4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - February 5, 2001 Shouts from the point "We took it to them tonight like they took it to us last night." Michigan freshman defenseman Andy Burnes explaining the diference between Friday's 4-1 loss and Saturday 4-1 victory against Nebraska-Omaha. FRIDAY'S GAME Michigan 1 Nebraska-Omaha 4 SATURDAY'S GAME Michigan 4 Nebraska-Omaha 1 Key play Saturday, 19:04 left in first Rouncing back fivm Friday night's loss, ammaulleri picks up a rebound off of a point shot from JefJillson and scores a powerplayv goal 56 seconds into the game. THE DAILY'S STARS The Michigan Daily hockey writers' picks for Michigan's three stars of the weekend. JOSH LANGFELD RIGHT WING Langfeld continued his impressive play by notching his 60th career goal on Friday night, and was called "the best forward we had all weekend" by coach Red Berenson. JOSH BLACKBURN GOALTENDER In steering aside 40 shots over the weekend, Blackburn played a huge fac- tor in both games. MAR KosiCK CENTER Kosick notched two points, including the game-winner on Saturday while being moved up to the first line. 'M' SCHEDULE This week: Friday vs. Northern Michigan, _Saturday vs. Northern Michigan Friday: at Yost Ice Arena, 7:35 p.m. Saturday: at Yost Ice Arena, 7:05 p.m. Michigan fans get their first look this season at Northern Michigan. The two teams played a series in Marquette on Dec. 1-2, with the Wolverines taking three out of four possible points. HoW THEY FARED No. 1iMichigan State (21-2-4) lost to No. Michigan 3-2, def. No. Michigan 2-1 No. 2 Boston College (19-6-1) def., Mass:-Lowell 4-3 No. 3 North Dakota (18.5-5) def. Minn.- Duluth 6-2, def. Minn.-Duluth 4-3. No. 4 Colorado College (19-5-1) def. St. Cloud 5-3, lost to St. Cloud 7-5. No. 5 Michigan (1964) lost to Nebraska. Omaha 4-1, def. NebraskaOmaha 4-1. No. 6 St. Cloud (19-61) lost to Colorado College 5-3, def. Colorado College 7-5. No. 7 Minnesota (187-2) def. Michigan Tech 8-3, def. Michigan Tech 5-1. No. 8 New Hampshire (16-7-5) tied Merrimack 5-5, lost to Maine 3-2 OT. No. 9 Western Michigan (16-6.5) lost to Miami 4-1, lost to Miami -3. No. 10 Denver (14-10-3) lost to MSU- Mankato 3-1, lost to MSU-Mankato 6-3. FRIDAY'S GAME Nebraskamaha 4, Michgn11 Opponents' physical play stifling 'M' By Ryan C. Moloney Daily Sports Writer OMAHA - If one guideline arose from the Michigan hockey team's weekend set with Nebraska-Omaha, it's a spin on a spaghetti Western cliche. Walk softly and carry big elbows. The Mavericks dominated the Wolverines in the first half of Friday night's game with good, old-fashioned forechecking, then held off a resurgent Michigan team in the third period for the 4-1 win. On Saturday, Nebraska-Omaha failed to duplicate its Friday night ferocity and was paid in like, losing to Michigan 4- 1. If it wasn't obvious after earlier losses to Ohio State and Michigan Tech, it is now as attention-grabbing as a Mike Tyson low- blow. Opponents can beat Michigan by beating upon them. "They ran at us pretty good and did a great job of finishing their checks," Michigan defenseman Jeff Jillson said about Friday night's game. "We just sat back on our heels and waited for some- thing to happen." The tone for Friday night's contest was set in the first five minutes, as Nebraska- Omaha pressured Michigan with disci- plined body-checking and suffocating attention given to Michigan's best puck- handlers. In turn, Michigan defensemen Dave Huntzicker and Andy Burnes took umbrage, then took penalties resulting in a Nebraska-Omaha 5-on-3. The Wolverines killed off Burnes' penalty, but the Mavericks scored 28 seconds into Huntzicker's holding penalty for the 1-0 lead. Nebraska-Omaha maintained its physi- cal fervor in the second period, culminat- ing in a bone-jarring check of Andy Hilbert into the Michigan bench's boards. Hilbert toughed it out, but was not the same for the rest of the game and neither were the Wolverines. Hilbert's 17-game point-scoring streak would die that