Saturday, January 2, 1999

Saturday, January 2, 1999, Jerome Schottenstein Center's, Value City Arena, Columbus, Ohio

Happy New Year!! I forgot about the game, but this past Thursday Team USA took on Team Canada in a game that was part of the World Junior Championships. Boy, these two teams really dislike each other on the ice. I did see the third period and as I got to the game USA was leading by a score of 4 to 2. During that period USA got their fifth and final goal of the game and won it by a score of 5 to 2. This was the second straight win for Team USA over Team Canada. Team Canada has a commanding lead in this series, but the US seems to be coming around quite nicely. There was a lot of hitting (hard-hitting I might add), but there was also a lot of good hockey being played. Both teams were filled with talent, but the US team really did look very good. There were two current and one future Wolverine in this game (the reason I’ve included this little blurb). Mike Van Ryn was skating for Team Canada and Jeff Jillson was skating for Team USA. They both appeared to be playing quite well (I’ll be glad to see them back on the bench for the Wolverines). The future Wolverine was 17 year old Andy Hilbert from Howell, Michigan. He was the youngest player on the US team, and wow – it’s going to be interesting to see him in Maize and Blue next year. He plays defense and he has offense. He looked pretty darn good out there, and he’s only 17!!

Enough of the World Juniors, lets get on to tonight’s game. Tonight’s game is the first game for OSU in their brand spanking new ice arena. So what do we have? A blizzard hammering the Great Lakes area, OSU opening a new ice arena, raising their NCAA final four banner, the arena holds 17,500 fans when playing hockey, and just to put a cap on the night the opponent – every Buckeyes favorite – the Michigan Wolverines. If this isn’t a recipe for a big night of hockey I don’t know what is. This game was originally scheduled for early October, but the OSU coach talked to Coach Berenson about moving the game so it would be the opener for their new arena. Being the nice Wolverines that we are, we agreed to the schedule change and here we are, opening the OSU ice arena on a blustery January day. This is the largest on campus arena in the country and certainly the nicest arena in the CCHA. The complex as a whole is 700,000 square feet and provides a setting for art, sports, and community events (like concerts). By all accounts this is one fantastic complex. Tonight we are still missing Van Ryn and Jillson (at the world juniors) and we are also missing Langfeld for this game. He was injured in practice and was not in good enough shape to make the trip. OSU was expected to be a CCHA contender this year, but they got off to kind of a slow start this year. They have been really coming on lately though and this should be one heck of a game.

There was trouble along the lines and I picked up tonight’s game with eight minutes gone. It was a zero to zero tie and OSU was going on the power play (Rominski into the box). Michigan successfully killed off the power play. Here’s a scoring chance for the Buckeyes, but Blackburn turns the shot away, the rebound came out in front of the net, however, it was eventually cleared. Matzka takes a quick wrist shot, but it just misses. Michigan working the puck around the OSU zone, but it is cleared. There was a big collision on the ice between an OSU and an UM player, UM player going off for a penalty, OSU back on the power play (second and third of the night). The UM player is called for two minor penalties, not just one. UM gets the puck from OSU and moves it into the OSU zone. UM moving the puck around killing time off the power play. Matzka takes a shot and it is deflected right on the OSU goal, but the OSU goal tender slaps it out. The puck is moved back into the UM zone and a shot is taken, but Blackburn gloves it and holds on. Off the face off another big shot at Blackburn, but he turns it away. OSU again comes in on the goal, but Blackburn makes another great save. Berenzweig clears it out, but OSU picks it up and moves it back into the UM zone. With about four minutes left in the period, the double minor is killed and Michigan has again killed off a power play opportunity. OSU peppering Blackburn with shots, but Blackburn turns them all away. Now UM gets a shot on the OSU goal, but it is turned away. Now one UM and one OSU player go into the penalty box, we’re skating four on four. OSU gets a shot off, but it goes wide (a good thing because Blackburn didn’t see it). Inside one minute left in the first period, UM has the puck at center ice, they move into the OSU zone, but loose the puck. OSU comes back through center ice, but Berenzweig takes it away, moves in on the OSU zone, takes the shot, but it is grabbed by the OSU netminder and he holds on. Off the face off the puck goes out of the OSU zone. UM trying to get something going, but cannot and the period ends in a zero to zero tie. At the end of one OSU led in shots on goal 10 to 5.

