FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Bemidji State coach Tom Serratore heaped praise of Michigan's hockey team Saturday night, saying the Wolverines may be the best team in the country.

While tournament No. 1 seed Miami (Ohio) may have something to say about that in tonight's NCAA Midwest regional, Serratore's summation included a theme first brought up last week in Detroit.

For a second straight game, Michigan's speed was too much for opponents to handle.

"They were one step ahead of us," Serratore said after Michigan's 5-1 NCAA regional semifinal win Saturday night at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. "They have a lot of octane."

Michgan's speed was a factor throughout the night, but was perhaps most evident when Bemidji State got caught in a slow line change in the third period. Forward Carl Hagelin took advantage and raced down the ice and back-handed a shot into the net while the Wolverines were playing short-handed.

Last weekend, Northern Michigan coach Walt Kyle said his team couldn't keep pace in a 2-1 CCHA Tournament loss to the Wolverines.

With everything the Wolverines (26-17-1) have put together in winning seven straight playoff games, Michigan coach Red Berenson said Saturday night that adding some speed may be a key reason why his team is now one game from the Frozen Four.

"We've worked hard all along, but I know when you get confidence and you get a little pressure and a sense of urgency, you can pick up the pace," Berenson said. "I think our team is really feeling that feeling. Sometimes, you're in a rut and you don't know you can go harder, you can go faster.

"But this is time of year when we're playing for our season, and I think everyone is putting everything they've got on the ice."

Nice to see you again The Wolverines will again have to go through Miami in order for its season to continue. The CCHA rivals faced off nine days ago when the Wolverines overwhelmed the RedHawks, 5-2 in the tournament semifinals at Joe Louis Arena.

Berenson said Saturday night the temporary setback only motivated Miami (28-7-7) to enter the NCAA tournament with plenty of motivation. The RedHawks advanced to tonight's 8 p.m. regional championship game (ESPNU) with a 2-1 win over Alabama-Huntsville in Saturday's other semifinal.

Berenson's players, though, won't get wrapped up too much in the rematch.

"You like to go into the game thinking it's just another game - it doesn't matter who you're playing," junior goalie Shawn Hunwick said. "It doesn't matter if you're playing Notre Dame on the road or you're playing Miami to go to the Frozen Four. It's just another game."

Killing time Michigan's penalty killing unit put in significant time in Saturday night's win, playing a key role in keeping Bemidji State off the board. The Beavers finished 1-for-7 on the power play, failing to score until Ian Lowe ended the drought at the 10:24 mark of the third period.

The Wolverines spent half of the first period playing a man down, forcing its penalty killing unit and Hunwick to fend off Bemidji State scoring chances before Luke Glendening scored to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.

"Obviously, penalties were an issue and it's been an issue all year," senior defenseman Chris Summers said. "But we've learned to play through it. Hunwick came up with some key saves that really kept us in the game and really could have changed the momentum of the game. Defensively, I think we were good, not great. We could always be better."

Big man in net Hunwick, the junior walk-on again came up big in goal, making 26 saves to improve to 7-1 since taking over for Bryan Hogan on Feb. 25. He did not give up an even strength goal Saturday night after entering the game with a 1.50 goals against average and a .930 save percentage.

His stellar play comes a year after Michigan was shut out in the NCAA regional semifinals by Air Force, which took advantage of a top-notch goalie effort by Andrew Volkening, who made 43 saves as the Falcons upset the No. 1 seeded Wolverines.

"It's great when you've got a hot goalie," senior defenseman Steve Kampfer said. "I think it goes with all 20 guys playing in front of him. The guys are playing well and Shawn's making saves that he's got to make. He's giving us a chance to win, and that's all you can ask from a goalie."

Rally caps Fans attending tonight's game in Fort Wayne can kick-start their game preparations at a rally similar to the one held before Saturday night's victory. The event will be held in the Expo IV Ballroom at the Coliseum. Saturday night, fans mingled with new athletic director Dave Brandon, who said the Wolverines were playing with "a lot of Michigan" in them. Tonight's event will include free snacks and a cash bar.

By the numbers Louie Caporusso's second-period goal Saturday night was his eighth in seven playoff games. ... With a win tonight against Miami, Berenson would register his 700th career victory and would send the Wolverines to their 24th Frozen Four. Michigan has captured an NCAA record nine national championships, the in 1998.

Jeff Arnold covers Michigan hockey for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at jeffarnold@annarbor.com or 734-623-2554. Follow him at Twitter @jeffreyparnold.