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December 4, 1998
December 4, 1998, Oxford, Ohio, Goggin Arena
Well it’s another night of Meeechigan hockey!! Michigan is back in CCHA play this weekend after playing in the hockey showcase over the Thanksgiving weekend. In the showcase the Wolverines beat Minnesota on Friday and tied Wisconsin on Sunday. All teams in the showcase (Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) suffered one loss apiece except the Wolverines. Michigan goes to Oxford this weekend trying to end a three game loosing streak on the Redhawks home ice. I have to tell you that these recaps keep getting longer, and longer, and longer… . So lets drop the puck and get this weekend of hockey underway.
As I picked up action midway through the first period Miami was leading in shots on goal. Miami had received the only power play opportunity of the game, which Michigan had successfully killed off. The score was zero to zero. Play went back and forth with more defense than offense. With about eight minutes left in the period Merrick is whistled for a penalty giving Miami their second power play of the game. Miami did get a couple of good shots off in this power play. The first going just over the cross bar and second blocked by Blackburn. With five minutes left in the period Van Ryn moves the puck down into the Miami zone and centers the puck, but there was no one home to receive the pass. Shortly after Comrie charges in on the Miami goal, waits for the goaltender to go down, and takes a good shot. Somehow the goalie got a piece of the puck and saved what appeared to be a sure goal. Right at the end of this play Comrie was slashed putting Michigan on the power play – their first power play of the night with 4:14 left in the period. Van Ryn pushes the puck into the Miami zone along with Langfeld, takes a shot which just misses wide. Van Ryn again pushes into the net, takes another shot, which is again deflected by the Miami netminder. Huntzicker takes a long shot, which is deflected over the bar. Then Berenzweig takes a big shot, which goes wide. With time on the power play running out Crozier made a final push at the net and takes a shot that goes just wide. Action continues in the period with Matzka trying to put the puck into the top left corner of the net, but the shot is blocked. Then Comrie and Kosick work the puck in together with Comrie making a pass to Kosick who tries to deflect the puck into the net, but that scoring attempt is also blocked. With time in the period running out Berenzweig takes a bit shot which misses wide. Just at the end of the period Miami got two good shots off both of which were blocked. The period ended in a scoreless tie, with Michigan behind in shots five to six.
The second period got off to a physical start with Miami being called for a penalty just moments after the period started. As Michigan starts on the power play Jillson worked the puck into the Miami zone, made a good setup to Rominski, who got a real good shot off, however, this shot was blocked. Moment’s later Jillson gets a shot of his own, which is also blocked. Jillson gets his own rebound, gets another shot, but that one is blocked as well. The Kosick gets a shot off that is also blocked. As you can tell so far both goaltenders have very good through this game. This was Michigan’s last real shot of the power play. Just as Miami got back to full strength Michigan got called for a penalty putting Miami on the power play (Comrie was called for a high stick). Miami works the puck around and gets off a great shot from the point, but Blackburn makes a great save. Moments later Miami gets a turnover in the neutral zone and immediately goes on the attack getting off another great shot, but again Blackburn makes the great save. No more good shots in this power play. Now just as Michigan gets back to full strength Miami gets called for another penalty putting Michigan on the power play (do you see a pattern for this period?). Michigan applies good pressure in this power play with Crozier leading the charge. Crozier takes a pass from Hayes and takes a shot, which goes wide. Crozier again moves in on the net, takes another shot, and again misses wide. Then Berenzweig takes a long shot, which is blocked. Then Crozier and Rominski move the puck into the Miami zone. Crozier passes the puck to Rominski who gets off a shot, which is blocked, and the rebound got cleared before anyone could get to it. Again just as Miami gets to full strength penalties were called. This time both teams were called putting them four on four. No real threats from either team and then with thirty seconds gone in the four on four, Miami is called for another penalty putting Michigan in a four on three power play. Michigan works the puck hard, getting several shots off. With thirty seconds left in the second Miami penalty Michigan is now in a five on four power play. Matzka gets a great shot off, the Miami goaltender lost the puck and it looked like it was going to roll over the line, but the goaltender finds it just in time and keeps the puck out of the net. Now Michigan is again called for a penalty giving Miami another power play opportunity. This penalty was called while Miami had possession of the puck leading everyone to believe that Miami was going to receive the penalty, but it was called against Michigan. There were no real scoring threats during this power play and Michigan killed it off. Miami is now applying pressure and they get a real good shot on goal, which Blackburn stops again. Now Miami is called for a penalty putting Michigan back on the power play. Hayes puts the puck on the post, but Rominski can’t get to it fast enough to get a shot. Then Huntzicker gets a shot off, with the rebound rolling around in front of the net. The Miami goaltender finally gets the puck covered up. A group of players get bunched up in front of the goal and guess what. Yep, you guessed it. Both teams called for matching penalties putting one apiece in the penalty box. Now Van Ryn pushes the puck into the Miami zone, takes a shot that probably could have scored if it had a little more speed on it, but it was a little slow giving the goaltender enough time to stop the puck. Then Comrie gets a shot off that goes real wide. Michigan again working the puck in and Langfeld gets a shot off which Langfeld thought was in. The celebration was on, but the light was not – no goal. This period ends with both teams still knotted at zero. There was a lot of action in this period with teams seeming to trade penalties taking turns at the power play. Through two periods Michigan was zero for five on the power play and Miami was zero for four on the power play. Here’s a bit of trivia for that Christmas Michigan hockey trivia contest. With this games second period ending in a zero, zero tie Michigan has now gone 83 minutes, 22 seconds without scoring a goal. Man, someone on this team has got to step up and start putting that little piece of rubber in the net.