The second period starts with OSU coming out hot, pushing the puck into the UM zone. Now we go back the other way. We are in the OSU zone working the puck around. Now OSU has it back in the UM zone. Now UM works it back into the OSU zone. Matzka gets off a big shot, but it is blocked. Now Vancik gets off a shot, but it is blocked. Now OSU going the other way pushing the puck into the UM net, but Blackburn is up to it. Blackburn gets knocked down in the crease, but no penalty. As you can tell there is a lot of back and forth skating in this period, it’s just humming along at a real good clip. Kosick feeds the puck to Hayes on a great pass, takes a shot, but misses it wide. Now UM gets off another shot, but the OSU goalie finally gets on it and forces a face off. Matzka gets into a big collision against the boards and immediately skates off the ice. He is in obvious pain, hopefully he’s all right. OSU gets called for a penalty and UM is now on their second power play of the game. Michigan trying to get something going on this power play, but they’re having trouble getting anything going. Huntzicker gives the puck up in the UM zone to an OSU player, he gets a shot off, but it sails over the net. It was deflected by a high stick so the face off will move outside the UM zone. This was a big break for Michigan, we gave up the puck in a dangerous place to an OSU player is dangerous around the net. OSU has killed off the UM power play and both teams have failed to score any power play goals. UM applying some pressure on the OSU goal, they get the puck in front of the net, it’s bouncing around, but they can’t get the puck into the net. Now the puck moves the other way, there in the UM zone and Huntzicker gets called for a penalty and OSU is back on the power play (fourth of the night for OSU). Matzka is back out on the penalty kill so his injury was apparently not too serious. It’s difficult to tell how much time is left in the penalty, the penalty clocks are behind some banners and can’t be seen (well it is a new building after all, everything can’t run smooth as silk). OSU is still on the power play, but we get a high stick call on OSU, we are now skating four on four and UM will get a short power play opportunity as soon as Huntzickers penalty is over. Berenzweig swoops in on the OSU goal, gets a shot off, but it is grabbed by the OSU netminder. Now Michigan is on the power play, we get another shot off, but the puck is held onto by the goalie. Kosick lets the puck get by him and OSU clears the puck to the UM zone. We are now back into the OSU zone, there’s a centering pass, and just misses Rominski. Huntzicker gets a shot off, but it hits a skater down in front. We are now skating at full strength all the way around. Matzka drives into the OSU zone gets off a shot, there’s another shot, and yet another shot for Matzka. Some good opportunities, but still no goal. UM has been applying a great deal of pressure in the last few minutes of this period. Now Berenzweig gets called for a penalty and OSU gets their fifth power play opportunity of the game. OSU had trouble in this power play getting any kind of good offense set up. UM has killed of this penalty and we are now at full strength. There are less than four minutes to go in this period. Both teams trying to get something going. Now UM again gives up the puck deep in the UM zone, OSU gets it, there’s a shot, it hits the post, it’s down on the ice, and Blackburn jumps over on it. Another break for UM, Blackburn was back and forth on that one, and was really flying to get that puck before OSU could get it into the net. OSU continues to apply pressure, but UM finally gets it cleared out and into the OSU zone, UM gets a line change. The puck now back in the UM zone and they get another great shot off, Blackburn stop. Another great shot by OSU, another Blackburn stop. Blackburn is having another fantastic game (I hope that’s not a curse). OSU is the team applying the pressure here late in the period. We are down to the last minute to play in the period. UM again misplays the puck, putting it right in front of the UM goal, but Blackburn sees the problem and jumps on the puck before bad things happen. Now we are down to about ten seconds to go and OSU gets called for a penalty. We get about ten seconds of power play to end this period, but then get almost a full power play to start the third. That ends the second period and we are still tied and zero – zero. OSU again out shot the Wolverines and now has a 20 to 12 lead in shots on goal.

Michigan starts the third period with almost a full power play. The Wolverines need to take advantage of this and get a goal. They’ve been getting outplayed and they need to get something going that will hopefully wake them up and get something happening. Michigan applies some pressure. Rominski gets off a big shot, Kosick waiting for the rebound. The rebound comes out, but Kosick can’t get his stick on the puck. That was the last real opportunity for UM in this power play. OSU has killed of the penalty and is now at full strength. UM got some good penetration into the OSU zone, but two UM players were pulled down and OSU was called for the penalty. We now get our fourth power play opportunity of the game. Big shot by Ritchlin, but it goes off the crossbar. Another big shot, but the OSU netminder gets it. UM gets another couple of shots off, but again the OSU netminder turns all of these shots away. OSU has killed of another UM power play. UM gets another point blank shot and it is again stopped. UM continues to apply pressure moving the puck around the OSU zone trying to get a centering pass. Can’t get the puck in position and OSU is going the other way. We are just under ten minutes left in the period and OSU gets called for a high stick giving UM their fifth power play chance of the night. Again UM has got to take advantage of this chance and get a goal. Michigan tries to set up the power play. They work it down into the OSU zone, but OSU gets it cleared. Michigan can’t get anything going on this power play as OSU penalty killers are really breaking keeping Michigan from getting any kind of flow going. Now we have another penalty called against OSU so we are now in a 5 on 3 situation for about 30 seconds. Come on blue lets get a goal!! We were unable to get any goals in this power play situation. Now OSU has another power play. Oh man OSU gets a shot up high that gets past Blackburn. OSU now has a 1 to nothing lead over UM with time really on OSU’s side. We are now down to about 6 minutes to go in the game and we have to step it up and get a goal. UM almost got a breakaway but OSU’s defense breaks it up. Now UM passes it deep to Kosick but can’t score. OSU comes back the other way. Now both teams are skating back and forth, no one able to get any real scoring chances put together. We are down to 2 ½ minutes left in the game. Michigan looking for the equalizer. Some good pressure by UM, but they can’t get a shot off. We are now down to 1 ½ minute to go, Blackburn inching up, Michigan may pull him. Final minute to play in the period, Michigan calls a time out to try and setup a play to run. Michigan pulls their goaltender to get the extra man. Twenty-three seconds left and Michigan pushes back into the OSU zone. Well that’s it, no goal, OSU wins 1 to nothing with the late power play goal in the third period.

Well the Wolverines have now lost two straight games after not loosing for 10 straight games and it doesn’t get any easier from here. OSU was in second in the CCHA, they will still be in 2^nd place, but they will now only be 1 point behind instead of three. The next three games are against Ferris who has been playing very well this year and is next in line in the CCHA – like I said it’s not going to get any easier. The break seems to have broken up the continuity we had been building on the team. Even the defense was off tonight (OSU got thirty shots on goal – not good). Well hopefully they will get things fixed up in practice this week so we can back on the winning track as we begin to drive toward March. Hopefully Langfeld gets healed up this week and I do believe we get Van Ryn and Jillson back before next weekends games. So keep the faith Wolverine fans, the men will get things back on track. Until next week – C-ya!