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Saturday, February 18, 2000
Saturday, February 18, 2000, Berry Events Center, Marquette, Michigan
We’ve played 23 games over five months and right now the season boils down to this weekend up in Marquette. The biggest game in the CCHA this week is in Marquette and involves the Wildcats of Northern Michigan and our own Wolverines. Before we get into tonight’s game lets take a quick look around the country. Wisconsin, Boston University, and North Dakota hold the first three spots in all three national polls. In two of the polls Michigan holds down spot number four and in the other poll Michigan sits at number five. In the poll where Michigan is number five Boston College holds down number four, in another poll Boston College is five and in the third New Hampshire is number five. New Hampshire is at number six in two of the polls and Boston College is number six in the third. The last four spots in all the polls are just as jumbled. In one poll it finishes out with Main, Michigan State, St. Lawrence, and Rensselaer. In another its St. Lawrence, Maine, Michigan State, and Northern Michigan. In the third its Michigan State, Maine (actually tied with MSU), St. Lawrence, and Northern Michigan. Ferris is still getting votes and for the first time I remember this year Lake State has picked up some votes. In the PairWise rankings Michigan sets at number eight, last weeks wins didn’t do a whole lot for them because Western is under five hundred on the year. The next best CCHA team is MSU at number 12 with Ferris at number 16. Northern has dropped all the way down to number 19 after their two losses last week at MSU. Lake Superior has joined the other CCHA teams in the PairWise as they sit at number 23.
Now let’s move into the CCHA, cause that’s what matters to us this week. Things are real tight at the top with Michigan (35) sitting in first, four points ahead of second place of Michigan State (31). Both Northern (30) and Lake State are one more point back tied for third. Then there is a five point gap as move down to the fifth place team which is Notre Dame (25). Things are all bunched up in this area as we find Ferris (24) breathing down Notre Dame’s neck, and Nebraska (23) breathing down Ferris’ neck. In eighth place is Miami (21), then Bowling Green (20), and the last playoff spot is currently held by Western (19). There are all sorts of possibilities from this weekend, but let’s focus on the top spots. You can expect MSU to sweep Alaska to pick up four points. Lake Superior is off this weekend so they will hang at thirty points. That leaves us with Michigan and Northern. Of course Northern got swept last week and if they get swept this weekend they can kiss the top two spots goodbye. Michigan of course knows that if they get swept they will end the weekend in a tie with MSU (again assuming that MSU sweeps Alaska). If Michigan and Northern split the weekend Michigan would retain their five-point lead over Northern and end the weekend with a two-point lead over Michigan State. If Michigan sweeps the weekend they will maintain their four-point lead over those Spartans. Just to add a little sauce to the mix Michigan plays Michigan State next weekend and if we are tied going into next Friday you can bet Yost will be one hopping place. Now after all the what if games you might ask what’s really going to happen? Well we won’t really know what is going to happen until Saturday night, but I believe Michigan is going into Wildcat country and is coming out with a sweep. Michigan is the best road team in the CCHA this year and they really seem to be getting their game on track at just the right time of year. This game will also be played on an Olympic size sheet of ice and that should help Michigan and their speed. Realistically these games could go either way and a split would not surprise me, a Northern sweep would surprise me, but not a split. However, I’m still going with my Michigan sweep. What does Michigan have to do to get the win tonight? First, they have to be prepared for a swarming Northern team out of the gate. They are going to be looking to wipe the bad taste of those two losses last weekend away, you can bet they will be flying to start this game. Second, Michigan needs to get on the board first. This should help settle the very vocal Northern crowd and remind NMU about their recent loosing ways. Third, Michigan must play good defense while limiting their penalties. Northern doesn’t have a great power play, but you don’t want to give them to many chances; they do have a potent offense. Finally, Michigan has to finish strong – they must have a solid third period. The game will be won or lost in the third. Ok, I’m ready for the game, now all I have to do is wait for game time.
