up in sandwich match

Maybe some questions about the multiple Northern breakaways Michigan allowed in the second and third periods. Maybe something about Michigan defenseman Bubba Berenzweig's crucial two points on the evening, or how he's developed into a solid two-way player and puck carrier.

Maybe even a question about the scrappy, rough style of play the Wildcats used to harass the Wolverines into making sloppy passes for much of the night.

Chris Farah Farah's Faucet

It seems like it would actually make some kind of sense, right? Michigan's victory wasn't a foregone conclusion. The Wolverines made enough defensive mistakes to give the Wildcats a few good chances to test Marty Turco one on one. Fortunately for Michigan, Turco passed the tests as he usually does, with flying colors.

But the game could have been close, a lot closer than the score of 4-2 makes it appear. And the Wolverines definitely looked sluggish after a hard-fought win over Miami (Ohio) on Friday night.

So maybe, just maybe, it seems logical to assume that people would have actually been interested in the Northern game after, well, the Northern game.

Silly mistake.

Oh, questions were asked after the game. They were about a game, and they did involve teams, one of which happened to be Michigan. But the other team discussed had as little to do with the upper peninsula as a low-fat pasty.

Michigan State, not Northern, was the focus of most of the questions. Michigan State, not Northern, was the team on everyone's minds.

Everyone, that is, except the Wolverines.

Sure, the Michigan players are looking forward to this weekend's series against the Spartans. How could they not anticipate one of the greatest rivalries in college hockey? They've had Feb. 20-21 circled on their calendars for months now.

But Saturday night against Northern, the Wolverines were focused on one thing: beating the Wildcats. That was why, despite some sloppy mistakes, they were able to win. And that's why, Michigan is on top of the CCHA.

It could have been different. With the Northern matchup sandwiched between two crucial contests, the Wolverines could have easily overlooked the CCHA's latest addition.

Friday night against Miami, Michigan didn't need any spark. After getting swept by the RedHawks in Oxford, the Wolverines were primed for revenge. The crowd at Yost Ice Arena, though always loud, buzzed with even more energy than usual.

Motivation was not a problem Friday, but it could've been Saturday.

Northern, after a strong start in conference competition, has stumbled to fifth in the CCHA. The Wildcats split a two-game series with Wolverines earlier in the season at Marquette, but Northern's victory wasn't exactly decisive.

Factor that in with fatigue caused by Michigan's tough win over Miami the night before, and the Wolverines could've used one of a number of excuses to slack off against the Wildcats.

The operative word in the last sentence was 'could've'.

Saturday, the Wolverines put Miami behind, ignored the aches in their shoulders and legs, and even forgot about the war with Michigan State that will take place this weekend.

Michigan ignored all the distractions and got the job done. Don't get me wrong - it wasn't pretty. The Wolverines were a slower than usual, and lacked the precision they will need for when they play the Spartans.

But when all was said and done, Michigan did what it took to get the victory. That's what mattered Saturday night, no matter what happened before, and no matter what loomed in the future.

That's what kind of team Michigan will have to be if it wants to continue its success as the teams get tougher and as the challenges get more difficult in the postseason.

The Wolverines took care of business when it counted.

OK, fine. Now let's get on to the Michigan State game?

- Chris Farah can be reached via email at cjfarah@umich.edu.

02-16-98