Saturday struggles befuddle Wolverines

By Ryan C. Moloney

Daily Sports Writer

It didn't seem possible until Alaska-Fairbanks defenseman Daniel Carriere flew in on a 3-on-1 with Cory Rask, took Rask's pass and slid it by a fully extended Josh Blackburn on the stick side for the 3-2 go-ahead, shorthanded goal.

Two goals and 14:30 later, the Alaska-Fairbanks bench began slamming their sticks on the boards, a scattered collection of anticipation-fueled whacks.

Call it unintended mockery.

The Michigan hockey team was unable to slam the door on the second night of a series for the second straight week, succumbing to Alaska-Fairbanks 5-2 a week after falling to Ferris State, 5-4. Much like last week, the Wolverines toyed with their opponent on Friday night, then appeared to lose their killer instinct in the rematch.

"Obviously, we'd be in better shape if we'd won the games we should win, particularly at home," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "You've got to win games like this but you have to play those games and you never know. Teams in this league, and I've said it so many times, anybody can beat you."

Michigan has had problems putting away CCHA teams with lesser records in the weekends' second game. On Oct. 22, the Wolverines scraped by Bowling Green 4-3 in their second meeting, and on Oct. 28 they knocked off Miami 6-2 in a closer-than-the-score-indicates rematch. Jay Vancik netted the game-winner 8:50 into the third period against Miami, then Michigan added an insurance goal and got two empty-netters at the end.

"We're trying to figure out what's going on," Koch said. "Last weekend against Ferris we came out strong Friday night, then whether it's a letdown or we're not putting the goals in, it's something we need to address."

Several times Saturday night a Michigan player parked himself in front of Nanooks goalie Preston McKay, got the rebound, then watched the puck bounce over his stick.

But part of Michigan's second-night struggle revolves around inconsistent play on special teams. Percentage-wise, Michigan has performed worse on the power play in every second-night game against CCHA opponents this season. Giving up three shorthanded goals in two weeks does not help matters.

"Tonight it hurt us, especially the shorthanded goal - it definitely deflates a team and gives the other team a lot of energy," defenseman Mike Komisarek said.

Not counting Ryan Reinheller's empty-netter, two of Alaska-Fairbanks' three shots on goal in the third period were goals - results of odd-man rushes.

"There's a little lack of respect on our team thinking that an 8-0 game is going to translate into an easy game (the next night) "and it never does, it never does," Berenson said.