Wolverines Lock Up First Place

Saturday, March 2, 2002
Lawson Ice Arena, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Looking to lock up first place with a sweep over the Western Michigan Broncos, Michigan travelled to Kalamazoo for their final regular season game of the year. Going to a building where they haven't faired well of late, against an opponent who they had beaten the night before, and it being senior night at Western you had to figure it was going to be an intense game.

While both teams came out of the gate skating hard it was the Bronco's who seemed to carry the play in the opening minutes of the game. They were working for the puck a bit harder and just seemed to be getting to the puck a bit faster than the Wolverines. Michigan would pick up the first penalty of the game with just over seventeen minutes left in the period to give Western an early power play opportunity. Michigan would kill this penalty off and the action would continue up and down the ice for several more minutes.

With about ten and half minutes in the period Western was called for thier first penalty of the night and Michigan would waste little time taking advantage of their first power play of the night. Just ten seconds into the power play Murray took a pass from Moss and put the puck in the net. Two assists were given on the goal, the first to Moss and the second to Henderson.

The Wolverine lead would be short lived, however, as Western got a goal of their own just twenty five seconds later. Michigan mishandled the puck right in front of Blackburn leaving him little chance to react to the shot and the Bronco's were on the board.

Both teams would receive penalties over the next several minutes, but all of those would eventually be killed with no goals scored. With one and a half minutes left in the period Western beat the Michigan defense to get in close to Blackburn once again. While the initial shot appeared to be blocked, the puck was not covered and drifted to the right side of the goal. A passing Bronco was able to reach out just enough to back hand the puck into the goal to give Western a two to one lead.

Michigan would close out the periods action picking up their fourth penalty of the period with just 25.9 seconds left in the period. Western was unable to do anything with this late power play, but they would get a longer chance to start the second period. The first period came to an end with Western leading by a score of two to one. The Wolverines had the slight edge in shots on goal with a nine to eight count.

The Bronco's started the second period with 1:35 of power play time, but Michigan killed off the Bronco power play. As the second period started it seemed evident that the Wolverines were skating with just a little extra spring in their legs than they had showed in the first period. Just four and half minutes into the period Vancik threw the puck toward the Bronco net, where Nystrom was in position to deflect the puck past the Bronco netminder. Assists went to Vancik and Shouneyia and Michigan once again had the game tied.

The remainder of the period would see each team called for a number of penalties all of which were eventually killed. However, the Wolverines would once again get called for a penalty late in the period (this time with 1:04 remaining) to allow the Bronco's to start the third period on the power play. The Wolverines had a slightly larger edge in shots on goal, ending the second with a sixteen to twelve advantage.

To start the third period the Wolverines had to kill of fifty six seconds of Bronco power play time and did that in fine form. For the second straight period the Wolverines would get a goal barely four and half minutes into the period. This time a fantastic centering pass by Mink would lead to a Shouneyia goal (the goal that proved to be the game winner).

With just under fourteen minutes left to play Western was whistled for a penalty as they dragged Helminen to the ice to stop a strong scoring threat. With twenty six seconds left in this power play the Bronco's were whistled for their second penalty to give Michigan a two man advantage. Wasting little time with the additional man on the power play, the Wolverines worked the puck smartly around the Bronco zone, setting Cammalleri up for his first goal since returning to the line up. Just a nice pass out front and Cammalleri had the puck in the net. Assists went to Shouneyia and Ortmeyer.

Still trailing by two goals with just over two minutes remaining in regulation time the Bronco's pulled their goalie to get an extra attacker. With 1:42 left to play the Wolverines would seal the win when Vancik sent the puck down the ice and into the empty net, unassisted.

Less than twenty seconds after scoring the empty net goal the Bronco's would be called for a penalty to put Michigan back on the power play. Just six seconds into the power play Michigan would score their final goal of the game as Henderson took a pass from Cammalleri and banged the puck home. A second assist on the goal was given to Woodford. The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of six to two. The Wolverines would end the game with a twenty six to fifteen advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines went into this game with their fate resting firmly in their hands and for the first time this year they won. Playing the same aggressive style of hockey that has seen them win weekend series against Nebraska, Ohio State, and now Western Michigan the Wolverines seemed to have finally hit their stride.

Starting the year with ten freshmen, struggling through October to the teams worst start in a decade, and losing their leading scorer (at the time) for ten games this team fought and scrapped, until in the end, they were all alone at the top of the conference standings. Barely a month ago the Wolverines seemed all but out of the CCHA race and were a bubble team for the NCAA tournament. Over the course of that month they took over first place in the conference and have strengthened their standing for the NCAA tournament. Now the Wolverines are a couple of solid weekends of hockey away from a potential top seed in the NCAA tournament and a possible first round bye in that same tournament. If Michigan could secure a first round bye in the Regionals it would truly be amazing given the number of things they have fought through this year. With the West Regionals being held at Yost this year the Wolverines could now find themselves just one win away from a trip to this years frozen four. There were a lot of "coulds" in last couple of sentences because there is still a lot of hockey to play and some good teams to play it against. The Wolverines will be one of twelve looking to make it to the frozen four, but they do seem to be a team that has things falling into place for them at the moment.

Michigan starts the next step in the season next weekend as they host Lake Superior in the first round of the CCHA playoffs. This will be a best of three series with the games being played on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday if needed. The regular season is over and done - all that's left is tournament play.