A pair of three-point performances by Mike Cammalleri guided Michigan to a pair of wins in the College Hockey Showcase.
The Wolverines center notched a goal and two assists in a 3-2 win at Wisconsin last Thursday, then popped two goals and one assist in Saturday’s 4-1 win at Minnesota.
Cammalleri’s play inspired Michigan — losers in three of its last five games — to pump the brakes and avoid a disastrous skid.
“We had a great weekend, which we needed,” Cammalleri said. “We had a lot of hopes coming into this season, and then we had a few shaky games. Now we have to pick it up, get a little more serious and let it be known on a national scale that Michigan is going to be a team to deal with.”
On Saturday, Cammalleri completely changed the complexion of the game over seven minutes in the second period.
The sophomore found the back of the net on the Wolverines second power play, knotting the game at one. Four minutes later, he struck again with an unassisted tally.
Finally, Cammalleri contributed the primary assist on Andy Hilbert’s shorthanded goal, giving him eight goals and 13 assists, good for 21 points on the season.
On Thursday, Cammalleri stunned the Badgers with a goal just 20 seconds into the contest.
“You catch a bad break to start and we just kind of went into shock,” Wisconsin center Matt Murray told United States College Hockey Online.
Cammalleri added the primary assist on Michigan’s two additional goals.
“He’s creative with the puck, he can score, he can pass, he can check — he’s just a great college player,” Wolverines coach Red Berenson said. “He’s the epitome of what every player would like to be in terms of skill.”
Gophers ailing
Minnesota defenseman Jordan Leopold was bothered on Friday with food poisoning, while forward Jon Waibel missed action on Saturday following a hard check.
Waibel held his head on the ice, then skated to the Gophers bench where team trainers helped keep him vertical.
“He took a standing eight count in the second period,” Minnesota coach Don Lucia said.Waibel returned to play in the third period.
Biscuits
With nine career short-handed goals, Minnesota’s Aaron Miskovich is one short of tying Paul Broten’s career record.
Miskovich scored his goal on a breakaway at the 12:40 mark of the third period on Friday.