No goals opening night, six the next game. Three goals in 12 minutes, then none for four and one-half periods before scoring two in four minutes.

Hobey finalist Louie Caporusso hopes his first goal sparks a streak entering a big series with Miami.

Needless to say, Michigan’s offense, while productive, hadn’t been the archetype of consistency over the team’s first four games against both Alaska schools, Niagara and Boston University. During last wekeend’s sweep versus Lake Superior, however, the Wolverines finally spread the wealth throughout both games, scoring in five of the six periods to win 5-1 and 6-3 contests.

One key to Michigan’s offensive improvements was the most classic of hockey tactics — attacking the opponent’s net.

“We were going to the net more,” Michigan junior Louie Caporusso said. “We were capitalizing on rebounds and getting the ugly goals, and that’s where the majority of goals come from.”

Caporusso, who led the team with 24 goals last year, finally found the back of the net in Friday’s victory after failing to score in the team’s first four contests. The junior was frustrated to miss on what he described as 20 chances to score in the early stages of the season, but made an effort to keep that frustration from affecting his game. Seeing big league superstars like Sidney Crosby, who suffered through a four-game drought earlier this year before scoring five goals in three games, struggle through stretches and rebound helped Caporusso realize that patience is the key.

“I think it’s as stressful as you make it on yourself,” Caporusso said. “The key is just to not get down on yourself, it was only four games and the best players in the world go through slumps.”

Heading into this weekend’s pivotal – well, as pivotal as an early season series can be – matchup with Miami, Caporusso would like to build a scoring streak of his own, but he knows that the defensive zone is where Michigan needs to separate themselves from the RedHawks.

“It’s going to take a lot of focus on the defensive zone,” Caporusso said. “If (Miami) gets the puck in the zone, they can get a cycle going and make it hell for you in your own zone.”