Michigan Sweeps Buckeyes

Saturday, February 23, 2002
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michigans decisive win on Friday set up a rematch for tonight between these two teams. Each team has their back up against the wall in one way or the other. Ohio State fights for home ice in the first round of the CCHA tournament that could help launch them on a deep run in that same tournament. Michigan is fighting for first place in a virtual dead heat with Michigan State. The Wolverines are also fighting to improve their position in the Pairwise rankings and get a little closer to insuring a bid to the NCAA tournament. With all those things on the line I bet we can expect an exciting game in Yost.

Michigan used a different starting lineup for the second straight night as Helminen, Ryznar, and Henderson got the starting nod for tonights game. Just like last night this game got off to a fairly quick start, with both teams skating hard right from the opening whistle. It would take just over five minutes for the first goal of the game to be scored, but tonight it was the Buckeyes who drew first blood. With control of the puck in the Michigan zone, Ohio State got off a shot from the high slot that beat Blackburn. Perhaps looking for a little pay back the Buckeyes were on the board first and looking hungry.

It would take Michigan barely two minutes to even the score and start a scoring barage that would see three goals scored in just under two minutes. The first Michigan goal was scored by Mink who took the puck the length of the ice, used Shouneyia as part decoy, part screen, and beat Betz for the Wolverines first score of the night. The lone assist on the goal went to Werner.

The Mink goal put some bounce in the Wolverines legs and suddenly they were on the hunt. Thirty seven seconds later Michigan would score their second goal. The Wolverines worked the puck back into the Buckeye zone with Shouneyia leading the charge. Shouneyia passed the puck over to Komisarek who let loose a cannon of a slap shot. With the goalie in line to make the stop, Nystrom redirected the shot. The change in direction threw the Buckeye netminder off and Michigan was on the board again. Assists on the goal went to Komisarek and Shouneyia.

With just under tweleve minutes left to play in the period matching penalties were called, leaving each team with four men on the ice. About midway through the penalty Ohio State was making a line change and lost track of the puck. Michigan got it in neutral ice and got it over to Rodgers. Rodgers took a shot from the Buckeye blueline that sailed right past their goalie and into the net for the third straight Michigan goal. The lone assist on this goal went to Helminen and like last night Ohio State used its time out early in the game.

Shortly after scoring their third goal the Wolverines would begin a penalty binge that would see their string of sixty four straight penalty kills come to an end. It all started with thirty eight seconds left in the original matching penalties. Michigan was called for another penalty to give OSU a four on three power play. With twenty six seconds left in the second Michigan penalty, the Wolverines were whistled for another giving OSU a five on three man advantage. Just twelve seconds later, with time left on two penalties, the Buckeyes scored a power play goal to end the streak and get back within one goal.

Ohio State would get whistled for a penalty just as Michigan's last penalty was about to expire. Ohio State would kill that off without giving up another goal and matching penalties would again be called with just over one minute left in the period. The period ended with each team skating with four men on the ice and the Wolverines leading by a score of three to two. The Buckeyes had the slight edge in shots on goal with an eight to seven count.

The second period started with each skating with four men for the first fifty one seconds. The second period also started with niether side able to get the upper hand as both teams skated fairly evenly. However, you could see that tempers seemed to be heating up just a bit right from the start of the period. As it happens this period was filled with penalties and chippy play.

It took a while, but things really took a turn for the bruising when Michigan was called for the first penalty of the period with just over thirteen minutes left to play. With barely thirty seconds gone in their power play the Buckeyes got their third goal of the night, off a redirect, past a screened Blackburn.

Less than thirty seconds after the game tying goal matching penalties were called to leave each team skating with just four men. With twenty seconds left in these penalties another set of matching penalties were called, but each team continued to skate with four men. Off the ensuing face off, Michigan got the puck back to Nystrom who wasted no time banging it home. Assists on the goal went to Komisarek and Ortmeyer.

With just over nine minutes left to play Michigan would once again find itself killing a penalty. Shortly after that OSU would pick up a penalty to end the power play and leave the teams with four men each on the ice. With the original penalty to Michigan about to run out Ohio State would pick up their second straight penalty that would see Michigan skate with a two man advantage for 1:16. Murray would come close to scoring, but Ohio State would not give up a goal while down two men. With just under six minutes left to play and Ohio States last penalty getting ready to expire, Michigan would strike again. Just as the two man advantage was ending the Wolverines were passing the puck very well in the Buckeye zone. Before the fourth Buckeye could join the penalty kill Michigan got the puck back to Murray who beat Betz for the Wolverines fifth goal of the game. Assists on the goal went to Komisarek and Shouneyia.

With just under five minutes to play in the period another set of matching penalties were called leaving each team with four men each on the ice. With 1:26 left in those penalties Michigan was whistled for a second penalty to put the Buckeyes on the power play. With just under three minutes left to play in the period Ohio State iced the puck, bringing the face off back into the Buckeye zone. With the face off to the left of the OSU netminder Michigan won the draw, getting the puck back to Swistak. Scoring his first goal of the year, Swistak beat Betz to give Michigan thier sixth goal of the game. The lone assist on the goal went to Mink.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines fully in charge with a six to three lead. Michigan had also take the lead in shots on goal as they finished two periods of play with an eighteen to fifteen advantage.

At the end of the second period there were several scuffles on the ice and several players had to be separated. The only penalty called out of all that activity was a ten minute misconduct to an Ohio State player. As it turns out both teams started the final period of play with five men each on the ice.

Both teams would battle up and down the ice in this period, but niether team would find a way to score another goal. Blackburn would make some outstanding saves during this period, as he did during the second. When it was all said and done the Wolverines completed their weekend sweep with a six to three win. Michigan ended the game with a slim twenty three to twenty two advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines finished off their second consecutive home sweep and it could not have come at a better time. Riding the NCAA tournament bubble the Wolverines needed to put last weekends loss to Michigan State behind them and play a strong weekend of hockey and that's exactly what they did. With strong back to back showings by Blackburn, a hard checking, hard working defense, and an offense that seems to have found itself Michigan seems poised to make a run at the tournament.

Michigan has two games left with the nationally ranked Western Michigan Bronco's, a team that seems to make a habit of giving Michigan trouble. Friday night they play in Yost and Saturday night, the night when the CCHA conference title will probably be decided, Michigan travels to Western. They have plenty to play for and thats good because next weekends games will not be easy.

Finally, tonight was senior night and the four graduating seniors were honored after the game. Congratulations seniors and good luck in the future. You stayed for your full four years. As it says in at least one Michigan locker room, those who stay will be champions. You did and you are!