Saturday, January 27, 2001

Saturday, January 27, 2001, Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

This game started out exactly as expected, a defensive struggle, with each team waiting for the other to make the first mistake. It was the Wolverines who made the first major mistake and that mistake cost them dearly. While trying to take the puck out of their own zone Michigan turned it over at their blue line. Unfortunately for the Wolverines the Spartans were right there to take advantage and they got the odd man rush at the Michigan goal. Outnumbered and with few options Blackburn was unable to turn aside the Spartan charge and it was Michigan State taking the early, just over six minutes into this game.

It appeared that Michigan might tie the game about a minute after the initial Spartan goal when Andy Hilbert got clean on a break, but the Spartans stalwart goalie turned the scoring chance into just another shot. This was a golden change to score for the Wolverines, but they were unable to capitalize. The action continued with both teams working the puck up and down the ice, but neither team would be able to find the net.

The next break also went the Spartans way as the Wolverines picked up the first penalty of the night, giving the Spartans the first power play opportunity of the game. Michigan was able to kill off the penalty without giving up another goal. The Wolverines would also get one last golden opportunity to score a goal late in this period, but they would again be turned away by the Spartan netminder. The first period came to an end with the Spartans leading by a score of one to nothing. The Spartans also ended the period with a slight advantage in shots on goal as they finish the period with a 13 to 10 count.

The Spartans finally gave Michigan a break when they were called for a penalty just seconds into the second period. While the Wolverines were unable to score on the power, Michigan did tie the game moments after the power play expired. While still working the puck around the Spartan zone from the power play Mink made a great pass through the crease to a waiting Langfeld. For the first time in many a game Langfeld put the puck in the net and the game was all even at one goal apiece. The assists on this goal went to Mink and Shouneyia.

Michigan would get a second power play chance about four minutes after their initial goal, but they were again unable to beat the Spartan penalty killers. The period would be in its final eight minutes before another goal was scored in this game and once again it would belong to the Wolverines. Michigan broke out of their zone and used some crisp passing to work the puck through center ice and into the Spartan zone. The initial shot off this drive was blocked, but the rebound came out and Michigan was right there to take advantage. The goal went to Shouneyia with the assists on this goal going to Kautz and Trainor.

While the Wolverines now held the lead in this game, that lead was to be short lived. Handling the puck very poorly in their zone the Wolverines turned it over near their blue line. An opportunistic Spartan was right there to pick up the puck, drive into the zone, and slide the puck between Blackburn and the pipe to again tie the game.

With the game tied and time beginning to run out in this period both teams were called for penalties leaving each team with four players. With just 57 seconds left in the period it would be the Spartans who would take advantage of the reduced number of players. This time the Spartans get a shot off that it looked like Blackburn had stopped, but it slipped under his stick, through the five hole and dribbled across the goal line. The period came to an end with the Spartans again leading, this time by a score of 3 to 2. This period ended with the shots on goal even at twenty apiece.

The final period of regulation started with both teams skating four on four for another 46 seconds and just 14 seconds into the period it would be Michigan who would once again tie the game. This goal came right off the opening face off which was won by the Wolverines. After winning the draw Michigan worked the puck into the State zone with Cammalleri leaving the puck for Hilbert by drop passing it between his legs. Hilbert picked up the puck and drove it toward the Spartan net and he got a shot off. This shot was blocked, but the rebound came out and Cammalleri was right there to put it in the net. The lone assist went to Hilbert and suddenly the game was once again tied.

A couple minutes later Michigan missed another great chance to score a goal when Swistak broke clean on the State goal, but he put his shot right into Miller’s chest. The remainder of the period was filled with the Wolverines dumping the puck into the State zone, while looking for a scoring chance. Whenever they could the Spartans were basically doing the same. The action got quite frantic as time ran down in the period with both goalies coming up with key saves. The third period came to an end with the game all tied up at three goals apiece. The Wolverines did gain an advantage in shots on goal during the third period as they end the game with a 33 to 26 advantage in shots.

With regulation time ending this game would be decided in a five-minute sudden death overtime period. Both teams tried to find a scoring opportunity, but the only shots in the first couple of minutes belonged to the Wolverines and it would be the Wolverines who would finally come up with a game winner. Skating hard into the Spartan zone the puck would be passed up ice to Hilbert. Hilbert would finish the trip to the net and score the game winner as a Spartan was dragging him down. The assists on this goal went to Kosick and Jillson. The Wolverines win the game by a score of four to three and end the contest with a 36 to 26 advantage in shots on goal.

This was a huge win for the Wolverines as they move within three points of the conference leading Spartans with just nine regular season games remaining. Michigan will have to continue winning games if they want to repeat as regular season champions and they get their next test next weekend at Nebraska.