November 27, 1998

November 27, 1998, Mariucci Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Well it’s been a week since the Wolverines beat both MSU and Notre Dame, turkey day has come and gone, now we venture outside the league to take on two WCHA opponents in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Before we get to tonight’s game against Minnesota lets take a quick look at what last weeks win did for the Wolverines on the national scene. Last weekend Michigan was ranked the number eight team in the country. After beating the number five team (MSU) and the number four team (Notre Dame) our Wolverines have moved up to number four with North Dakota, Colorado College, and Boston College ahead of them. Notre Dame dropped one spot to number five and MSU dropped three spots to number eight. While neither of this weekend’s opponents are in the top ten, they are both ranked in the next ten so this will be a tough test for the Wolverines. On to tonight’s game.

Tonight’s game was played in the new Mariucci Center in Minneapolis. This rink is first class and boasts an Olympic size sheet of ice (a bit bigger than Michigan is used to skating on). Minnesota and Michigan both came out skating hard and fast in this period, with Minnesota looking to make a statement with the number four Wolverines in town. There was a lot of good skating and good hockey with both teams getting some very good scoring opportunities as the period went on. Michigan got two power plays in the period and Minnesota got three, with the third power play carrying over into the second period (about 18 seconds). The Michigan power play kill was going very well and Minnesota got no goals off the power play. Minnesota got on the board first with a goal just after their second power play expired (about five seconds after the power play was over). As the period ran down the Wolverines got a three on one break away and Rominski was presented with an open net. He redirected the shot, but redirected into the goalie rather than the net. This was a golden opportunity to score and it hurt not to see it go in. All in all during this period I thought Minnesota really took the play to Michigan and Minnesota outshot the Wolverines 12 to 10 and led after one period 1 goal to none.

The second period started with Minnesota on the power play, but they only had 18 seconds left which Michigan was able to kill off. This period wasn’t as fast moving as the first period as there was more checking. This was more a defensive period than an offensive one. Michigan got two power plays in this period, while Minnesota got one with neither team being able to score on the power play. In fact on one of the Michigan power plays it looked more like Minnesota was on the power play as they really took the play to Michigan even though they were a man down. With about five minutes gone in the period Ritchlin got two excellent shots at the goal, but missed both of them. I must say that all night long I kept seeing number 17 (Ritchlin) around the puck and the goal. He seemed to have a very good game. With about five minutes left in the period the Wolverines again got a break away (2 on 1) with Comrie taking a pass from Berenzweig and getting the goal. The second period ended with a one to one tie with Minnesota still leading in shots on goal 24 to 20.

The third period really belonged to Michigan. About twelve seconds into the period Minnesota committed a foul and Michigan was on the power play. After being shut out on the power play all night Michigan finally got a power play goal 34 seconds into the third period. Bubba Berenzweig got a clear shot from in front of the goal and slammed the goal past the Minnesota goalie for an unassisted goal – the go ahead goal at that. Then just thirty seconds later Crozier broke loose and got a beautiful pass from Hayes. He went in on the Minnesota goalie and put the puck in the net, going high. Assists were given to Hayes and Jillson. Just one minute and four seconds into the third period Michigan was now ahead by two. As the rest of the period went on Michigan really controlled the flow getting several good opportunities while holding Minnesota to only a shot. There was a bit of a scare when Blackburn, looking to make a play, came out of goal and tried to slap the puck up to a fellow Wolverine outside the blue line. The only problem was that a Minnesota player got the puck and had an open net to shoot at. Luckily for the Wolverines he hit the post (at least that’s what it looked like) and we dodged a bullet. With just under seven minutes left in the period Minnesota, still down by two, stepped it up another notch, but Michigan was up to the task until there was forty-four seconds left in the period. With a lot of players in the way creating a big screen in front of Blackburn, Minnesota’s Leopold hit a floater that sailed past Blackburn to pull the Gophers within one with forty four seconds left. Minnesota left their goalie in goal, but Minnesota knew time was running out and was skating fast and furious. With sixteen seconds left a penalty was called sending one Wolverine and one Gopher to the penalty box. At this time Minnesota pulled their goalie giving them a power play for the last sixteen seconds. They got a couple of good shots at the net, but Blackburn stopped them all. It was an exciting finish, but Michigan prevailed three to two, even thought Minnesota outshot the Wolverines on the night 31 to 25.

All in all this was a good, flowing, skating hockey game. I like watching games like this. They are fast paced and more exciting than the really slow paced clutch and grab type of hockey (seen whenever MSU is involved in a game). Michigan’s defense seems to really be coming together. I thought several Wolverines had great games tonight but I would especially point out Ritchlin, Matzka, and Berenzweig. Michigan got quite a few good looks at the goal tonight, but just didn’t bury the puck. Once they decide to start putting the puck in the net they are really going to start lighting up the scoreboard. They are so close, I think it’s just a matter of time before we start seeing some better offensive outings.

Well that’s it for the first night of the hockey showcase with Michigan beating Minnesota and with a short time left in the game MSU was beating the Badgers of Wisconsin. Sunday afternoon Michigan and MSU trade opponents in the final round of the showcase, so until then, C-ya.