Wolverines’ Janecyk records first shutout, leads Michigan to win over WMU

Adam Janecyk recorded his first win and shutout as a Wolverine on Saturday night, leading his team to a series-evening 2-0 win over Western Michigan. (Photos by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey)

ANN ARBOR – After Western Michigan goaltender Frank Slubowski kept the Michigan offense at bay for most of the weekend series, the unlikeliest of scorers changed that.

Sophomore defenseman Brennan Serville scored early in the third period, and the goal was all Michigan needed to salvage a series split, taking the finale 2-0.

“It was a totally different game tonight, but we didn’t make the mistakes that we made last night,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said. “I thought we did a better job on the penalty killing and on the power play we capitalized. We got a goal from an unexpected source, and that is kind of what happened to them last night; they got goals from unexpected sources. That is the difference in these games; the games are so close. I thought our team played with a lot more will and conviction than we played with last night. It was good; we didn’t get scored on early. I thought our team came out to play harder, and they knew they were embarrassed last night. It was a good win.”

MORE: Click here to see MiHockey’s photo gallery from the Wolverines’ 2-0 win over Western Michigan.

Slubowski’s counterpart, junior goalie Adam Janecyk, made his first start of the season for the Wolverines, and built a strong case to have the job regularly. Janecyk turned aside 25 shots to record his first collegiate win and shutout.

“This morning, I walked in and saw my name written on the board,” Janecyk said after the game. “There was no real conversation, but my number was up there and I was ready to go. I was really excited. It’s been awhile since I’ve been in there and it’s a good feeling.”

“[The players] were great all night – the team was unbelievable. It’s more of a team shutout than anything. I think we should take a lot of pride in that.”

Jacob Trouba scored the other goal for the Wolverines, who are now 6-9-2 overall, and 4-7-1-2 in CCHA play. Western Michigan drops to 11-4-1, and 7-2-1-1 in conference.

The Wolverines dominated the game’s opening period from its first minute.

Roughly 30 seconds in, Michigan created a 2-on-1 as senior forwards Kevin Lynch and A.J. Treais were streaking towards the net. Lynch delivered a well-timed pass to Treais, the captain, but Slubowski managed to poke the puck away from danger.

But the Wolverines were unable to lead entering the first intermission due, in part, to their continued inability to score on the power play. Both teams had one power-play opportunity in the first period, and Michigan failed to muster a single shot with the man advantage.

Janecyk made six saves in the first period, compared to seven for Slubowski, and the two teams entered the locker room in a scoreless tie.

Western Michigan fought back in the second period after the Wolverines had control of the first. But one of Michigan’s best opportunities came when Lynch and sophomore forward Alex Guptill

With 8:28 to play in the frame, a slap shot from freshman defenseman Kenney Morrison shattered the glass behind the Michigan goal while the Broncos were on the power play. The game resumed after a lengthy delay to replace the broken glass.

Later on, sophomore center Travis Lynch won a neutral-zone faceoff to start an odd-man rush. Junior right wing Derek DeBlois received a pass from junior left wing Luke Moffatt but clanged a shot off the crossbar and the puck soared out of play.

The period ended with the Broncos holding the momentum as the buzzer sounded with a furious attack on the Michigan goal, but to no avail.

Michigan entered the third period in a scoreless tie for just the first time this season. But it didn’t take long for the Wolverines to break it.

After controlling the possession for the opening minute, sophomore defenseman Brennan Serville finally bested Slubowski on a wrister from the slot off assists from freshman forwards Andrew Copp and Boo Nieves. The goal, coming at the 1:18 mark of the third period, marked the first-career goal for Serville, a draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets.

“[Frank Slubowski] was playing really well the whole game,” Serville said of his goal. “We were putting on the pressure and getting a lot of shots. I was fortunate enough to get the puck, shot it, and lucky enough that it went in.”

With 7:31 to play, Michigan made it 2-0 when it broke a 0-for-33 streak of fruitless power plays. Jacob Trouba notched a one-timer with the man advantage.

Western Michigan tested Janecyk the rest of the way, but couldn’t power past a rejuvenated Michigan defense.