November 29, 1998

November 29, 1998, Cole Center, Madison, Wisconsin

Well it’s Sunday afternoon and it’s time for the second game of the hockey showcase tournament being held at the Cole Center on the University of Wisconsin’s campus. Once again Michigan finds itself skating in a fairly new arena sporting an Olympic size sheet of ice.

The first period started slow and stayed slow throughout with neither team really seeming to get it going. While both teams got a couple of good scoring opportunities, neither team could get a goal (at least a goal that counted). About eight minutes into the game it appeared that Kosick got a power play goal, but the goal was waved off with the officials saying Kosick’s stick went above the crossbar. As the period went on the Badgers got a great scoring opportunity, however, Blackburn stepped up and made a great save. A bit later in the period Blackburn gets way out of position and leaves an open net. The Badgers got a shot off but Berenzweig got a skate on the puck and made the save. The first period ended with both teams getting five shots on goal, and with neither team scoring. This was a slow paced period with the only power play of the period going to Michigan.

The second period started out with a much better pace with both teams moving up and down the ice. Just moments into the first period (in fact in action right off the opening face off) the Badgers got a great scoring opportunity, but again Blackburn came up with a big save. Then not much longer into the period Berenzweig takes a shot from out by the blue line. It wasn’t a hot shot, but kind of a floater that several players, including the goalie, took a whack at, but no one was able to make contact. Result – goal!! Michigan leads 1 to nothing. Just as it looked like Michigan was playing very disciplined hockey (getting no penalties) they got a penalty and put Wisconsin on the power play. This was the Wolverines first penalty of the game (and as the period wore on it seemed to open the penalty floodgates) and came with 11 or 12 minutes left in the period. With the Badger power play winding down Kosick and Matzka went on a two on one break away and got a great shot off, but again the Badger goalie was up to the task. There were no further scoring chances in the Wisconsin power play. Shortly after killing the Badger power play Wisconsin committed a foul and put Michigan on their third power play of the period, which the Badgers proceeded to kill. A bit later Michigan looked to be working on a great scoring chance when they lost the puck and Wisconsin went on a three on two break getting a real good shot off, but Blackburn again made a fantastic save. With just under six minutes left in the period Wisconsin got a man advantage down low and got the puck past Blackburn to tie the game. After this the game really heated up with a lot of checking going on. With about five minutes left in the period there was a little tussle that resulted in four players ending up in the penalty box, but these were all coincidental minors leaving both teams skating with five on a side. The furious pace continues as the period winds down and Blackburn turns back a couple of fabulous scoring chances for the Badgers. Then with under four minutes left in the game Bobby Hayes got called for a five minute major penalty putting the Badgers on the power play for the remainder of the second period and the first 1 and ½ minutes of the third. The Badgers had not scored a goal when with just under one minute left in the period Wisconsin committed a foul putting the teams at even strength at four on four. While skating four on four Comrie got a break away and looked to be taking the puck in to score, but the Wisconsin goalie came up with a fantastic save turning Comrie away. The period, while a faster paced period than the first, was still a bit slow and was more of a checking game than a skating game. The period ended with the teams tied one to one.

The third period began with both teams skating four on four. Both teams kill the penalties and get to even strength at five on five with under two minutes gone in the third period. Both teams skating somewhat tentatively in this period with no one really picking up the pace and really going after the other. About four minutes into the period the called Huntzicker for boarding. This was a questionable call, with many wondering why there was a penalty called. Matzka and Jillson got a short handed break away and it appeared that Matzka might have gotten the puck in the net, but no light, no goal. Wisconsin did get a shot off just at the end of the power play, but were unable to get the puck in the net. Just under the mid way point of the period Wisconsin seemed to sneak up on Blackburn who woke up in time to keep the puck out of the net. Very little offensive action through the first half of the third period. Blackburn made a great save with 8:22 left in the period, with the Michigan defense seeming to be a bit out of sorts. Both teams getting a couple of good scoring chances as the period winds down, but so far neither team has been able to get the puck in the net. We are now down to four minutes left in the period. Ritchlin gets a shot, but it hits the side of the net and the rebound appeared to bounce over the stick of the waiting Matzka. Now down to two minutes left in the game, Wisconsin gets the puck in the Michigan end and gets a shot on goal. Blackburn stops the shot, and jumps on the rebound. Badgers get a shot off on the face off, but Blackburn again covers up. The Badgers again get a face off in the Wolverine end, but are unable to get a shot off. The Wolverines push the puck down into the Wisconsin end where they get a couple of shots off. Now the action swings back to the Michigan end, but Wisconsin can get no shots off. We are now down to one minute left in regulation. Michigan breaks out two on one and gets a shot off, but can’t get it in the net. The Wolverines are again moving into the Wisconsin end but they loose the puck. With just a couple of seconds left there is an off side call made and the face off comes outside the Wisconsin end. The period ends just as the puck is dropped with both teams tied at one apiece. Michigan led in shots on goal at the end of this period 26 to 20. We now move on to over time.

We will play a five-minute over time period to see if we can get a winner. This is a sudden death overtime period and if no one can score we end in a tie. Kosick gets a good shot off, but is unable to get the puck past the Badger goaltender. Comrie breaks through and gets a host off and again the Badger goalie makes the save. The puck goes into the Michigan zone. Hayes pushes the puck in and forces it into the Badger zone and gets a pass off to Huntzicker. Huntzicker gets a shot off and the Badger goaltender looses the puck and Michigan comes in trying to get it in the net. The Badger goaltender finally finds the puck and covers it. With thirty-three seconds to go the puck was shot at the Wisconsin goal and was bouncing around in front, but no one was able to get a stick on it before the Badger goalie covered it up. Wisconsin calls time out and we have a pause as we prepare for the last half-minute of over time play. Off the face off Wisconsin breaks out and gets a shot, but Blackburn gets a great save. Michigan gets the puck and moves down into the Wisconsin zone and gets a shot off, but the Wisconsin goalie again makes the save. Wisconsin ices the puck and we have a face off in the Wisconsin zone with three seconds left in overtime. Wow, after dominating the over time period and getting several excellent scoring chances the Wolverines are unable to get the puck into the net. The game ends in a one to one tie with Michigan leading in shots on goal for the game 31 to 22.

This was perhaps not the best outing for the Wolverines as they come away from the hockey showcase with one win and one tie. Once again the Michigan defense played very well, but their inability to bury the puck costs them a win that they probably should have had. Next week we are still on the road with a Friday game at Miami of Ohio and a Saturday game at Bowling Green.