68 - The Michigan Daily - SPORTSMonday - November 25, 1996 HocKEY Mornson's presence is enough By ii Rose Daily Sports Writer Being pegged as the preseason Hobey Baker favorite hasn't done Brendan Morrison any favors. The Michigan center is known around the country as the best player on the nation's best team - so if there's one player for opponents to gear up for, he's the man. The added attention has made Morrison a marked man, and the senior is getting a bit frustrated. Some have said he's struggling. Some have said he's not producing. But after a six-point weekend in which Morrison led the Wolverines to 'M' role players notch firsts. By James Goldstein Daily Sports Writer There are firsts for everything. It just so happened that Michigan accomplished many of its firsts Saturday night against Brown. Li the Wolverines' 7-2 blowout of the Bears on Saturday, a few players who haven't contributed much - or at all - made names for themselves. Michigan coach Red Berenson gave Gregg Malicke his first start of the sea- son in goal Saturday. It was his first start since Feb. 3 of last season when Michigan tied Ohio State, 2-2, at Yost Ice Arena - his only start of the season. Saturday night, Malicke.didn't have to face too many shots - 11 in all - but he still made some tough saves. In a game in which the Wolverines outshoot their opponent, 47-11, it's not that easy to stay focused when the puck is always in the opponents' end. "That was a tough game to play when you don't get many shots," Berenson said. "I thought he was solid, I thought he was comfortable. He was in position on his shots." Malicke didn't have to stop a shot until the 10-minute mark in the first peri- od with Michigan leading, 2-0. "It's great when the team comes together like this and plays so well in front of me," Malicke said. "The guys really wanted to get me a win just as bad as I did. It's hard to stay focused when you don't face a shot, but the outcome is satisfying. No complaints." Malicke's toughest challenge on the night came midway through the second period. Brown left wing Damian Prescott, who had three goals on the weekend, came in alone on a breakaway after the puck bounced over a Michigan stick. But the Wolverines' netminder stayed firm and didn't budge, saving the shot in his midsection. Malicke not only got his first start of the season, he notched his first point of his career. The Michigan goaltender passed the puck up the left boards to Dale Rominski, who deflected it off the boards to a streaking Matt Herr. Herr scored the goal while on his stomach after being pulled down by Brown defenseman Jim Andersson. "I was debating whether to freeze the puck or get it out of there because Brown really skates hard," Malicke said. "It's not something that any other goalie would have done differently. You've got two options. Play it off the boards or freeze it. It went my way, and it was a nice touch." The Michigan offense also had some firsts of its own. Chris Fox, who played as a forward instead of his usual defenseman role, graced the twine for the first time this season. Michigan's Brendan Morrison regained a loose puck in front of the Bears' net. He backhanded a pass to a wide-open Fox, who poked it high into the open net three minutes into the sec- ond period, making the score 3-1. Michigan center Andrew Merrick also celebrated for the first time. The fresh- man had not scored a goal in the first 12 games. With three minutes left in the second stanza, Merrick freed himself from a pack of Brown defensemen and found an opening to the net. He dribbled the puck through the legs of Brown goal- tender Jeff Holowaty. "It was great to finally put the puck in the net to get the monkey off my back," Merrick said. "It was due." Afterwards, at the post-game press conference, Merrick was asked if he had grabbed the puck for his first college memento. He quickly held up his hand from underneath the table and revealed the puck with a huge grin on his face. two nonconfer- ence victories, Michigan's c a p t a i n removed all doubt about whether his supposed slump is over, and he did it without getting a break from the clutch-and- e9 ,r. Michigan 5, Brown 2 Brown 1 1 0-2 Michigan 1 2 2-5 First period -1. UM, Herr 9 (Morrison, Muckalt), 2:43; 1. BU, Prescott 3, 16:48; Penalties - Andersson, BU double minor (rough- ing),5:19 (served by Sventy); Merrick, LJM (roughing), 5:19; Botterill, UM (checking from behind), 6:46; ONeil, BU (holding), 10:50; Fox, UM (cross-checking), 13:44; G. Hayes, BU (elbowing), 16:54. Second period - 2. UM, Herr 10 (Clark, Muckaft), 4:18 (pp); 3. UiM, Muckalt 9 (Sloan, Morrison), 16:48: 2. BU, Prescott 4 (Andersson, Clapton), 17:54 (pp). Penalties-- DiRenzo, Brown (hooking), 2:55; Noble, BU (Cross-check- ing), 6:42; B. Hayes, tUM (slashing). 