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Saturday, January 20, 2001
Saturday, January 20, 2001, Lawson Ice Arena, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Michigan got off to a fast start in this game as they got a couple of quick shots at the Western goal in the first minute of play. Even though they had a couple of quick shots neither team was able to establish any kind of flow, as there were numerous whistles for off side and icing. Western drew first blood in this game as they scored the first goal of the game just 2:19 into the contest. The Bronco’s got a shot off that went high over Blackburn’s glove hand and into the net.
Michigan would get the first power play chance of the night; however, they were unable to take advantage of the man advantage. It would soon be the Bronco’s turn to try and score on the power play when Michigan was called for a bench minor; too many men on the ice. This has been a problem for Michigan this year as they have been called for this same penalty several times over the course of the season. It didn’t take the Bronco’s long to capitalize as they scored a goal just seconds into this power play.
Michigan would get a few other good scoring chances during the remainder of this period, but they were all swept aside by the Western netminder. Late in the period there were a number of penalties handed out. Ortmeyer received a game misconduct and was done for the night. Komisarek and a Bronco received 10-minute misconduct penalties. To go along with Ortmeyer’s game misconduct, Jed was given a five-minute major penalty for boarding. Not only did Michigan now have to kill off a five minute Western power play, but they were missing Ortmeyer, Komisarek, and Kosick (who was serving the time for Ortmeyer’s major penalty). The period came to an end with Western holding a 2 to nothing lead. Michigan did hold an edge in shots on goal with an 11 to 6 count.
The second period started with Western on the power play for 4:44, the first 56 seconds of that time it was a four on three, while it ended five on four. Not only were the Wolverines faced with the long power play time, that would not go off the clock if a goal were scored, but they had to kill off the penalty missing three players. Michigan was able to kill off all off the penalty time without giving up a goal.
As the game approached the middle of the second period Michigan was on the power play, but it wouldn’t be the Wolverines who would take advantage of the man advantage. While going for a line change Michigan failed to account for a Bronco coming off the bench who ended up behind the Michigan defense. Western got the puck up the ice, the lone Bronco came in, and scored the third unanswered goal of the night to take a commanding lead not quite half way through the game.
Shortly after their third goal the Bronco’s were whistled for a penalty and Michigan was once again on the power play. While they were working the puck around fairly well the Wolverines had failed to find the net. As time began to run out on the power play Western was whistled for a second penalty giving Michigan a two-man advantage for 27 seconds. Michigan was unable to score with the two-man advantage, but they still had 1:15 of power play time. Michigan continued to attack on the power play and finally the work paid off as Jillson got the puck and blasted it into the Bronco net. Assists on this goal went to Cammalleri and Hilbert.
Michigan picked up and killed off another penalty and Cammalleri just missed scoring a second goal for the Wolverines, but the period came to an end with the Bronco’s still leading by two goals, 3-1. The Bronco’s also out shot the Wolverines in this period; however; Michigan still held a small advantage in shots on goal with a 20 to 18 count.
Western would again start a period on the power play and again Michigan was able to kill the Bronco power play. Michigan was also putting an awful lot of pressure on the Bronco goal in this period, knowing that they needed to score goals if they were to salvage the weekend. However, it would once again be penalties that would cost the Wolverines. After being called for and killing off one penalty, Gassoff had to take another penalty to stop a Western scoring rush putting the Bronco’s back on the power play. While on this power play Western scored their fourth goal of the night with less than thirteen minutes left to play. Needless to say at this point things did not look good for the Wolverines. To add to the Wolverines woes shortly after giving up the fourth goal Andy Hilbert was hit with a ten-minute misconduct penalty, removing the Wolverines top scorer for almost the rest of the game.
Michigan continued to attack the Western goal in this period, but it would be the power play that would finally get the puck in the net for a second time. With just 8:45 left in the game and on the power play the Wolverines sent a flurry of shots at the Western goal, one right after the other. All of them were turned away, but Cammalleri got the puck and sent another shot towards the goal and this time it found twine. This got Michigan back within two goals, but time was becoming a factor.
Shortly after their second goal Michigan was again hit with a penalty putting the Bronco’s back on the power play. While Michigan was able to kill of this power play, they couldn’t really attack the Bronco goal for two minutes while killing it. The game was down to its final five minutes before the Wolverines could again go on the attack. It would be another two minutes before Michigan would again cross the goal line with the puck, but they continued to work hard and were able to score their third goal of the night. This third goal came with 2:58 left in the game and was again scored by Cammalleri with assists going to Mink and Matzka.
Hilbert would be able to leave the penalty box with about 1-½ minute’s left in the game, but he would have to wait for a whistle. The clock ran down under 1:50 with the Wolverines still trailing by a goal. As Hilbert’s penalty time ran out Michigan got a face off in a favorable place on the ice. Hilbert was back in the game and the Wolverines pulled Blackburn to get the extra attacker. With just over one minute remaining in the game Michigan tied the game with a great effort by Mark Kosick. The Wolverines had again sent a flurry of shots at the Western goal, the last one being stopped, but dropping to the ice in front of the Bronco goal. Kosick was there and was able to chip the puck into the Bronco net to tie the game. Regulation time ended with the score all tied at four goals apiece.
A five-minute sudden victory overtime period was played, but neither team was able to score. The Wolverines did miss two golden scoring chances that could have won this game for them, but they missed on both of them. The game came to an end with the score still tied at four goals apiece. The Wolverines really out shot the Bronco’s in the third period and overtime to end the game with a decided advantage in shots on goal with a 34 to 22 count.
The three goals scored by the Wolverines in the final nine minutes of this game really allowed Michigan to salvage something out of this weekend. While they didn’t get four points, they did get three and they are now in sole possession of second place in the CCHA. They also didn’t let Michigan State get to far ahead of them, although the Spartans added a point to their lead after seeping Miami this weekend. The Wolverines never laid down in this game that’s why they got the tie. They could have quit any number of times. They could have quit when they were down by three goals with a little more than half a period to play and their top scorer in the penalty box. They could have quit when they had three players sitting out because of penalties at the start of the second period. In all of these instances the Wolverines worked their way through the difficulties and salvaged a tie that could have easily been a loss (and at one time looked like a sure loss). That fourth point would have been nice to have, but under the circumstances Michigan should be happy with three points. The next Michigan hockey game is in Ann Arbor this coming Tuesday, there will be no Friday game. The Saturday game will be played at Joe Louis Arena against Lake Superior.
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