Friday, October 8, 1999

Friday, October 8, 1999, Joyce Center, South Bend, Indiana

Well here we are again ready for the second of this double header between the Wolverines and the Irish of Notre Dame. Last nights win was a big one, giving us a bit of breathing room in tonight’s game. Tonight the Wolverines go for a sweep over the Irish, but you can expect another tight game. I thought UM played pretty good last night for so early in the season. There were a few more penalties than you would like to see, but ND had just a big a problem with the penalties as UM did. We only went 1 for 7 on the power play last night, but two other goals came seconds after power plays expired. While they are not officially power play goals, they were certainly the result of the work done while on the power play. For those worried about the defense things look relatively good at this point (provided we don’t pick up a bunch of injuries in this area). The defense got lots of work last night, as did the penalty kill. It looked real good today to go to the CCHA web site today and see those two points in league play. I’m looking for another close game, but I’m also looking for Michigan to come away with the sweep. I’m also looking for few less Wolverine penalties in this game, accompanied by a bit more skating – let’s hope. Their work will be cut out for them as I’m sure the Irish are not happy about loosing last night, but to use a phrase seen often in conjunction with the football team on the VV forum I BELIEVE! It’s time for the face off so let’s get to it.

Notre Dame starts this period a little more under control tonight, as both teams seem to be skating and moving well on the ice. Both teams have had a couple of shots, but with the Wolverines really putting some pressure on the ND goalie ND gets called for their first penalty of the game putting Michigan on the power play with about 2 minutes gone in the period. Michigan getting some pressure in the first half of the power play, but ND is able to get it cleared out. ND is able to kill of the penalty, but they give the puck away to UM and Comrie comes in hard and gets off a shot that is just deflected by the ND goalie. Scott Matzka gets the puck and breaks away from the ND defense. He comes in hard on the ND goalie, he shoots, he SCORES!! Matzka is really quick when he gets around that corner; he leaves players in his wake; Matzka gets this goal unassisted.. About seven minutes into the period Michigan again gets the early lead. With ND working it around the UM zone Michigan gets called for their first penalty of the night giving ND their first power play of the night. As you can probably tell the penalties have been far fewer and much farther between than last night. Both teams are spending more time playing hockey than looking for the check. About 30 seconds into the power play UM picks up another penalty giving ND the two-man advantage for 1 minute 37 seconds. These are the kinds of mistakes that allowed ND to stay in the game last night. It takes ND over 30 seconds to get the puck into the UM zone. ND getting a couple of shots off, but so far Blackburn has turned away everything. Now ND gets called for a penalty dropping ND down to a one-man advantage. There are only a couple of seconds left in the ND advantage, then we’ll be even for another 15 or so seconds, then UM will be on the power play. UM able to kill off all of their penalties, that was really a big penalty kill. Gassoff out of the box, gets the puck, pushes it down ice, and passes to Comrie who gets off a big shot that gets stopped. ND kills off the UM power play as we move under eight minutes to go in the period. UM gets called for another penalty giving ND another power play chance (well things have certainly gotten a bit rougher here in the middle of the period). UM gets a short-handed charge, and gives the ND goalie some things to think about. UM kills of the ND power play and I’m not sure who applied more pressure during that power play ND or UM. UM applies some pressure and Langfeld gets a pass to Comrie who puts it into the net with a backhand shot, giving UM the 2 to nothing lead. Langfeld and Fraser get the assists on this UM goal. Well after giving up the second goal ND decides to take a time out so with about 4 minutes to go in the period we have a short break in the action. UM again putting some heavy pressure on the ND goal, but this time the ND goalie is able to stop the shot – that was a close one, we almost got our third goal. UM again putting big pressure on the ND goal, we don’t get the goal, but ND is called for a penalty putting UM on the power play with 2:38 left in the period. UM cycling the puck well, but so far have been unable to find pay dirt. Another little flurry of activity in front of the ND goal and finally the ND goalie grabs the puck. ND kills of the power play, but UM is really putting some pressure on that ND goal. We almost got a goal at the end of the 1^st period, but the horn sounded no goal. The first period ends with Michigan leading Notre Dame by a score of 2 to nothing. They also hold a big edge in shots on goal with a 16 to 7 count.