7.53; ' Kersey, BU (roughing), 13:00 B. Hayes, UM (roughing), 13:00; Herr, UM (roughing), 16:54; Peach, UM (high-sticking), 16:54; Smith, BU (hooking) 18:14. Third period -4. UM, Botterill 7 (Schock, Muckalt), 6:35 (pp); 5. UM, Morrison 5 (Botterll, Berenzweig), 11:37 (pp). Penalties - Smith, BU (hooking) 5:25; Fox, UM (elbowing) 8:25; Merrill, BU (checking from behind) 10:49; Prescott, BU (roughing) 11:37; Botterill, UM (roughing) 11:37; B. Hayes, UM (slashing) 17:04. Shots on goal - BU 7.8-5 - 20; UM 14.21-9=- 44. Power Plays -BU,l1of 7:UM. 3of 8. , Saves - BU, Holowaty 1319.7 -39; UM, Turco 6-7-5 - 18. Referee - Jim Sotiroff. Linesmen - Dave Kronenberg, Don Cline. At Yost ice Arena. A: 6,427 J ia1 h-.Z, aT grab defense he has become so accus- tomed to dealing with. It's no secret that Michigan's oppo- nents have done everything they can - legal or not - to slow Morrison down, and the senior has taken a beating. And it's true, his goal-scoring is down. With just five goals in 13 games, nobody knows better than Morrison that he could be putting the puck in the net more than he has. But to say that Morrison is struggling is missing the point. It doesn't matter so much who scores the goals - what's important is that somebody scores them. And the Wolverines are scoring when Morrison is on the ice. Regardless of how frustrating it may be for Morrison to have to deal with game after game of cheap shots and double-teaming, all the attention he attracts makes it possible for a guy like Matt Herr to score four goals in two games, like he did this weekend. If it% not Herr, it's someone else. This weekend, Morrison set up goals for four different Wolverines. And Morrison spent both games peeling off Brown defensemen. "Brendan's a wonderful player" Brown coach Bob Gaudet said. "But I think if teams just key on Morrison, those other guys can really light it up." Its a trend that Gaudet picked up on after "those other guys" lit his Bears up on two consecutive nights. But Morrison and the rest of the Wolverines have been seeing it all year. The bottom line is that Morrison is creating things on offense. He has been all along - his 24 points are second- best for the Wolverines. If he were real- ly struggling, Michigan simply would not be I1-1-1. WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan backup goaltender Gregg Malicke played all of Michigan's 7-2 victory Saturday, but saw little action. He made 11 saves and scored his first career point with an assist on Matt Herr's breakaway goal. BROWN Continued from PagelB Saturday and Berenson said he expects Legg to play this coming weekend. "When I see a report that I'm not pleased with academically - that's my decision'" Berenson said. "It's nothing to do with their eligibility or anything else." Brown hung close with the Wolverines for the majority of the game Friday, although the outcome of the game was never in any real doubt. Midway through the third period with Michigan leading, 4-2, the Wolverines shut down Brown on a key power play. Michigan's penalty-kill unit, includ- ing Rominski, blocked several Brown shots during that power play. "(Rominski) showed some real heart out there," Berenson said. "It was like he was wounded, but he got up again and took another one." Early in the first period, Herr scored the first goal of the game off a pass by Morrison from behind the Brown net. With just under four minutes remain- ing in the period, Brown left wing Damian Prescott knotted the score at one. After a sloppy pass from Michigan defender Harold Schock, the puck ended up on the stick of Prescott, who skated in alone and beat Michigan goal- tender Marty Turco. Prescott scored three goals in the weekend series. Herr put the Wolverines ahead for good with his second goal of the game early in the second period during a Michigan power play. Herr picks up slack for Cers, equals Brown's offensive output 0 By Mark Snyder Daily Sports Writer Brown won't forget Michigan's Matt Herr for a long time. When one player equals the goal output of the opposing team, he is difficult to forget. Herr, the CCHA Offensive Player of the Week, is playing arguably the best hockey of his career. Just ask Brown. This weekend the Michigan hockey team was missing a few stars. At Michigan coach Red Berenson's discre- tion, John Madden sat out Friday's game and Mike Legg was sidelined for both contests. Berenson cited academic rea- sons in both cases. Herr made up the difference. Just 2:43 into Friday's game, Herr came charging down the ice, received a pass from Michigan captain