Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #3 Michigan 4, Ferris State 0
Records: U-M (26-10-0, 20-8-0 CCHA), FSU (12-17-7, 9-14-5-2 CCHA)
Attendance: 6,819
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 13 -- host CCHA Tournament Quarterfinals (Yost Ice Arena), 7:35 p.m.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The Class of 2009 led the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team to a 4-0 home shutout over Ferris State on Senior Night in the regular-season finale on Saturday (Feb. 28) at Yost Ice Arena. After missing 33 games due to a knee injury, senior captain Mark Mitera (Livonia, Mich.) posted a goal and an assist in his first game back at Yost Ice Arena and Michigan scored three goals in the second period to make senior goaltender Billy Sauer's (Walworth, N.Y.) 14 saves stand up in his eighth career shutout, moving him up to third place on U-M's all-time list. Senior Brandon Naurato (Livonia, Mich.) padded the Wolverines' lead with a power-play tally in the third period.

U-M finished the CCHA regular season tied for second place with Miami -- both teams have 40 points. Based on the CCHA tie-breaker criteria, the Wolverines will receive the No. 2 seed in the upcoming CCHA Tournament. U-M had 20 CCHA wins to Miami's 17. Michigan has a bye into the quarterfinal round, which will take place March 13-15 when the Wolverines will host a best-of-three series at Yost Ice Arena.

For the first time in 12 games, U-M and its opponent failed to score in the opening period. The Wolverines registered a total of eight shots, doubling the Bulldogs' four shots in the first period.

Freshman Robbie Czarnik (Washington, Mich.) scored the game's first goal at 2:06 into the second frame. Senior Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.) made a cross-ice feed to Mitera, who was skating through the right faceoff circle. As Czarnik rushed up the slot, Mitera made a perfectly-placed pass, allowing Czarnik to deposit the puck into the net. The helper was Mitera's first point of the season. The goal was Czarnik's ninth point (4-5-9) in the last 11 games.

Sauer made a key save at 3:38 in the second stanza when FSU's Casey Haines launched a rocket from the high slot. Sauer was able to follow the puck despite all the traffic in front of him to make the quick save with his glove.

Sophomore Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) posted his second goal of the weekend -- and first of the night -- at 15:50 in the middle frame. Junior Chris Summers (Milan, Mich.) ripped a hard shot from above the left faceoff circle. Rust redirected the puck just outside the crease over Nelson's glove and into the upper-right corner of the net.

With three minutes remaining in the second period, sophomore Louie Caporusso (Woodbridge, Ontario) won a faceoff, sending the puck back to Mitera, who then blasted a rocket from the left point. The traffic in front of Nelson prevented him from seeing, and stopping, the puck. The marker was Mitera's first since scoring against Nebraska-Omaha on March 14, 2008.

Sauer made another impressive save on Ferris State's Mike Embach, who fired low while flying up the slot. Sauer then kicked away the rebound as well.

After U-M and FSU traded penalties throughout the third period, Naurato registered a power-play marker at 19:22. Freshman Brandon Burlon (Nobleton, Ontario) made a pass from the high slot to Naurato, who held onto the puck for a second before firing off a shot from the bottom of the right faceoff circle. Senior Danny Fardig (Ann Arbor, Mich.) also earned an assist on the goal, giving him a single-season career high of eight points. The tally on the man-advantage marks the sixth straight game that the Wolverines have scored a power-play goal, setting a season-best streak.

Following next week's (March 6-8) first round bye in the CCHA Tournament, the Wolverines will start the postseason in a quarterfinal series at Yost Ice Arena on March 13-15 against a to-be-determined opponent.

Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423