Jan. 21, 2010
By Christy Hammond, U-M Media Relations
The University of Michigan ice hockey team saw its defense score five goals and post an average two points per game through the first 18 games of the 2009-10 season. However, in the last six contests the Wolverine defense has tallied five goals and recorded an average 3.33 points per game. A small sample size to be sure, but a noticeable uptick in offense since the Michigan coaching staff really started emphasizing during practice the importance of getting shots through.
Head coach Red Berenson admitted that the staff initially had a hard time finding effective drills to work on this area of the team's play. Now that the team has stressed not only getting shots or passes through, but also ensuring that the puck makes it to the points, it appears that the U-M blue line corps has made some headway in this area.
"We're getting shots through, like both of [freshman right wing Chris] Brown's goals this weekend [vs. Alaska] were the result of point shots getting through," Berenson explained. "That's what we need from our defense, because a lot of the onus of offense comes down to your defense getting pucks through, even passing the puck through smartly to someone that's open so they can deflect."
Each of the six defenders who played last weekend (Jan. 15-16) recorded at least one point in the home series against Alaska. The four goals netted by four different defensemen over the last four games nearly matched the defensive unit's first-half totals.
Not only is the blue line generating offense, but the defenders are also scoring timely goals. Against Western Michigan two weekends ago (Jan. 8-9), sophomore defenseman Brandon Burlon (Nobleton, Ontario) evened the game up at 1-1 with a power-play tally in the second period, while senior defenseman Steve Kampfer (Jackson, Mich.) scored the game-winning marker on Jan. 8. Junior defenseman Chad Langlais (Spokane, Wash.) handed Michigan an early one-goal lead 26 seconds into the game on Jan. 9 to jumpstart a 6-1 win over the Broncos.
Freshman Lee Moffie (Wallingford, Conn.) opened the scoring in an important game against Alaska on Jan. 15. His marker eventually stood as the gamewinner in the 6-0 shutout, but with the team 11-2 when scoring first, it was key for Michigan to get on the board first to start that weekend series. Last Saturday (Jan. 16), Langlais knotted the game up at 3-3 late in the third period to force the game into overtime on a blast from atop the left faceoff circle.
"I think it's something we've needed all season," Langlais said of scoring timely markers. "I think just of late it started to happen. We kind of talked about it with our coaches and we kind of talked about it with ourselves and we know we have to contribute a lot more."
When defenders are scoring, it relieves some of the pressure off the forwards. By focusing on breakouts and playing a stronger role in the offensive zone, Michigan's defense corps will also make it easier for the forwards to get on the scoresheet as well.
"Coach is really getting on us about joining the play, being an outlet for the forwards once you get in the zone," Burlon noted. "Instead of just having to dump it in, they can use us coming in late to get shots to the net, get some traffic and hopefully get some goals."
Michigan's power play has also improved thanks to the team's focus of getting pucks to the point and then trying to get shots through. The Wolverines have scored at least one power-play goal in the last six straight games, clicking at a 30-percent success rate (12-for-40). In fact, Michigan's power-play unit has converted in 13 of the last 14 contests at a 25.9-percent rate (21-for-81).
"I just think the team is coming together in the second half," Burlon explained. "Our power play is clicking and the defense is a big part of the power play, quarterbacking from the point."
With the Wolverines heading into an important home-and-home series against No. 9-ranked Ferris State this weekend (Jan. 22-23), Michigan will look to its defense to not only play strong in the U-M zone but to also contribute offensively with the hopes of grabbing six critical points in the CCHA standings.
