Saturday, March 24, 2001

Saturday, March 24, 2001, Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan
NCAA West Regional - Michigan vs. Mercyhurst

The Wolverines started this game by putting pressure on the Mercyhurst goal early and often, but through it all the Laker goaltender was up to the challenge. Not only that, but the entire Mercyhurst team, skating in the schools first ever NCAA tournament at the Division I level, gave the Wolverines all they could handle for sixty minutes of hockey.

Michigan would give Mercyhurst their first break of the game as the Wolverines took the first penalty barely 2 1/2 minutes into the game. About midway through the games first power play there was a mad scramble in front of the Michigan net. During this scramble the Lakers drew first blood as they got Michigan netminder Josh Blackburn over to the right and put the puck into the net to his left. Scoring the first goal of the game really gave the Lakers an emotional boost that saw them challenge the Wolverines even more.

The teams would trade power plays over the next couple of minutes, but neither team was able to take advantage of the extra man. However, Michigan would get back to even a short time later with some spirited play by Scott Matzka. Bringing the puck up the ice David Huntzicker got the puck over to Scott Matzka who streaked into the Laker zone. Once in range he let loose a wrist shot that beat the Laker netminder to knot the score at one apiece.

While it took Michigan almost four minutes to draw even with the Lakers, after giving up the early power play goal, it wouldn't take the Wolverines nearly that long to take the lead. From the face off following their first goal Michigan's Mike Cammalleri took the puck away from a Laker defenseman, drove toward the net, and put a shot past the Laker goalie to give Michigan the lead in the game. This was an unassisted goal that came just six seconds after the first Michigan goal.

For those people who keep track of statistics the two Michigan goals were the fastest ever-consecutive goals scored in NCAA regional history. The record for two fastest consecutive goals in NCAA tournament history also belongs to a pair of Wolverines. They were Gordon McMillan and Wally Gacek who scored consecutive goals just five seconds apart back in 1948 in the first ever NCAA national championship ice hockey game, won by the Wolverines.

For most of the remainder of the first period both teams skated up and down the ice in what turned out to be a fairly fast paced game. There were penalties given to both sides with neither team able to take advantage of the power plays and there was plenty of hitting. It looked like the period would end with Michigan holding the slim one goal lead, but the Lakers got one final break in the period and they didn't let it slip away. Michigan had the puck behind their own goal, but turned it over to the Lakers. The Lakers Brad Olsen didn't waste any time putting a back hand shot past Blackburn to tie the game at two goals apiece with just 1:29 left in the opening period. The first period ended with the game all tied at two goals each, while the Wolverines held a commanding lead in shots on goal with a 21 to 7 count.

The second period saw plenty of up and down action, but neither team was able to score a goal. Each team got an early power play chance, but couldn't take advantage. Each team got a couple of breaks, but couldn't take advantage. It looked like Michigan would score the go ahead goal with less than five minutes to go in the period, but the shot hit the cross bar and bounced harmlessly away. The Lakers did take another penalty late in the second period, but the period came to an end with the score still tied at two goals each. Michigan again handily out shot the Lakers, 15 to 8 in this period, to hold a two period advantage in shots on goal of 36 to 15.

Michigan started the third period with 34 seconds of power play time, but the Lakers killed that off to keep the score tied. A little over six minutes into the final period Huntzicker was called for a penalty to put Mercyhurst back on the power play and once again they wasted no time taking advantage. Just five seconds into the power play the Lakers Adam Tackaberry chipped a rebound past Blackburn to give the Lakers a 3 to 2 lead in the final stanza.

The intensity level was high at the start of the third period and this go ahead goal by the Lakers in the third raised the intensity level even higher for both teams as the season for one of these teams was about to end. About two minutes after taking the lead Mercyhurst was called for a penalty to put Michigan on the power play. With just 35 seconds left in this power play, senior Mark Kosick took a feed and went top shelf to beat the Laker netminder and tie the game. This goal came with just over ten minutes left in the final period and the assists went to Andy Hilbert and Mike Komisarek.

Michigan continued to apply pressure to the Laker goal and the Lakers continued to battle and check very hard. As time began to run out in the third period Michigan was all over the Laker goal, getting a couple of great scoring chances. The Wolverines kept the puck in the Laker zone for an extended period of time and the pressure would finally pay off. With a face off to the right of the Laker netminder Michigan got the puck out to a waiting Andy Hilbert. Hilbert let loose a slap shot from the point that beat the Laker netminder low and to the left to give the Wolverines the lead with just 3:33 left to play in the game. Assists on this goal went to Jay Vancik and Mike Cammalleri.

The final three and half minutes of play were action packed as the Wolverines tried to hang on and advance in the tournament and the Lakers tried to continue their Cinderella story. With 2:20 left in the game both teams lost a player to penalties and ended up skating four on four. Mercyhurst got their goalie pulled with about one minute left to play to get the extra attacker and generated a couple of chances, but the Wolverines turned them away. With about 32 seconds left in the game Mercyhurst took a time out to plan their course of action. The action was fast and furious down the stretch, but the Wolverines hung on to win the game by a score of four to three. Michigan again out shot the Lakers in the period to end the game with a 51 to 24 advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines survived a spirited effort by the underdog Lakes from Mercyhurst College and while many, including myself, question the correctness of having Mercyhurst in this tournament they certainly acquitted themselves well. They gave Michigan all they could handle and kept the fans on the edge of their seats for the entire game, as the contest was in question until the final horn sounded. Michigan hung on to advance to the tournament quarterfinals, which they have played in every year since 1992. Michigan plays St. Cloud on Sunday afternoon at 5:30 PM with a trip to the frozen four in the balance. The Wolverines will have to bring their best game against the Huskies of St. Cloud, as they are one of the hottest teams in college hockey at the moment. In the earlier contest in the West Regional Wisconsin defeated Providence to set up a match on Sunday between the Badgers and the number one seed Michigan State Spartans.