Through 25 games last season, then-sophomore forward Louie Caporusso looked invincible.

He netted 20 goals in that span, putting him in contention for the Hobey Baker Award, given to college hockey’s best player.

But Caporusso’s fortunes turned soon after he lifted the Great Lakes Invitational MVP trophy in December.

In the final 16 games of last season, he scored just four more goals, a disappointingly low number considering he had scored almost one goal per game before. And in matchups against ranked opponents in the season’s final stretch, Caporusso notched just three points – all of which came against then-No. 15 Ohio State.

The Michigan hockey team managed to win a majority of those games, (12 of 16), thanks to players like Aaron Palushaj, Tim Miller and Travis Turnbull, whose physical play on offense provided other Wolverines like Matt Rust and Carl Hagelin with scoring opportunities.

The problem is that list of capable forwards who can set up scoring opportunities got drastically shorter this offseason with the graduation of Miller and Turnbull and Palushaj’s ascendancy to the NHL.

And as much as Michigan coach Red Berenson may have hoped Caporusso’s scoring blues had ceased with the offseason, Caporusso has yet to even register a single point this year.

What’s even more worrisome is he has only taken four shots – good for 17th on the team.

“Is he a bit of a concern? Yeah. He’ll work his way through it,” Berenson said.

But, even through four games, it’s clear that No. 5 Michigan (2-2) is in desperate need of someone to light the lamp. Whether it’s Caporusso or not remains to be seen.

Entering the season, much of the team's buildup surrounded the defense, which was thought to be the catalyst to a possible national championship run.

Senior defenseman and captain Chris Summers even claimed that this season’s defense was better than the Wolverines’ star-studded cast his freshman year – one that included current NHLers Jack Johnson and Matt Hunwick.

“To me, the team with the best defense wins,” Berenson said earlier this season.

But so far, Coach, that hasn’t been the case.

The defense will certainly close out games for this team like they did against Niagara when, after a three-score offensive surge in the first period, the offense couldn’t buy a goal.

But when the Wolverines face off against great teams, like defending champion Boston University last weekend, the team can’t expect to win very often with two scoreless periods to start the game.

Michigan’s most effective line thus far has been its second, with Rust, Hagelin and freshman Chris Brown scoring six of the Wolverines’ 11 goals this season.

Meanwhile, the first line, highlighted by Caporusso and sophomore David Wohlberg, has zero points to its name.

Berenson’s solution? Switching up the lines.

“You don’t want to stay with the same lines if your team is underachieving,” Berenson said. “And I think we are. … We’re still not sure who the best combinations are.”

But his proposed plan to couple Hagelin with Caporusso means breaking up the team’s best offensive combination, which also doesn’t seem to be the best solution.

Sophomore forward Robbie Czarnik has shown flashes of offense this season with two goals and two assists, second only to Rust in points. After a disappointing freshman season, Czarnik could be the answer to Michigan’s offensive woes.

Meanwhile, Brown’s ability to take over a game physically, make space and put a few goals in the back of the net might be able to jumpstart a .500 squad.

But with a matchup against No. 1 Miami (Ohio) looming in two weeks, one thing is frighteningly clear. This Michigan team needs a hardnosed, offensive specialist on the first line, one in the mold of an Aaron Palushaj, Tim Miller or Travis Turnbull — and they need it fast.

Because a lack of scorers on the first line will just result in a whole lot of disappointment this season.