Of the 17 banners hanging high above Xcel Energy Center this week at the NCAA Frozen Four representing the schools with at least one title, none was more decorated than Michigan's.

The Wolverines came into the tournament with a chance to add a 10th line to their already impressive historical résumé -- a stat for all to see and be intimidated by.

Instead, coach Red Berenson suffered a reverse fortune of sorts.

Michigan's two titles under his tutelage came in 1996 and 1998, both 3-2 in overtime. Saturday in St. Paul, Berenson's Wolverines lost by that score to Minnesota Duluth, meaning next year in Tampa an 18th banner will have to be added to the St. Pete Times Forum.

"A tough loss," Berenson said.

That was an obvious response for the 71-year old coaching legend to give after so much success behind the bench.

"He'll remember this the rest of his life and he doesn't even know it now," Berenson said of UMD coach Scott Sandelin. "It takes a while to sink in, because you're so focused on the game. The players are part of the instant gratification. For the coaches, it takes a while to sink in."

Berenson and the Wolverines might never want to recall this one.

Carl Hagelin appeared to give Michigan a 1-0 lead less than five minutes into the game, but the goal was waved off after it was deemed the whistle had blown before the puck crossed the goal line.

"I heard a whistle right as I touched the puck," Hagelin said.

Then the march to the penalty box began.

The Wolverines took 10 minors in the game to UMD's five. Michigan's total includes a back-breaker by Jon Merrill in the third period. After UMD's Brady Lamb was called for hitting after the whistle with 10 minutes to play in the 2-2 game, Merrill dragged down the Bulldogs' J.T. Brown in front of the crease just eight seconds later for a blatant holding call.

Berenson, though, wasn't so sure on all the whistles.

"Were they good penalties? I can't tell you what I really think," he said. "... When one team gets nine and the other four, it doesn't add up. Every time a player falls down it shouldn't be a penalty, not in NCAA championship hockey."

Killing off all those penalties led to tired legs, which in turn led to a mountain of turnovers that never allowed Michigan to get any sustained momentum. That might have given UMD that little extra bit to win in extra time.

"You never want to kill nine, 10 penalties in a game, but we had to do it," Hagelin said. "Obviously some of us get a bit tired playing too much PK."