Brendan Morrison, and knocked a wrist shot past Brown goaltender Jeff Holowaty. Berenson moved Herr up to the line with Morrison and right wing Bill Muckalt, hoping to add some speed. "Any line you put (Herr) on, he's going to help that line," Berenson said. "He's been probably our most consistent scorer right from day one." While Herr scored when the teams were at even strength, his most valuable talents lie when the sides aren't equal. Early in the second period Friday, Michigan was 0-for-3 on the power play and about to fail on a fourth consecutive chance when Herr made Brown pay. Muckalt's shot from the point car- omed off Holowaty and fell in front of Herr. After controlling the puck on the left side of the net, Herr lifted it above the defenseless goaltender to tally anoth- er Michigan score. This week, Berenson added Herr to Michigan's top power-play unit, and the results were evident. "We have to come out and have the confidence that we'll score a goal if we have a power-play situation,' Herr said. "We need that threat every time we go out there, that we're going to score." His second goal of the night broke a I- 1 tie and helped boost Michigan to a 5-2 victory. Saturday was no different. Michigan's blowout was ignited by Herr, who leads the team with 12 goals. Just three minutes into the game, Morrison fed Herr again. Michigan had not only jumped out +o an early lead, but recorded another power-play goal. Herr says he is unsure why he is scor- ing so many goals. "I'm working hard right now and (the goals) happen to be going in," he said. Much to Brown's dismay, he saved the best for last. His final tally of the weekend was a symbol of perseverance. Michigan goalie Gregg Malicke con- trolled the puck deep in the Michigan zone, and sent it up the ice off the boards. It slid to Michigan forward Dale Rominski, who fed Herr for the short- handed opportunity Herr drove toward the net and was dragged down by Brown defenseman Jim Andersson. In most situations, lying on the ice would be a satisfactory excuse not to get a shot on the net, but Herr was able to anyway. "I happened to go hard to the net, Herr said. "Either the puck was going in the net or I was going in." He not only poked the puck at the net but slid it through the goalie's legs for a goal. With his family in the stands, Herr sparked Michigan to its most dominant weekend yet. It was a weekend to remember for the junior wing, but to hear Herr tell it, the best is yet to come. "It's still November, and we're not playing for the NCAA championship, (but) it's a building process," he said. "Hopefully when we get to the top, we'll be playing our best hockey." Mwcnigan i, urown 2 Brown 0 1 1-2 Michigan 2 2 3-7 First period- . UM, Herr 11 (Morrson, Schock), 3:01 (pp); 2. UM, Ritchlin (Herr, Morrison), 7:34 (pp); Penalties - Bradford, BU (holding the stick), 1:51; Quinnell, BU (cross checking), 4:52; Prescott, BUI (tripping), 6:55; Herr, UM (slashing), 9:53; Luhning. UM (high- sticking), 10:30; Bradford, BU (high-sticking), 13:33; Fox, UM (high-sticking), 13:33; BU bernh minor (too many men), 18:28 (served by Sventy). Second period -. BU, Kersey 2 (Flynn, Andersson), 1:51; 3. UM, Fox 1 (Morrison, Magnuson), 3:00; 4. UM Merrick 1(Romins) 17:13. Penalties - Luhning, UM (high-sticking). :53; Merrick, UM (crosschecking), 4:00; McKay, BU (interference), 10:55; Luhning, UM (interfer- ence). 10:55; Garrow, BU (holding)., 14:09: Noble. BU (hooking), 19:57; Morrison, UM (delay of game), 19:58; Andersson, BU (delay of game) 19:58. Third period-5. UM, Herr 12 (Rominski, Malicke), 9:08 (sh); 6. UM Luhning 7(Madden), 9:22 (sh); 7. UM Luhning 8 (Botterill, Madden), 9:55; 2. BU, Prescott 5 (Andersson, Quinnell), 13:33 (pp). Penalties -Andersson, BU (cross checking) 5:16; Magnuson, UM double minor (roughing) 10:33 (served by Frescoln); Prescott, BU (roughing) 7:32; Stirling, BU (tripping) 11:06 (served by Flynn); Muckalt, UM (high-sticking) 12:40; Sloan, UM (slashing) 14:56; G. Hayes, 8U minor-game misconduct (spearing) 14:56 (served by Sventy). Shots on goal - BU 36-2-11; UM 19-1315 - 47. Power.Plays - BU, 2 of 7; UM, 2 of 10. Saves - BU, Holowaty 17-11-7 -35, Stirling x- x-5 - 5; UM, Malicke 35.1--9. Referee - John Kelly. Linesmen - John Pearson, Larry Lulich. At: Yost Ice Arena. A: 6,508 I 5 p riday: .>w ** Saturday: Up next: College HockeyMinnesota{Wionsn Showcase 4:30 pmf4:30 pea Joe kouis Arena <,... Joe Louis Arena W- fOXrt4 w. i I ! ,di {.1' Looking for the Perfect for the guy who loves sports, movies, military history, and other manly pursuits? Then how about a one-year subscription to E AL MAN'S WOULD! 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