Michigan Completes Sweep Of Miami

Saturday, December 8, 2001
Goggin Ice Arena, Oxford, Ohio

After winning a nail biter in overtime last night the Wolverines will look to complete their weekend sweep of the Redhawks tonight. By virtue of Alaska-Fairbanks win over Nebraska-Omaha the Wolverines have moved into sole possession of second place in the CCHA, still three points behind Michigan State (who came from behind to beat Northern Michigan last night). To solidify their position in the CCHA and set themselves up for a solid second half run the Wolverines need to come up with a win in tonight's contest. It will undoubtedly be just as close and just as tough a game to win as last night's was so they will have their work cut out for them. Hopefully a bit better play by the special teams and some better defense will see the Wolverines bring home win number two from this weekend.

As you might expect Miami came out in this game really flying around trying to get a little satisfaction after last nights heart breaking loss. Both teams would spend the opening minutes really skating hard up and down the ice. With around seven minutes gone in the period both teams have five shots on goal and no penalties have been called.

Michigan would get called for the first penalty of the game with just over eleven minutes left to play in the opening period. The initial power play of last nights game was where Miami got things started, hopefully that will not happen tonight. The Wolverines have a great penalty kill as they not only kill off the penalty, but they hold Miami to zero shots on goal during the power play chance.

Following the Miami power play Michigan started to get a bit more pressure on the Redhawk goal as they looked to get the games first goal. Even with the increased pressure Michigan was unable to get a score and Miami wasn't even getting shots on goal.

Late in the first period a pair of penalties were called leaving each team with four men each on the ice. With 1:43 left in the period and 1:47 left in the initial penalties, Miami was called for a second penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Working the puck around the Miami zone Michigan got the puck to Ortmeyer, who got off a shot. The shot was blocked, but it bounced out in front where a scramble ensued for control of the puck. Shouneyia finally gained control of the puck and punched a nice shot into the goal to give Michigan a one goal lead late in the first period. Assists on the goal went to Nystrom and Ortmeyer.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of one to nothing. The Wolverines would also have the edge in shots on goal with a fourteen to eight count. Komisarek was called for a penalty at the horn so Miami will start the second period on the power play.

Starting on the power play it wouldn't have surprised anyone to see the Redhawks just buzzing around the Michigan goal, but things took a strange twist in the opening seconds of this period. Nystrom ended up with the puck just inside the Michigan blue line and took off for the Miami zone. Since he got the puck even with or behind the Miami defense there was no one to challenge him and he sailed into the Redhawk zone all alone. Slashing toward the Miami goal Nystrom scores the unassisted, short-handed goal to extend Michigan's lead to two goals just twenty-seven seconds into the second period.

Following the Wolverines second goal Michigan got another break into the Miami zone, this time two on two, but they got off a decent shot. This time the shot was blocked, but things certainly weren't going the way Miami had hoped in the opening minute of this period. Michigan would kill off the penalty and hold Miami to zero shots on goal for the second straight power play.

A couple of minutes later it appeared that Miami had gotten within one when they got the puck into the Michigan goal, but it was immediately waved off by the referee. There was also a penalty called against a Miami player putting Michigan on the power play. The penalty called against Miami was goalie interference, which is why the goal was waved off. The Miami player must have had some words for the officials, because he was also called for a ten-minute misconduct. Needless to say the Miami coach was not pleased with this turn of events and it appeared he might actually go onto the ice. The Redhawks would kill off the penalty without giving up anymore goals, but they seem to be having a hard time putting this series of events behind them.

Michigan continues to put some pressure on the Miami goal as they smell a little blood and are looking to get some breathing room in this game. Michigan called for a penalty with just over twelve minutes to go in the period, but the Wolverines kill the penalty off. The Wolverine pressure continues and with around seven minutes left in the period Michigan got off a flurry of shots. They were all turned away, but you get a real sense that Michigan is on the verge of taking this game over. Apparently the Miami coach had the same feeling, since he called the Redhawks only time out of the game with 6:98 left to play in the second period.

With about five minutes left in the period Miami got what was perhaps their best break away of the game when they got into the Michigan zone all alone. Miami got off a shot, but Blackburn came up with a great save to keep the Redhawks off the board. The real damage was the penalty called against Vancik, putting the Redhawks on the power play. Michigan killed the penalty off and the period came to an end with Michigan hanging onto their two to nothing lead. Michigan opened up quite a gap in shots on goal as they ended the period with a twenty-eight to fourteen count.

The third period started with both teams once again flying up and down the ice, with a little bit of banging along the boards tossed in for good measure. Just 1:43 into the period matching penalties are called leaving the teams with four men each on the ice. Moss got off a point blank shot for Michigan, after taking a great pass from Helminen, but his shot is turned away. Following this shot the Michigan defense falls asleep a lets Miami's Deskin loose all alone and he sails into the Michigan zone, scoring an unassisted goal to cut Michigan's lead to one goal.

About two minutes after giving up their first goal Michigan scored their third of the game, but this goal, like Miami's first goal was waved off by the referee. This was waved off with the referee indicating it had been kicked into the goal. After conferring with one of the assistant referee's the goal was allowed and Michigan was back to a two goal lead. The goal was scored by Nystrom with an assist going to Cammalleri.

Less than a minute later there was a mad scramble in front of the Miami net with Michigan peppering the net minder with shot after shot. Finally, out of the chaos Cammalleri comes up with the puck and puts it into the Miami goal to score Michigan's fourth goal of the game, with just over twelve minutes left to play in the game.

With 11:43 left to play Michigan is called for a penalty to put Miami back on the power play, but before play can get back underway the frustration of the Redhawks shows through as one of their players gets called for a ten-minute misconduct. Since it is a misconduct penalty and not a minor penalty Miami retained their power play. Michigan kills off the penalty and both teams resume play at full strength.

Play has continued with penalties being called against both teams and both teams skating hard up and down the ice. With 4:05 left to play Michigan is called for another penalty to put Miami back on the power play trailing Michigan by three goals. With 2:19 left to play, after winning a face off outside their zone, Miami scores a power play goal to cut the Michigan lead to two goals.

Things certainly heated up in the final two minutes of play. Miami pulled their goalie with 1:31 to play giving them an extra attacker. With the man advantage the Redhawks attacked the Michigan goal with a vengeance. They just missed an open net as they got a shot off from a sharp angle. Then they get a point blank shot that Blackburn stops cold and still Miami keeps the puck in the Michigan zone, not giving the Wolverines a seconds rest. Play is stopped, but the face off comes in the Michigan zone. Off the face off Michigan finally breaks the puck out of their zone and Burnes gets a shot off at the empty net, but he just misses. The puck ends up behind the Miami net where the Redhawks secure it and head back toward the Michigan zone. However, Cammalleri, working hard, steals the puck, spins, shoots, and scores the empty net goal to secure the win for the Wolverines. The game comes to an end with Michigan winning by a score of five to two. The Wolverines ended the game with the edge in shots on goal with a thirty-nine to twenty-seven count.

Michigan completed their weekend sweep of the Miami Redhawks to solidify their hold on second place in the CCHA (while there is still a lot of hockey to play Alaska-Fairbanks was leading Nebraska-Omaha). These two wins were very important for Michigan as they were the final CCHA games prior to the Christmas break. At worst Michigan is all alone in second place, only three points behind conference leading Michigan State with a game in hand against the Spartans. The Wolverines have one final game prior to the Christmas break, that coming next Saturday at Yost against Harvard. A win there will complete what has been a solid month of hockey by the Wolverines after an opening month that saw Michigan struggle greatly.