Notebook: Line Change-up Sparks Offensive Dividends
12/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Dec. 4, 2009
By Christy Hammond, U-M Media Relations
Head coach Red Berenson moved junior center Louie Caporusso down to the second line with sophomore left wing David Wohlberg and inserted freshman right wing A.J. Treais into the mix back on Nov. 16 after Michigan dropped four straight games.
The trio appears to have hit it off with Wohlberg and Caporusso regaining their line chemistry from last season. After spending a year together on a line, the two already know where to expect to send or receive a pass, which may help explain Wohlberg registering points in six of his last seven games (2-5-7) and currently riding a career-best, four-game point streak (Nov. 20-28).
"I think it was at first Caporusso and I weren't really clicking," Wohlberg explained. "Then they separated us and we got back together and started playing well. Just getting back into focus really."
After being held scoreless in three of the seven weekends of play, Caporusso now has six points (3-3-6) in his last four games -- all of which have come from his time alongside Wohlberg and Treais on the second line.
"I think Louie has played pretty well through all of this," Berenson noted. "His chances weren't going in, but he wasn't shooting much and now he's shooting. They're not even great scoring chances that he's scoring on, but when you're down around the net and you have the puck, things happen. Louie is a natural goal scorer, so he'll find a way to score goals."
DEFENSE TIGHTENS UP: Michigan's blue line entered the 2009-10 touted as one of the best and most experienced defensive corps in college hockey. As the team struggled on defense in the early goings of November, the Wolverine offense stumbled as well. It didn't come as much of a surprise when strong outings from the Maize and Blue defense during the College Hockey Showcase resulted in a weekend sweep and offense from 13 Wolverines, including a point from five of U-M's seven defenders.
"I think you realize how important defense is after losing five straight," sophomore defenseman Brandon Burlon pointed out. "We watched video to see where we had to tighten up and boil down to our defensive zone coverage. We made a mental note of that and worked on it especially hard all week in practice and you can see how it worked in the game."
The improved play of Michigan's defense has given the team some confidence heading into a weekend series on the road against CCHA rival Ohio State.
"It definitely does," Burlon agreed. "Three wins in a row, forwards on a roll scoring, we're on a roll keeping pucks out of the net, and [Bryan Hogan] is keeping pucks out of the net as well."
 Bryan Hogan  | |
HOGAN'S STRONG WEEKEND: Junior netminder Bryan Hogan delivered a strong performance last weekend during the College Hockey Showcase, stopping 63 of 65 shots on goal and recording his fourth career shutout in a 6-0 win over Minnesota (Nov. 27). For his effort in goal over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the CCHA named Hogan its Goaltender of the Week (Nov. 30).
"Well, it's good that [Bryan Hogan] has built up some confidence this past weekend," rookie forward Chris Brown said. "The team did pretty well and helped him out. Going into some more CCHA games, we're obviously struggling a little bit sitting in 11th place, so having Hogey helping us out next series should move us up in the standings."
Dating back to the game against Bowling Green on Nov. 21 and into Michigan's win over Wisconsin on Nov. 28, Hogan set a career-best shutout streak of 134:30 stretching three games. Hogan backstopped the Wolverines to a 3-2 win over then No. 15-ranked Wisconsin (Nov. 28) with a career-high 39 saves in the win, while facing 41 shots for the second time in his career.
"He's doing his job to the best of his ability and we can only hope that he keeps it up," Burlon said.
WINNETT ON POWER PLAY: Berenson moved junior forward Ben Winnett to the point on the power-play unit, which seems to be working out well so far and will likely improve as he gets more comfortable in that role.
"Winnett is an experienced player," Berenson said. "He's smart. He sees the ice well. He's coachable. He has good hands. We don't have very many right-handed defensemen and so we looked for a forward that we thought could move the puck and create some offense and be creative."
