Wolverines Best Bulldogs

Friday, November 30, 2001
Ewigleben Ice Arena, Big Rapids, Michigan

The Wolverines return to CCHA play this weekend with a home and home series against the Bulldogs of Ferris State. Michigan split last weekend in the College Hockey Showcase, losing to number one Minnesota and beating Wisconsin. Michigan goes into the weekend ranked number thirteen in the country, while they sit tied for fifth in the CCHA.

For his efforts last week Michigan's Mike Komisarek was awarded defensive player of the week honors by the CCHA. Komisarek scored three goals on the weekend, including the game winner against Wisconsin.

With return to conference play Michigan once again finds themselves having to win games as the end of the first half rapidly approaches. After getting off to a slow start the Wolverines have gone unbeaten in their last four conference games (3-0-1). In fact they have only lost one game in their last six (4-1-1). Even though they seem to be getting back on track they still have problems to correct. Foremost among them are their defensive problems, but they have also have some major issues on special teams. Their penalty kill is not terrible (currently around 85%), but their power play continues to struggle (currently about 14%). Obviously the lack of power play goals is hurting their overall goals per game average (which is also low by Michigan standards).

Ferris is a team that always plays Michigan extremely well. At the start of the year it looked like the Bulldogs might have a bit of a down year after loosing both of their goal tenders (one early). However, two freshmen have stepped in and are playing very well keeping Ferris in the thick of the CCHA race. In that same race Michigan is attempting to separate themselves from the middle of the pack (hopefully in a positive way). With their recent wins, coupled with some timely losses by teams ahead of them in the standings, the Wolverines have stayed within striking distance of the conference leaders. With that said they need to win these final games of the first half to stay within striking distance. These next four games are the first steps in setting up a second half run at the CCHA championship.

The first period was largely a back and forth battle with both teams racking up plenty of shots on goal, but with very little to show for it. The only score of the period was scored by Ferris on a break away setup by a Michigan defender falling to the ice. Ferris was trying to clear the puck out of their zone, while defender Fraser was doing all he could to keep it in when he fell to the ice. With Fraser on the ice Ferris got a sudden two on one break away that led to the periods only goal. Michigan was whistled for the periods only penalty (quite a rarity when Michigan and Ferris play), but successfully killed it off. The first period ended with Ferris leading by a score of one to nothing. The shots on goal count was all even after one with each team having fourteen.

Things got off to a quick start in the second period with Michigan's John Shouneyia leading the way. With Michigan on their first power play of the game Shouneyia was in position to punch in a rebound off a shot by Ortmeyer. Both Ortmeyer and Cammalleri received assists on the goal and the game was all tied up.

It would take just under five minutes, but Michigan would take the lead when Helminen connected on a backhand shot. Ortmeyer would again be a catalyst for the goal as he sent a pass over to Helminen, who split a pair of defenders and put the puck in the net to give Michigan their first lead of the game. Assists on this goal went to Ortmeyer and Vancik.

Ferris would tie the game once again just twenty-five seconds later when again off a clearing play, this one by Michigan. As Woodford attempted to clear the puck out of the Wolverine zone the puck took a strange hop off the boards and ended up right on the stick of the Bulldog's Nesbitt. Nesbitt let a wrist shot fly that beat Blackburn and re-tied the game.

The tie would last for just 1:18 when another score was generated off another failed clearing attempt. Ferris attempted to clear the puck out of their zone, but Nystrom ended that attempt and fed the puck over to Cammalleri waiting at the left point. From there Cammalleri fired a shot that beat the Ferris net minder top shelf to once again put the Wolverines in the lead. The lone assist on the goal went to Nystrom.

Michigan ended the period with three penalties and Ferris with one, which led to Michigan's first goal of the game. The second period would come to an end with Michigan holding the three to two lead. Michigan also held the edge in shots on goal with a twenty-nine to twenty-two count.

The third period would prove just as wild, but would remain relatively penalty free. Michigan would get called for a penalty with just over two minutes gone in the period when they were whistled for having two many men on the ice. The Wolverines would kill that penalty off and the battle would continue up and down the ice for the next ten minutes. Things really started to heat up as the clock moved past the twelve minute mark.

With just over twelve minutes to go in the game it was once again the Bulldog's Nesbitt who would cause the Wolverines grief. This time Michigan left him all alone in front of the net where he got a easy chance, poking the puck past Blackburn and into the net. Just forty-nine seconds later Ferris' York would send a shot along the Wolverine goal line that would deflect in off Blackburn to give the Bulldogs a four to three lead.

Things would stay that way for just a little more than four minutes when Michigan would get their chance at winning the day. Getting the puck at the right point Komisarek let a shot go that beat the Ferris net minder to once again tie the game. The assists on this goal went to Shouneyia and Mink.

Less than one minute later Cammalleri would come up with the game winner when he took a shot from the top of the slot that beat the Ferris net minder to his glove side. The lone assist on this goal went to Werner. Ferris mounted a furious comeback attempt, pulling their goalie with 1:11 left, but they were unable to notch another goal and the game came to an end with Michigan getting the win by a score of five to four. Michigan finished the game with a slight edge in shots on goal with a thirty-seven to thirty-five count.

The Wolverines accomplished the first half of their weekend's goals by winning on the road against the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have one of the conferences most potent offenses and Michigan wasn't able to shut them down, but they were able to score more goals. While they continue to have some defensive struggles at least two of the Ferris goals came off quirky plays so things weren't quite as bad as four goals might lead you to believe. Michigan's power play converted on fifty percent of their chances in the game tonight (1 for 2), while the penalty kill shut down all four Ferris power play attempts. With those kinds of numbers the Wolverine special teams were a benefit to the team in this game. Michigan has to do it all again tomorrow, this time in Ann Arbor at Yost Arena.