Friday, November 16, 2001

Friday, November 16, 2001, Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska

After a rare weekend off last week the Wolverines return to action this week against the Mavericks from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Michigan finds itself tied for fifth place in the CCHA with Ohio State and Western Michigan, while the Mavericks sit all alone in fourth place. The Mavericks also have the advantage over Michigan in the national polls where the Wolverines find themselves clinging to a number twelve ranking, while the Mavericks are ranked number seven in the country.

Needless to say with the first half of the season rapidly drawing to a close the Wolverines find themselves in a situation where they really must win these games just to keep pace with the leaders in the CCHA. If they let these games get away they could fall a full ten points behind the league leading Wildcats from Northern Michigan. Given the fact that Northern recently swept Michigan at home, the Wolverines simply cannot afford to let Northern Michigan get any farther ahead than they already are. It is true that Michigan has games in hand against the Wildcats, but the point differential is becoming very large - to large for the CCHA.

This game started out relatively defensive in nature, the complete opposite of how it would end. While both teams battled in a defensive struggle in the early going it would be the Mavericks who would take the early lead. Just past the midpoint of the period Michigan turned the puck over in their own zone. Blackburn stopped the initial shot, but he did not cover the rebound. The puck lay in the slot, with no Wolverine clearing it out, until a Maverick finally chipped it into the net.

Michigan would see several scoring chances come and go in the last half of the first period, but all of those chances were missed. The first period would come to an end with Nebraska holding a one to nothing lead. Michigan held the edge in shots on goal with an eight to six count.

Michigan would see some scoring chances in the early going of the second period, including a short-handed break away by Cammalleri. However, all Wolverines attempts were turned aside by the Maverick netminder. As the clock neared the midpoint the Wolverines would finally get on the board when Ryznar put a backhanded shot into the Maverick net. The initial shot by Moss was blocked, but rebounded to Ryznar who didn't waste the opportunity. Assists on the goal went to Moss and Komisarek.

Less than two minutes later it would be Cammalleri on a two on one breakaway who would put the Wolverines ahead in this game. Rushing up the ice Cammalleri let a shot go from the right circle that beat the Maverick netminder to give Michigan the lead. This unassisted goal would be the final score of the second period as Michigan went into the second intermission with a two to one lead. The Wolverines also extended their edge in shots on goal with a twenty-three to ten count.

Things would get really wild in the third period as the Wolverines looked to close the game and come away with the win, but the Mavericks were having none of that. The Mavericks tied the game up barely three minutes into the third period with a little help from the Wolverines. Blackburn had turned away a couple good scoring chances by the Mavericks in the early going of the third period and it looked like Michigan might escape still in the lead. However, while trying to clear the puck Ortmeyer mishandled it and actually knocked it into the Michigan goal, scoring the tying goal for the Mavericks.

The game would remain tied for the next ten minutes when it would again be the Mavericks who would find the twine. With just under fourteen minutes gone in the period Nebraska's Smith would get the puck past Blackburn to put the Mavericks on top. Just over a minute later it would be Nebraska's Brisson who would give the Mavericks a two-goal lead with less than five minutes left in the game.

Even though they were down by two, the Wolverines did not give up. Michigan, on the power play, pulled Blackburn to get a two-man advantage. With Komisarek in front of the goal at least partially screening the Maverick goaltender, Cammalleri put a shot in top shelf to draw within one. Assists went to Shouneyia and Ortmeyer.

Keeping Blackburn on the bench to once again gain the man advantage the Wolverines continued to battle. With the opportunity to put the game out of reach the Mavericks took off toward the Michigan net, but lost the puck to Michigan. Nystrom gained control of the puck, slid a pass across the ice to Ortmeyer, who slammed the puck into the Maverick net to tie the game with just thirty-seven seconds left in the regulation. Regulation time would end with the score all tied up a four goals each. Michigan again increased their lead in shots on goal ending regulation time with a forty-four to twenty edge in shots on goal.

A five-minute overtime period would be played, but neither team would be able to score. Each team would be called for one penalty, but the game would end in a four to four tie. The final shots on goal count was forty-seven to twenty-one in favor of the Wolverines.

The Wolverines went into one of the toughest venues in the CCHA and came away with one point. Not a bad night, but it certainly could have been better. Going into the third period with the lead it was disconcerting to see the Wolverines give up three straight goals to put themselves into a very difficult situation. On the other hand they never gave up on themselves, battled hard, and came away with the tie. If they can come back with a win on Saturday they can get three of four possible points. This will allow them to keep pace with the leaders in the CCHA and would be about as good a weekend as anyone gets when playing in Omaha.