The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/106890
Merrill returned to the lineup Jan. 8 after missing the first 19 contests of the season with a cracked vertebrae, and he posted three assists in his first five games back. photo by lon horwedel sluggish. "His feet are getting under him a little more now, and I think you'll see an improved effort every week because he's working hard, and once he gets that conditioning, his puck touches will improve." Merrill and freshman Jacob Trouba represent a dream defensive pairing that Michigan hopes can be a spark to curing the many ills plaguing the team this season. U-M's issues extend far beyond defensive play — the goaltending has been poor, and the Wolverines' forwards haven't skated well enough on either end of the ice — but the blue line has been in shambles this year, largely due to injuries, and the uniting of Merrill and Trouba could be an answer. Michigan ranked second in the CCHA with 2.88 goals per game, through Jan. 22, representing its worst offensive production since 1943 (1.46 goals per contest). Still, U-M's defense has been head coach Red Berenson's greatest source of frustration. The Wolverines sat dead last in the CCHA, and 54th out of 59 teams nationally, allowing 3.50 goals against while their goalies boasted a collective save percentage of .877. Injuries have depleted the defensive corps, considered the Maize and Blue's greatest strength when the season began. Checked into the boards during an exhibition game Oct. 9, Merrill missed 19 games; classmate Kevin Clare has been forced out of seven games with a bad shoulder; sophomore Brennan Serville missed eight with a concussion and concussion-like symptoms; and junior Mac Bennett is now out indefinitely (sitting out four already) with a lowerbody injury. When healthy, Michigan's blue line is a collective minus-18, with Merrill and Trouba minus-2 in five games paired together, however, that should change quickly because both are plus players that can impact offensively — Trouba had eight goals and eight assists through Jan. 22 — and are shutdown defensive defensemen as well. Back In The Lineup, But Not All The Way Merrill's stat line after the first five games: three assists, minus-1. A year ago, he returned from a first-half suspension to contribute to the Wolver-