The third period starts with Michigan applying good, sustained pressure on the goal looking to get some points on the board. Miami gets the puck and sneaks through to get a shot on Blackburn, but Blackburn stops it. Michigan gets the puck deep in the Michigan zone. Vancik lifts the puck high up in the air trying to get it to a breaking Kosick, but a Miami player coming off the bench breaks up the pass. Langfeld pushes down the right side, cuts across the center and gets a shot off, but the Miami goaltender makes yet another save. Miami moves the puck down into the Michigan zone takes a shot, but the shot is deflected. Ritchlin takes a great shot that hits the post, Kosick gets the rebound and takes a shot, but can’t get it in. Now Comrie takes a pass from Berenzweig and gets another good shot, but the Miami goaltender stays right with him grabbing the puck. Face off in the Miami zone. Now Jillson gets called for a penalty putting Miami on the power play for the first time in the third period. This is a four-minute penalty on Jillson giving Miami an extended power play. Michigan has been doing everything but putting the puck into the net, much like last Sunday’s game against Wisconsin. Now Blackburn is out of position leaving an open net. Miami has the puck, takes the shot, and Blackburn comes flying out of nowhere to make a fantastic save. Michigan has now skated off half of the four-minute power play, with 2 more minutes to go. Miami moving the puck around the Michigan zone and Michigan is unable to clear. Michigan finally clears the puck with about 1 minute left in power play. Miami again trying to set up the power play, tries to center, puck never gets to Blackburn. The Wolverines get the puck ahead to Hayes who gets a shot off that goes over the crossbar. The power play is over, and Michigan dodges a bullet. Damn!! Just as Michigan skates off the four-minute power play Hayes gets called for a penalty putting Miami back on the power play (giving Miami almost six solid minutes of power play). Miami gets the puck and starts moving into the Michigan zone. Michigan breaks it up and clears the puck out. Matzka steals the puck and charges the Miami goal and gets off a shot. Now Van Ryn has the puck and gets a shot. Puck is covered and it’s a face off. Whew, Michigan skates off this power play and we are now at full strength. The tempo picks up, the hitting intensifies as the period begins to run down. We are now down to about seven minutes to play and Michigan is going on the power play. Michigan working the puck around the Miami zone. Berenzweig gets a shot off that grazes the post. Miami kills the power play and we are now down to four minutes. Miami gets a three on two break, Blackburn stops the shot, and tries to clear. Miami keeps it in gets another shot and Blackburn makes another stop. Miami has the puck about fifteen feet from the goal, takes a shot, but fans on the puck or it would have been a good opportunity. Down to two minutes in regulation and both teams are flying down the ice. Hayes and Langfeld moving down the ice. Michigan works it around looking for an opening. There is a face off in the Miami zone. Now under a minute to go in regulation. Miami has it down in the Michigan zone. Michigan gets the puck and a go on a two on one break. Berenzweig takes a shot but misses. Ritchlin comes in and takes a shot and SCORES!!!!! With 24 seconds left in regulation Michigan gets the goal. WOW!! That ends a 102 minute 59 second stretch of time where Michigan had scored no goals. Ritchlin gets the goal, with assists to Comrie and Berenzweig, and it appears that it could be the game winner. Miami has taken a time out to try to collect themselves after skating zero, zero for almost sixty minutes. Miami now pulling their goal tender. Time is out and Michigan wins one to nothing with the late goal by Ritchlin. Blackburn gets another shut out (his third the year and his career).
Well what a game this one turned out to be. Michigan had gone 102 minutes 59 seconds without a goal and finally get one 24 seconds from the end of the game. Some more trivia for you. The last time Michigan ended in zero to zero ties was February 19, 1931 against Wisconsin and February 27, 1928 also against Wisconsin. Josh Blackburn now has three shut outs and has gone 90 minutes 48 seconds without allowing a goal. Michigan now has a seven game unbeaten streak. This was a tough fought game with both teams playing very hard. While Miami has tomorrow night off Michigan now has to go to Bowling Green. Michigan wins another one goal game. Their defense in general is excellent and the penalty kill is also excellent. The only problem area at this time with this team is their lack of goal scoring, but what the heck. A win, is a win, is a win – I’ll take em!! Well that’s it for tonight and until tomorrow, C-ya.
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