The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/106890
michigan hockey goals on 37 shots (.865 save percentage) — though he didn't receive much aid from his teammates — and subsequently returned to third on the pecking order behind classmate Steve Racine and junior Adam Janecyk. "I was hoping Rutledge would have a better game against the Development team and he didn't, and our team didn't give him much help," Berenson said. "As a goalie, you want to get shots, you want to show you can win a game for your team, but he hasn't shown that in a game, and he needs to show that in practice." Janecyk started against Bowling Green Jan. 8, but was pulled after allowing four goals in two periods. Racine started three days later, but was pulled after allowing four goals in two periods. In five January contests, Janecyk stood 1-4-0 with a 4.00 goalsagainst average while Racine hasn't factored into the win/loss column but has a 5.00 goals-against average in 60 minutes of action. "We're looking for a life from our goalies," Berenson said. "I won't count anyone out. I'm hoping someone surfaces. I can't tell you anyone has or is, just too many goals against, and goals that are stoppable. "Your goalie doesn't have to win a game for you, but he can't be a factor in close games, like you lose a game and have that one bad goal against. The line is so fine now. We don't have enough offense. We don't have enough team momentum to survive less-than-good goalkeeping. We need someone to step up." Janecyk was initially a feel-good story when he earned his first career victory against Western Michigan Dec. 15, blanking the Broncos 2‑0 behind 23 stops. However, he allowed four goals in his second start and was 3-5-0 with a 3.16 GAA and an .900 save percentage overall through Jan. 19. Racine has been the steadiest of the three this season, playing in 14 of Michigan's 24 games, but he has not delivered either, posting a 3.11 goals-against average and an .880 save percentage to go along with a 4‑5‑2 record. "They've shown glimpses, but not enough consistency or we wouldn't keep changing them," Berenson said. "I think they've all shown some good things in practice, and some moments in games, but then they've shown that other part that kills you. "We're trying to show confidence in them when we play them, but we don't show a lot of confidence when we have to pull them. "You have to be mentally tough to be a goalie because if you think about it, you can't score goals. When you give a goal up, you're the last line of defense and everyone is looking at you. You know when it's a bad goal, and so do your teammates and everyone else. "It's the bad goals that kill you, and then if you get pulled, it's tough, but my message to them is to go out and play the game you're capable of playing. And if you can't stop those easy shots, then you're not going to play." ❑