night. "We weren't working hard enough - they seemed to want it a little more tonight," Mike Cammalleri said. That became the weekend's dominant statement, as when Nebraska-Omaha coach Mike Kemp was asked on Saturday whether his players had eased off of their hard-checking ways on the night after one of their biggest wins of the season. "One of the keys was, we didn't have the same jump," Kemp said. "We were back on our heels and Michigan kicked it up a notch." Meaning, the Wolverines were left alone from circle to circle and allowed to take advantage of it. Michigan's first three goals Saturday night came as a result of the absent physi- cal presence of Nebraska-Omaha's defense in front of goalie Dan Ellis. Michigan's third tally of the game, a wraparound by defenseman Mike Komisarek, left the strongest impression. Komisarek usually hovers around the blueline, reliant on his hard shot and defensive responsibilities to temper thoughts of up-close scoring attempts. But on this night, the holes around Ellis were too lip-smacking big for Komisarek to ignore. As the schizophrenic nature of Michigan's offensive attack this weekend illustrated, the lack of correlation between the Wolverines' offensive performance and their physical tolerance is an easy problem to spot, but a difficult one to solve. Jillson described the solution to Michigan's trouble with physical play in two parts - number one, constant absorp- tion of hits can cause an unwillingness to play creative offensively, a lull that must be guarded against, and two, the Wolverines must mix some toughness with their obvi- ous offensive flare. "Tonight we tried to be the aggressor" he said after Saturday's win. Like fine china, Michigan is a team to be admired for its beautiful artistry. But also like fine china, that artistry turns to ruin when the earthquake sets in. As the CCHA regular season reaches its remaining four weeks, the Wolverines will need to remember to take what opposing teams give, then return the favor if they plan to be the last men standing. ALYSSA WOOD/Daiy Mark Kosick plays victim to the Mavericks' tenacious forechecking overthe weekend. Michigan's weakness in physical play is its biggest concern. Line changing success for Blue icers By Jon Schwartz Daily Sports Editor OMAHA - Michigan coach Red Berenson's mind is always ready to tinker. Instead of dwelling on the Wolverines' 4-1 loss to Nebraska-Omaha on Friday night, the coach was devising a plan to get back at the Mavericks on Saturday. Michigan's starting game of the weekend was announced as senior Mark Kosick at left wing, sophomore Andy Hilbert at right wing and sophomore line for the second HoCaEY Notebook Mike Cammalleri at Shouneyia. "I thought our lines played well," Berenson said after the game. The coach was not pleased with the efforts of some of his players after the loss on Friday night, which led to Saturday's lineup shuffling. He also moved Josh Langfeld to the Mink and Shouneyia line and captain Geoff Koch played with just about every line at one point in the night. "We've been changing lines here all four years I've been here," Kosick said. The coaches "obviously know what they're doing in that regard." Koch was particularly disappointed with his play on Friday night. The senior - who usually plays left wing alongside Cammalleri and Hilbert on the top line - felt compelled to place the blame for the loss on his shoul- ders. "I personally let the team down," he said. "I'm really disappointed with how I played." WHO SAID WHAT?: In a weekend full of bizarre penalties, none was more so than the bench minor that Michigan got called for at 19:55 of the second period on Saturday night. After the Mavericks' Greg Zanon got called for unsportsmanlike conduct, referee Maik Wilkins was suddenly carting off Michigan's Joe Kautz, as well. Berenson recounted the situation to the best of his ability: "I don't know what hap- pened. He heard a voice. The referee had just called a penalty on them and he