The second period starts with no carry over power plays and UM holding the two to nothing lead. Not far into the period and UM gets off a quick shot, but Langfeld (who took a shot from a ND player) goes off the ice and heads right down the tunnel to the locker room. I don’t know what happened to Langfeld, but he is back on the ice taking a couple of shots at the ND goal. UM gets a two on one break, but they don’t get a good shot off. UM’s fourth line (Murray, Trainor, and Swistak) really applying the heat to the ND goalie. We’re down to about 14 minutes to go in the period and UM continues to apply pressure to the ND goal. As we approach the mid point of the period UM is called for a penalty giving ND a power play opportunity; the first for either team in this period. Way behind the play ND takes a penalty that ends their power play. After skating four on four for about a minute UM will have a short power play chance of their own. Before I forget the UM penalty kill has been excellent tonight, just excellent (so far). Now UM is on the power play and they immediately go on the attack. UM cycling the puck well, looking for an opening. ND finally clears the puck, but the penalty was over so they are called for icing, bringing the face off back into the UM zone. We’re down to 8 ½ minutes to go in this period and Michigan still holds the 2 to nothing lead. Matzka got loose again, charged the net hard, got off a shot that went wide, but Comrie, who was trailing, got dragged down putting UM back on the power play as ND gets called for the penalty. We’ve gotten a lot of pressure on ND while on the power play tonight, but we have yet to cash in. This would be a good time to get that elusive power play goal. Again we are banging that puck around down in front of the net, but can’t seem to find twine. Once again we get all kinds of pressure, but just can’t seem to get that power play goal past the ND goalie. That fourth line is just flying around the ice tonight. They were again threatening to score when ND cross checks one of the Wolverines and UM gets another power play chance with just over 3 minutes to go in the period. There is a penalty against UM killing off our power play chance. We’ll skate four on four for about a minute and then ND will get about a minute of power play time. Well we made it through the first half of this period before the penalties started coming, but there have been plenty of penalties in the last half of this period. ND now on the power play as they get back to full strength. This power play will go almost to the end of the period. ND gets off a good shot, but Blackburn comes up with a great save. UM gets off a short handed shot, but it sails high. UM kills off the penalty with about 20 seconds left in the period. UM gets a big break and they were on their way to a goal when the ND goalie grabs hold of the UM player and draws the holding penalty. They only have about 12 seconds to work with in this period, but if they don’t score they will start the third with a decent power play chance. That ends the period and Michigan retains their two to nothing lead. ND should feel fortunate that they are only down by two, as Michigan has really owned the Irish in this game. UM holds a slightly bigger edge in shots on goal with a 26 to 12 count.

The third period starts with UM on the power play for around 1 minute 50 seconds. Just seconds into the third period UM picks up their first power play goal of the night as Kosick gets the puck past the ND goalie giving the Wolverines a 3 to nothing lead. Comrie and Jillson get the assists on this goal. Wow, just as it looked like UM had put this game on ice, ND comes right back and scores their first goal of the night to make it 3 to 1. Now with ND, looking a bit livelier draws the interference penalty and ND is on the power play. ND also changed goalies after Kosick got the third UM goal. UM again playing quite well while down a man as Koch and Matzka make a big rush at the ND goal. Both teams change lines with about 50 seconds left in the ND power play. With just 13 seconds left in the ND power play, ND is called for a penalty so they skate four on four for those 13 seconds and then UM is back on the power play (lets get that goal back against the new goalie). UM now on the power play. ND killed off the UM power play as we move under the 15 minute mark in this period. This was the first power play of the night where UM didn’t really apply any real pressure on the ND goal, they just weren’t able to get anything going on that one. UM working the puck well in the ND zone, and finally ND gets it cleared out of their zone. After a round of up and down hockey Comrie steals the puck and comes in hard at the new goalie. Comrie goes top shelf to get UM’s fourth goal of the game. That was an unassisted goal. WOW, IS SAY WOW, look out ND. Comrie steals the puck again, turns right back into the ND zone, comes in hard, and gets his hat trick for the night; this was just seconds after his previous goal. Back to back unassisted goals for Comrie. What a weekend he has had against the Irish. UM now leads by a score of 5 to 1 as we approach the midpoint of this period. With the four-goal lead Blackburn comes out of the game and O’Malley comes in to get some work in goal. We’re now under 10 minutes to play and UM continues to put shots toward the ND goal. One player from each team goes into the penalty box and we skate four on four for two minutes. Hilbert in there working hard looking to add to the UM lead. We are now down to 6 minutes to play in the period and ND gets called for icing. A little frustration is setting in for ND; after a little tussle on the ice a UM player goes in the box, but two ND players go into the box putting UM on the power play with just 3:15 left in the game. Hilbert brought the puck out of the UM zone, got the puck over to Mink who makes a nifty little move, taking the puck in to score Michigan’s second power play goal. Michigan now leads by a score of 6 to 1, with Hilbert and Vancik getting assists on the goal. We’re down to the last minute to play in the game. So the games ends with Michigan winning the second game of this double header by a score of 6 to 1. Michigan also ended with a large edge in shots on goal with a 37 to 15 count.

What a great way to start the regular season and CCHA conference play, with a sweep over one of the better teams in the conference. I don’t think we could have scripted the start of the season any better than this. Michigan really dominated play in both games this weekend. There were a few more penalties that you would like to see and they need to get some better production out of their power play, but for the opening weekend of regular play it was good. But Comrie, what a game and weekend he has had. A lot of Wolverines really had great weekends – Matzka, all the freshmen, Koch, Langfeld, and on and on. This was a HUGE sweep for Michigan this weekend. It may not mean a lot right now, but at the end of February, beginning of March these two wins could mean a whole lot. Next week we go outside of the conference as we host UMASS Lowell in a double header. This should be some interesting hockey as UMASS did get some votes in the pre-season poll so we will get to see how we stack up against a team from the east. So hats off to the hockey team for a great win and until next weekend, C-ya!!