Back from Team USA, Hilbert and Jillson lead Blue By Stephanie Offen Daily Sports Writer EAST LANSING - In one day, Michigan's Jeff Jillson and Andy Hilbert went from teammates to arch enemies with Michigan State's Adam Hall. The Wolverines returned to Ann Arbor Thursday morning after a month overseas with Team USA at the World Junior Championship in Sweden. Fans in East Lansing were eager to see Hall, the Spartans' leading goal scorer back in the lineup against the Wolverines considering his success in the past against Michigan. Hall has scored three goals in the three games he has played against the Wolverines. But it is Hilbert and Jillson who now hold bragging rights against their former teammate after shutting-out Hall and the rest of the Spartans on Friday. "Adam Hall was on my line during the entire world championships," Hilbert said. "It was fun to see him on the ice and it was definitely a good feeling to beat him." The three players did not compete in the teams' first meeting - Michigan's 3-1 loss to the Spartans in the championship game of the Great Lakes Invitational. Instead the trio was busy capturing a fourth-place finish at the championship for Team USA - Hall scored two goals and Hilbert netted one. With only one day to get back into their old routine, the returning Wolverines were in rare form against the Spartans. Everything seemed to fit together for Michigan as Hilbert and Jillson led the team to its first win at Munn Ice Arena in five years. "I've been tired, but the adrenaline always takes over," Hilbert said. Even though both were visibly exhausted after the game, Hilbert and Jillson didn't seem to miss a beat, starting once again on Michigan's top line. "On the bench (the return of Hilbert and Jillson) gives us a lot more confidence," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We look at our defense with Jeff Jillson and it makes a huge difference. I look up front and we have a top line again with Hilbert back with Comrie." While nursing a knee injury sustained during the championships, Jillson led the defense in shutting out the Spartans on the power play. He complained of soreness before the game but there were no signs of any problems during his play - he helped stop all five of Michigan State's power plays. "They did a great job on the penalty killing," Berenson said. "There were times when they were kept out there for the whole penalty and if you were watching what was going on, the defensemen have to work hard. "They're not just standing around, they're going from corner to the front of the net to the other corner. I thought we held up really well." Hilbert led the offensive surge with the Wolverines' second goal of the game. Hilbert took a pass from Comrie, flipping the puck over Michigan State goalie Ryan Miller's shoulder. With the return of Josh Blackburn in net, Michigan is almost 100 percent. The only missing link is Geoff Koch who sat out with a groin injury. Koch was scheduled to play against the Spartans, but said his legs felt stiff during the Friday morning skate. JESSiCA JOHNSON/Daily Jeff Jillson had a long flight back from Sweden, but led a stellar Michigan defense against the Spartans on Friday anyway. The Spartans went 0-5 on the power play. Originally on page 4B in the 1-10-2000 issue of the Daily.