The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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MICHIGAN HOCKEY (6.4 points per game) from Dec. 5 to Feb. 13. "Those guys are in a place where they are very confident in their play individually, together on a line and within our team," assistant coach Brian Wiseman said. "We keep stress‑ ing certain aspects of our game, of how we want to play, of what is our team identity, our strength. "Those guys continue to play the way we're asking them to compete, and they're getting rewarded for that." Motte joked that when he hit the 20‑goal mark with two tallies at Penn State Jan. 28, there was no accompa‑ nying fanfare, and he wouldn't have it any other way. "It's exciting, but I don't need that attention," he said. "I'm just happy our team was able to play well this past weekend and come home with two wins. We're headed in the right direction." Incredibly, freshman left wing Kyle Connor, who picked up his 19th and 20th goals in the 7‑4 victory Jan. 28 in State College, Pa., and had 22 mark‑ ers on the year through Feb. 15, was outpacing last year's Big Ten Rookie of the Year, Dylan Larkin, in points, with 48 in 27 games. Larkin had 38 points in his first 27 games. Connor led the nation in points per game with 1.78 through Feb. 15. "I don't think it's that big of a deal. It's just a number," he said. "As long as we're winning and playing good hockey, the goals will come if you're playing the right way. "For me, nothing has changed with the way I'm looking at the game or my role — I just want to keep going out there and doing what I can to help the team win." Motte enjoyed an 11‑game goal‑ scoring streak from Dec. 30 to Feb. 13, while Connor had a 16‑game point streak going from Dec. 4 to Feb. 13. Even chasing 30 goals, neither is getting caught up in the hype. "I try to stay away from the Inter‑ net and what people are saying about me, good or bad. That's stuff I can't get distracted by," Connor said. "The only thing I pay attention to is my work ethic every day in practice and in games. That's what I can control." STEVE RACINE FINDS A GROOVE IN NET For the first time since his fresh‑ man year, and only the second time in his career, senior Steve Racine has started 10 consecutive games for the Wolverines, actually upping that streak to 12 straight when he was U-M'S TOP GOAL SCORERS OVER THE LAST DECADE Season Skater Goals GPG 2007-08 Kevin Porter 33 0.77 2007-08 Chad Kolarik 30 0.77 2000-01 Mike Cammalleri 29 0.69 2015-16 Tyler Motte 27 1.00 2000-01 Andy Hilbert 26 0.62 2002-03 Jeff Tambellini 26 0.60 1999-00 Mike Comrie 24 0.60 2004-05 Jeff Tambellini 24 0.57 2006-07 Kevin Porter 24 0.59 2006-07 Andrew Cogliano 24 0.63 2008-09 Louie Caporusso 24 0.59