Wolverines Advance to Joe Louis

Sunday, March 10, 2002
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michigan begins this third game against Lake State trying to extend their season and secure their position in the CCHA semi-finals next weekend at Joe Louis. After the unexpected loss on Friday night Michigan has been scrambling to recover and avoid the first round loss. Michigan won what turned out to be a close game last night to even the series and they need tonights win to claim the series.

Michigan started this game, much like they started last night, bringing the pressure to the Laker goalie. However, unlike last night they were unable to get the early goal to get things started. After the initial few shots the game settled into a defensive battle, with niether team accumulating many shots.

Michigan would be whistled for a penalty just over four minutes into the game, but they would successfully kill that off. As the midpoint of the period was approaching the shots on goal stood at two to one in favor of Michigan. Michigan would kill off a second penalty with eight and a half minutes left in the period. With five and a half minutes left in the period it looked like Michigan was going to get a power play of their own, but they actually sent one man from each team into the penalty box.

That power play would finally come with just under three minutes left in the period. With half the power play over Michigan got a pass up the ice to Ortmeyer for what would have been a clean breakaway. A Laker player in the area dragged Ortmeyer to the ice and was called for a penalty. This gave Michigan a two man advantage for fifty three seconds. With just forty seconds left in the period Cammalleri got the puck, circled around and tucked the puck into the net. Assists on this goal went to Komisarek and Shouneyia.

While the goal came while there was still time on the first penalty, Michigan's power play ended seconds later when Ortmeyer got whistled for a penalty. The first period would come to an end with Michigan holding the one to nothing lead. The Wolverines held a slight edge in shots on goal with a seven to four count.

Lake State would start the second period on the power play, but it would be Michigan who would get the best scoring chance while on the penalty kill. With a face off in the Laker zone, Helminen won the draw, stepped around his defender, and got off a point blank shot that just missed.

With just over fifteen minutes to play in the period Michigan would add to their lead when Nystrom led the charge into the Laker zone. Getting clear with the puck Nystrom charged into the zone, while Cammalleri skated hard to catch up. Catching up to the play Nystrom got the puck over to Cammalleri who put the puck in the net for the second time in the game. Assists on this goal went to Nystrom and Ortmeyer.

At the periods midpoint it would be Helminen who would lead a charge into the Laker zone and the Wolverines got the puck right on the Laker net. With the puck laying in the crease, near the goal line, a Laker defender covered it with his hand. This led to a delay of game penalty against the Lakers, which resulted in a penalty shot for Michigan. Taking the penalty shot was Helminen who came in hard and beat the Laker goalie, but his shot bounced off the cross bar.

Michigan would kill off another penalty in the final ten minutes of the second period, but niether team would score another goal. The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of two to nothing. The Wolverines would continue to lead in shots on goal with an eighteen to ten advantage.

Michigan starts the period out by finding their way to the penalty box with just 1:15 ticked off the clock. While trying to kill off the penalty Michigan didn't keep an eye on the back door play and the Lakers get the puck around to the open player who puts it into the Michigan net. The power play goal came with exactly two minutes gone in the period.

After missing on a couple or chances Michigan finally got another goal past Violin, this time with just over eleven minutes left in the period. Working the puck down into the Laker zone Michigan got a shot off that was deflected into the goal by Nystrom. The assists on this goal went to Cammalleri and Ortmeyer. There was a little scuffle way behind the play involving Komisarek and McNamara from Lake State, but no penalties were called.

Things continued to get chippy as Michigan was whistled for another penalty about a minute after thier third goal to give the Lakers their sixth power play of the game. Michigan was able to kill this penalty off, but they would get whistled for another penalty with just under seven minutes to play in the game. Just as this second power play was getting started Helminen stole the puck in the Laker zone and just missed scoring a short handed goal as Violin was just able to dive over to make the stop.

With just under four minutes left to go in the game Lake State pulls their goalie to get the extra attacker. Michigan has been kept on for a long line shift, but they have turned away all of the Laker advances. They have gotten a couple of looks at the empty net, but Lakers have kept it protected. Shouneyia just gets a shot at the empty net, but it hits a post. Finally, Michigan gets it back again in the Laker zone and this time Shouneyia doesn't miss as he gets the empty net goal to seal the win for the Wolverines. With just over one minute to play Michigan leads by three.

The game comes to an end with Michigan winning by a score of four to one.

Michigan survives the Lakers after winning another close, hard fought game. The team responded well after taking that loss on Friday night. This gives them the chance to play their way into the NCAA tournament by advancing them to the semi-final round of the CCHA tournament. Michigan will get a bye on Friday night, so their next game will be next Saturday night against an opponent that has yet to be determined.