Josh Langfeld isn't counting his Michigan hockey team out of the conference race, even though they trail Michigan State by six points in the CCHA standings with just six games to play.
"Were still trying to win the league," Langfeld asserts. "If we take four points this weekend and Notre Dame beats Michigan State (tonight), you're looking at 38 and 36 (points) again."
Those are two big ifs. The Wolverines haven't won a game in their last six tries, including last Saturday's fortunate 2-2 tie on the road against Western Michigan - the same squad they face tonight in Kalamazoo.
Michigan coach Red Berenson isn't quite as publicly ambitious about Michigan's conference finish as is his sophomore winger.
"Our first priority is to get home ice (for the CCHA playoffs)," Berenson said. "Right now we're on the bubble, where we could finish fifth or sixth."
With victories in dire necessity, the schedule certainly picked a tough time for Michigan to meet archrival Michigan State.
The Spartans have not lost in 18 games, going 14-0-4 over the stretch, and will roar into Joe Louis Arena tomorrow night trying to continue their success.
As usual with heated rivalries, records and momentum mean little when these two teams step on the ice. But Michigan State won't wait patiently for the Wolverines while they sort out their problems.
To win either of the weekend's games, the Wolverines will need to avoid the first-period plague that has hindered them throughout their recent slide.
Slow starts are Michigan's biggest problem, because the Wolverines don't possess the scoring firepower to blast their way out of sizable deficits.
"We want to get off to a better start in these games," Berenson said. "You might give up the first goal, because that can happen. But we've been giving up the first two goals, and we want to get away from that."
Although Michigan has found itself trailing early in recent games, it has shown heart in its comebacks - despite the disappointing end results of most of them.
That's little consolation to the Wolverines, the preseason CCHA favorite, who know that there are columns in the standings for wins, losses, ties and points - but not effort.
"They have to believe in themselves," Berenson said. "Sometimes when you have too much confidence, thats when you lose it.
"Now it's time to believe in ourselves, and believe in each other."
02-19-99
| Previous Article | Next Article |
should be sent to: daily.letters@umich.edu | should be sent to: online.daily@umich.edu |