Got to the game with 2 ½ minutes gone in the first period, Blackburn keeping Michigan in the game, and both teams wheeling up and down the ice. Northern draws the games first penalty giving Michigan first crack on the power play. Michigan hadn’t had a shot on goal, but they have gotten some pressure on the Northern goal. With about 30 seconds gone in the power play Michigan draws a penalty ending their power play and Northern waiting for their shot at Michigan. Northern now on the power play and Michigan switches to the penalty kill. Michigan clears the puck out with less than 30 seconds left in the NMU power play. The Northern power play ends and Michigan is back at full strength. Great chance for Michigan right there, but Northern’s netminder comes up with a big save as two Wolverines get loose in front of the goal. We are now half way through the first period with no score and both teams continue to wheel up and down the ice. Northern takes their second penalty of the night to give Michigan another shot on the power play. Michigan needs to get a score out of this one without ending it themselves with another penalty. That didn’t take long at all as Michigan worked the puck deep, got it off to Langfeld for a backdoor goal, to put Michigan on the board first. Again Langfeld with the goal and assists went to Peach and Shouneyia. Right after the goal a penalty is called against Blackburn for interference, Mink will serve the time. This is just the type of thing that has cost Michigan big this year. When you get an opponent like Northern down you don’t give them an opening like this. There was a Northern shot that grazed the post, UM dodges a bullet that time. Well we get a little back there as a Northern player hooks Matzka to the ice ending the NMU power play. The teams will skate 4 on 4 for 57 seconds and then Michigan will go back on the power play. Things seem to be getting a little bit rougher in this game. Langfeld, Peach, and Vancik come close to getting a goal there, Langfeld is really having a good game so far tonight. Michigan now on the power play looking to extend their lead. Oh man, Michigan is just all over the NMU goal putting all kinds of shots on the goal. So far they have been kept out of the net, but if they keep this kind of pressure on all night they will eventually light things up. Northern gets a two on one break, but they misfire and blow a great scoring chance. Northern coming up with a couple of chances right now, so far they have all gone wide (but they are close). We are now down to three minutes to go in this period and Michigan is hanging on to their one goal lead. Now Michigan again putting pressure on the NMU goal, working the puck around the NMU zone. Michigan had the Wildcats jumping all over the place and NMU finally ices the puck to relieve the pressure. The period comes to an end with Michigan leading by a score of 1 to nothing. Michigan also holds a slight edge in shots on goal with a 12 to 8 count.
Michigan had some chances to get more than a goal, but they do hold the one goal lead as we get back under way here in the second period. Langfeld again comes up with a quick shot off a face off in the NMU zone that just misses. NMU again has to ice the puck to regroup and try to get an edge over Michigan. Michigan has started out this period by continuing to put pressure on the Northern goal. That time Northern got a steal and got off a shot on the UM goal that just went over the top of the goal. Both teams really buzzing up and down the ice as we have gone through almost five minutes of this period. Michigan continues to apply pressure, you would think they are just a slip away from extending their lead, but Northern is playing just as hard. Blackburn comes up with a great save as Northern came close to tying this thing up. Blackburn two more big saves as Northern is suddenly getting some pressure of their own. We’ve now skated through 10 minutes of this second period and Michigan still hangs on to their one goal lead (I’m getting tired just listening to these two teams fly up and down the ice). With about eight minutes left in the period Michigan will go back on the power play as Hilbert gets hauled down. This would really be a tremendous place for Michigan to pick up a goal (about the same place in the period where they got their first goal). The power play is about half over and so far Michigan really hasn’t gotten much going. Well that ends the power play as Kosick gets called for a penalty. They will skate 4 on 4 for about 39 seconds and then Northern will move to the power play looking for the tie. Northern is now on the power play, so far they haven’t been able to get any action going either. Michigan has killed off the penalty and Michigan needs to get a change of players. Northern steals the puck and gets a good look, but they come up dry. We move under five minutes to go in this period and both teams continue to burn up and down the ice. Another couple of close calls for Michigan as they get another couple of good looks at the NMU net. Michigan draws a penalty late in this period to give Northern another power play opportunity. Michigan needs to kill this off; they don’t want to give Northern even a breath of life this late in the period. So far Michigan has disrupted the NMU power play as half this power play is over. Good save there by Blackburn, as Northern was finally able to get a shot off. Northern keeps it alive in the UM zone getting all kinds of looks at the UM zone. The penalty is over with 2 ½ seconds left in the period. It looks like Michigan will get out of this period with their one goal lead intact. The second period ends with Michigan hanging on that 1 to nothing lead. Northern had the better of Michigan in that period, at least from a shots on goal point of view. This gives Northern a slight edge in shots on goal for the game with a 20 to 19 count.