heard a voice. I did not hear a voice. "He claims it was our trainer and our train- er claims it wasn't. I'm not happy with the fact that there's a voice on our bench that doesn't need to be talking to the referee. "The two benches are close together. It could have been the other team's trainer who was leaning out. I couldn't get a straight answer from him." ALL GOOD THINGS... : Besides Michigan's five-game unbeaten streak, another mark was a casualty of Friday night's loss. Andy Hilbert's 16-game scoring streak fell by the wayside as the Wolverines could only muster a Langfeld goal in the game. "It doesn't matter to me," Hilbert said with a smile. "I don't care." Hilbert bounced back on Saturday night with an assist on Cammalleri's goal. SCHWARTZ Continued from Page 1B Michigan 0 0 1 NebmsakaOmtm 1 1 2 1 4 center. Three players who have, at one point this season, centered a line. Three players known for their abilities to put the puck in the net. Three players put together to exact revenge after a surprise loss. The move appeared to be pretty successful. Cammalleri scored 56 seconds into the game. Kosick also scored a goal, but it was on the powerplay, assisted by Mark Mink and John listpedod- 1. UNO, Zaon 7 (Smith,8nisson)11:21(pp) Penales-UNO,Smith, (high stickirg) 8:20; UM,Jilson (hokiig the stick) 9:14; UM, Huntzck (obsructioix"d irg) 10:53; UNO, Yuecko (hodirg)13:11; UM, Hibert (10 minute misconduct) 13:11; UM, Murray (trippirg) 20:00 Second peod - 2. UNO, Worg 8 (Scribner, Gabinet) 2:30 (PP). Pe.tes -UM, vancik (checkrg from behind) 145; UM, Mink(10minute misconduct) 3:29; UNO, Gabinet (interfer- ence)13:40; UM, Mink (crossckeckirg) 15:17; UNO, Zanon (sashirg) 15:17; UM, Koch (inerference) 16:38. %W daod --3. UM, Langed 11 (Kick, Carnalleri) 743(pp). 4, UNO, Yurecko 1( Noe8emier, Chalmers) 16:25.5, UNO, Fohr 2 (unassiste)19:29 (empty net) Pede- UNO, Gow(checkirg from behind) 2:17; UNO, Jaworski (holdirg the stick) 7:23; UNO, Jaworski (obstructionbokirg)11:33; UM, Matzka(1Ominute miscm duct) 14:34 Shoaongo-UM74-1435; UNO 9-5620. P4Wer PFays -UM 1 of6;UNO 2 of5 Pnaties: UM 9 (42mn); UNO 7 (14min). Sians-UM, Blackbum19shots-16 saves; UNO, Elis (35 s~ins -34 saves) Reiere-Mark Wilkins. Liusmen - Jeff Ou*)ayJstin Morrson Jt Omaha Civic Auditonurn. Attendance:8,314. SATURDAY'S GAME MkchIgm 4,NebrskaOmaha 1 ALYSSA WOOD/Daily Like several players this weekend, Michigan's Josh Langfeld found himself playing on a new line Saturday night. Michigan 2 0 2 NebraskaOmaha 0 1 0 4 1 Fist peod - 1. UM, Canalleri 20 (Jilson, Hubert), 0:56(pp).2, UM, Kosick10(Mink,Shouneyia),16:0O(pp) lanaUlaes -UNO, Brinson(trippirg),0:09; UM,Bumes (interference), 6:25; UM, Huntzicker (roughing), 13:19; UNO, NoelBemier (crosscheckirg), 14:26; UM, Kautz (interference), 16:31; UNO, bench (too may on ice), 9:22; UM, Lafeid (unsportsmaike conduct), 19:55; INO, Zanon (unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:55; Second peod -3, UNO, Smith 5 (Chalmers, Brisson), t8:11 (pp). 1' wdties - UM, Camalleri (roughing), 3:53; UM, Murray (high-stickirg),14:31; UM, Koch (chargirg), 17:46; UNO, Zanon (obstructionholding),19:35; UM, bench (minor p lt), 19:35. TlM prod -4, UM, Komisarek 5 (Trainor, Matzka), 2:36.5. UM, Trainor 2 (unassisted), 19:24 (EN). Penalties - UNO, O'Keefe (obstructionh1olng), 5:23; UNO, Hoggan (roughing), 6:22; UM, Murray (crosscheck- irg), 9:49; UJNO, D. Sauelsson (holdng), 1326; UNO, Chalmers (checkig from behind), 16:25. Shots on al- UM, 1544039; UNO 1210325. P m Flas - UM 2 of7; UNO 1of 6 Saves - UM, Blackbum 25 shots24 saves; UNO, Ellis 38 shots,35 saves Referee - Mark Wilkins Leten -Jeff Dubay, Justin Mormson At Omaha Civic Auditoriun Attendane:8,314 Another split feor hockey team MAVERICKS Continued from Page 11B ing powerplay before the first minute wound down. Andy Hilbert won the faceoff in the offensive zone, tapping the puck back to Jetl Jillson at the point. Jillson sent a slap shot at Nebraska-Omaha net- minder Dan Ellis. Ellis