The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY victory Dec. 11, and he had the game‑ winning goal in an 8‑6 triumph over Ohio State Jan. 17. "What I like about the fourth line is they've not just scored occasional goals, they've scored important goals," Berenson said. Michigan's first line, featuring ju‑ nior center J.T. Compher, freshman left wing Kyle Connor and junior right wing Tyler Motte has been nothing short of amazing since being paired together for the series with Wisconsin. "We move the puck well," Com‑ pher said. "We've been able to get in good situations offensively, down low, creating turnovers and burying chances." The three led Michigan in scoring overall this season, with Connor the team's points leader at 36 on 18 goals and 18 assists; Compher second with 32, including 25 assists; and Motte third with 28 points, including 18 goals. Connor ranked second nationally in points per game with 1.71 through 21 contests, a mark that ranks fourth all time by a Michigan freshman (see chart). He and Motte are on pace for 30 goals and almost assuredly guaran‑ teed of reaching the 20‑goal mark. If they do, the duo would give Michigan its first 20‑goal teammates in the same season since Kevin Porter (33 goals) and Chad Kolarik (30) in 2007‑08. All three forwards from the top line were on pace for more than 40 points, with Connor on pace for 60 points over the Wolverines' guar‑ anteed 35‑game schedule. No one has had 60 points since Porter tallied 63 while winning the Hobey Baker Award in 2008. "You need somebody, or a group, to really lead your team, particularly when you get behind," Berenson said. "Right now we have a line go‑ ing really well, and good for them." If it's possible, Compher is the overlooked man. He was named the Big Ten's First Star of the Week Jan. 11 after tallying two goals and five assists with a plus/minus of plus‑5 in the Wolverines' sweep of rival MSU Jan. 8‑9. Despite ranking fifth nationally in points per game with 1.52, he has not received the at‑ tention that Connor and Motte have, likely because he had only five goals. "He has a way of bringing atten‑ tion to his game, and it's not always in the offensive zone as much as it might be in penalty killing or a sec‑ ond‑effort role," said Berenson, who greatly appreciates the intangibles of his captain. "When the team needs him in crunch time, J.T. amps up his game. And then he's made some ter‑ rific plays to both his linemates, and they know that. But I think he's been more consistent this year right from the get‑go. "The first half this year, there is no question he was playing really well. He wasn't scoring but he was producing." STEVE RACINE SEIZES STARTING GOALIE JOB One would think senior goalie Steve Racine was born and raised