Well here we are at the third period with the game on the line. Can Michigan hang onto that lead or will Northern get themselves on the board? We are under way in a game that has been moving very fast so far. Michigan comes out on the attack as Hilbert fires a shot that just goes over the top of the goal. Once again after the initial flurry to start the period both teams seem to be settling down into an up and down game. We’ve now played five minutes of this period and both teams continue to wheel it up and down the ice. Northern gets a break away that time as a Northern player comes in all alone, but Blackburn comes up with perhaps his biggest save of the night. Michigan came awfully close there as Matzka got a pass to Langfeld right out in front of the goal. Northern takes a penalty around the midpoint of this period. A golden opportunity for Michigan to get some breathing room in this game. Michigan putting some heat on that Northern goal, just missing on a couple of shots early in the power play. We are indeed now under ten minutes in this period as Michigan continues to work on the power play. Another great chance for Michigan and another great save by the Northern netminder. Yet another set of shot by Michigan, save by Northern. With 8:45 to go in the game Northern has killed off the penalty and both teams are now back at full strength. Michigan came close several times on that last power play, but the NMU netminder held the line. We move under seven minutes and Michigan is working to keep the puck in the Northern zone. We now move under six minutes in regulation time and Michigan still holds on to that one goal lead. We have just moved under five minutes in this period and Northern is now getting some pressure. There is a delay penalty coming up against Michigan as Northern pulls their goalie to get the extra attacker. With just over four minutes to go in the period Michigan puts Northern back on the power play as Jillson takes an interference penalty. This is a huge penalty kill for Michigan; they need to keep Northern off the board on this power play. Half the power lay is over and so far Michigan has kept Northern away from the UM goal. Suddenly Northern gets loose in front of the net, but Blackburn comes up with another save to keep Northern off the board. Well to many chances given to Northern and they get a power play goal to tie this game up with 2:44 left in regulation. That was a shot that Blackburn should have stopped, but give this goal to Jillson for a stupid penalty. The Northern fans threw a bunch of stuff out on the ice after the goal and now it has cost Northern big time. A delay of game penalty is handed out to Northern and now Michigan gets a power play chance. Michigan has come close on the last couple of power plays, this time they must connect. Ortmeyer comes up with a big shot, but it gets turned away. Half the power play over and the game remains tied. We move under one minute to go in the game as Michigan continues to look for that opening. The power play is over and Michigan continues to work the puck. Northern looking to get it out and they do and regulation time ends in this game with things all tied up at one goal apiece. Northern ended the game with a slight edge in shots on goal with a 30 to 28 count.
Well, stupid penalties once again come back and hurt Michigan. Northern should have never had that power play as the penalty Jillson took was completely uncalled for. As we move into the overtime period Jillson should be kicking himself, he has to play smarter than that. Michigan hasn’t lost an overtime game this year (2-0-2) and Northern hasn’t won one (0-1-2). Michigan needs to crank it up a notch and get an early goal to end this game. That was awfully close as the puck was bouncing around in front of the NMU net. The NMU netminder grabbed the puck and the face off will happen in the NMU zone. Northern has just gotten off a couple of great shots and Blackburn has come up with a couple of equally great saves. Hilbert was all alone in front of the NMU net, but his shot went wide. We are now under two minutes in the overtime period and right now Northern is applying the pressure. Less than one minute now and the game remain tied at one apiece. A big shot by Langfeld and this time the NMU netminder comes up with the big save. This game is over and ends in a 1 to 1 tie. Northern out shot Michigan in the overtime period 5 to 2 to end the game with a 35 to 30 shot advantage over the Wolverines.
Well that’s not exactly the way I wanted to see this one end. You can lay this tie at Jillson’s feet as that late penalty gave Northern the break they needed. I guess Michigan still hasn’t lost an overtime game and Northern still hasn’t won one, but man Michigan needed that game. Each team gets a point and keeps the five-point gap between these two, and Michigan State is now within three points of the Wolverines. Michigan has to get a good rest tonight and come back out and really take it to Northern tomorrow night. Michigan’s defense was pretty good in the first period tonight, but they gave up a lot of shots in both the second and third periods. Tomorrow night they have to be more consistent on the defensive side of the puck. In addition, they only connected on 1 of 6 power play chances against a team that does not have a great penalty kill. Well some things for Michigan to improve on and still they had a chance to win this game. Look for another great game tomorrow night, perhaps tomorrow night we will see the two most potent offenses in the conference (at least Michigan’s offense). Michigan will have to be ready to play tomorrow, that late goal should help pump Northern up for tomorrow nights game. Until we do it again tomorrow, C-ya!
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