steered the puck right to Mike Cammalleri, who flipped the errant rebound past the freshman goalie to give the Wolverines a one- goal lead. "It was huge," said Michigan coach Red Berenson, who men- tioned how important it was when the Mavericks scored, the first goal in the previous night's game. "We needed to score the first goal of the game. As the game went on, I thought we could have had four or five goals. Ellis played well and kept the game close." Following his impressive 34-save performance on Friday night, Ellis helped the Mavericks weather the storm in the first ten minutes of Saturday's game when the Wolverines were peppering him with "golden" scoring chances. But the masked man at the other end of the ice was even better. As Nebraska-Omaha gathered its seniors are going to have to bend down a little bit and allow their teammates to climb onto their shoulders. The seniors need to lead by example. Players like Langfeld and Kosick need to keep coming up with goals in clutch situations. The Bill Trainors and Dave Huntzickers of the team need to keep finishing their checls and breaking down powerplay units in stride. Players and coaches are all throwing around the notion that the team can't lose another game, making the entire home stretch seem like a playoff situation. And these seniors know a little some- thing about success in the postseason. They know about a team from which few people expected much noise. They know about coming to Michigan the season after one of the most talented teams in school history fell to Boston University in the semifinals. And they know about shoving championship rings in the faces of all the naysayers. This team is certainly talented enough to send the seniors out the way that they came in. Matzka called it the most skilled team he's seen since com- ing to Michigan. He also said that this team is capable of getting back to the promised land. "We've been around the block a few times'"said Huntzicker, one of the team's assistant captains. "Seniors should be leading the way. We've got to do whatever we can." The senior class that graduated after the 1998 championship game left Berenson two pieces of the most sought-after hardware for his office. This year's seniors can do the same. But the clock is ticking. Jon Schwartz can be reached at jlsz@umich.edu 0 ALYSSA WOOD/Dail Mike Komisarek celebrates his wraparound goal In the third period of Saturday night's game against Nebraska-Omaha. Goalie Dan Ellis looks on in disbelief as a puck that he saved bounced off teammate Adam Smith into the goal for the fluke score. bearings and put the pressure back on the Wolverines, Michigan goalie Josh Blackburn stepped up for another solid showing. And in a 180-degree twist from Friday's game, undisciplined penal- ties did the Mavericks in instead of the Wolverines. After Mark Kosick notched the Wolverines' second powerplay goal late in the first peri- od, Nebraska-Omaha picked up numerous penalties, including four in the third period alone. We kept "shooting ourselves in the foot time and time again," said Nebraska-Omaha coach Mike Kemp. The Mavericks' lone powerplay goal came with just two minutes remaining in the second period, but it wasn't enough. Michigan put a damper on Nebraska-Omaha fans' "We believe" and "Beat Michigan" signs with two third-period tallies, including an empty-netter by Bill Trainor. Friday night's loss was reminis- cent of prior defeats at the hands of seemingly inferior teams, including setbacks to Alaska-Fairbanks, Ferris State, Michigan Tech and Ohio State. "I don't know," Andy Hilbert said about his team's struggles to sweep a weekend series. "It's something we obviously have to overcome. We can say it all we want but we have to do it and learn how to become a two-a- weekend team." AROUND THE CCHA In a tough grind-it-out weekend series in Marquette, Michigan State snapped its longest Fosing streak ofthenseason with a 2-1 win over Northern Michigan on Saturd av night. I ,:. .