Wolverines Take First Game Against Bulldogs

Friday, January 31, 2003
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Bulldogs hit the ice barking and taking a big bite out of the Wolverines in the opening minutes of this contest between two of the three teams currently chasing the CCHA conference title. The Bulldogs really charged out of the gate, leaving the Wolverines scrambling to keep up. That energy would pay dividends for the Dogs as they got a quick goal barely one and half minutes into the game. The Bulldogs won a face off that was to Montoyas left. They quickly got the puck out to the high slot where a fast and hard one timer beat Montoya over the blocker shoulder.

It would take the Bulldogs less than two more minutes to notch their second goal of the game and it looked like it might be a long weekend for the Wolverines. Their second goal was set up by simply working hard in the Wolverine zone. The puck was bouncing around in front of the net and the Bulldogs just kept coming after it, while the Wolverines seemed incapable of clearing the puck or the Bulldogs from that dangerous position. After making a couple of stops the Bulldogs were finally able to goal number two past Montoya, while at the same time dropping Montoya to the ice. After a visit from the trainer and a stoppage of play for several minutes Montoya remained in the game.

After giving up the two quick goals the Wolverines seemed to settle down and started to assert themselves on the ice. As they increased the pressure on the Ferris goal they got the puck to Burnes who was all alone in the slot. As soon as he got the puck Burnes let fly a shot that beat the Ferris net minder over his left shoulder. With just over twelve minutes to play Michigan had their first goal of the game with the assists going to Gajic and Ryznar.

With just over eleven minutes to play Michigan would be whistled for too many men on the ice giving Ferris the first power play chance of the night. While they looked for that third goal they were unable to take advantage of the man advantage, maintaining their one goal lead.

With about eight and half minutes to play in the first period a face off in the Ferris zone would lead to Michigans second goal of the night. Michigan won the face off that was to the Ferris goalies right. Getting the puck on his stick Tambellini just snaked his way through the crowd, got in close, and blasted the puck into the net to tie the game. Assists on this goal would go to Mink and Richmond.

With just over five minutes to play in the period a turnover by Michigan in neutral ice would lead to a clean break for the Bulldogs. Charging into the Michigan zone uncontested the Bulldog beat Montoya low, for their third goal of the night and their second lead of the night.

Ferris would be whistled for two consecutive penalties, but the Wolverines would come up empty with the man advantage. With just under thirty seconds left to play in the period Michigan would be whistled for a penalty to give Ferris a late power play chance, but they would also be unable to take advantage of the extra man. The first period would come to an end with Ferris leading by a score of three to two. Michigan held a slight edge in shots on goal with a twelve to eleven count.

Ferris would start the second period with 1:32 of power play time, but they would be unable to score. With the Ferris power play over Michigan really began to attack as they started the second much better than they started the first. With 14:39 to play the Wolverines would once again tie the game with some great passing and an easy shot. Gajic carried the puck into the Ferris zone along boards on the press box side of the Arena. Gaining the Ferris zone he spun back around and passed the puck over to Moss who passed it to Rodgers, who in turn passed it back to Gajic who was all alone to the Ferris goalies right. With the goalie looking left towards Rodgers, Gajic had an easy shot into a wide open net. Both Rodgers and Moss received assists on the goal.

Over the next several minutes the teams would trade penalties, with neither one able to score the tie breaker. However, that would all change with just over seven minutes to play in the period. Digging the puck out of the corner in the Ferris zone the puck once again went to the high slot, this time to Richmond. Wasting little time to setup Richmond slammed the puck into the top corner of the goal and Michigan had their first lead of the night. Assists on this goal went to Ebbett and Helminen.

As the clock moved under the six minute mark the Wolverines would strike for their third goal of the period to take a two goal lead. This time everyone was, Wolverine and Bulldog alike, were chasing after the puck that was just kind of bouncing its way around the Ferris zone. First one player would get to it, then get it poked away. Finally, getting the right bounce Gajic just chipped the puck into the net for Michigan's fifth goal of the night. Assists went to Moss and Martens.

Barely twenty seconds later the Bulldogs would be the beneficiary of a very similar goal. This time the puck was just kind of bouncing around the Michigan zone and Ferris just chipped it into the net to get back within one. Michigan had several chances to get this bouncing puck cleared out of the way, but no one seemed able to get to it.

The teams would once again trade penalties and both teams would continue to be ineffective on the power play. This time it would be Michigan getting the later power play chance in the period as Ferris was whistled for a penalty with just sixteen seconds left to play in the second. Once again Montoya was down on the ice and once again he scraped himself off the ice and remained in the game. The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of five to four. The Wolverines really out shot the Bulldogs in the second, ending two periods of play with a twenty- nine to sixteen advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan would start the third period with 1:44 of power play time, but they would be unable to find that sixth goal. With just over sixteen minutes to play it would be Michigan getting whistled for the penalty to give Ferris another power play chance. They would also prove ineffective on the power play and the score remained five to four.

With about twelve and half minutes to play great effort by Ortmeyer would lead to Michigan's sixth and final goal of the game. Once again the face off was to Montoyas left and once again Ferris won the draw. Unlike the first period, however, this time Ferris mishandled the puck and it rolled out of the Michigan zone. Just before a Ferris player could get to the puck Ortmeyer came flying out of the Michigan zone and dove for the puck, getting just enough of his stick on it to push it up the ice to a streaking Tambellini. Finding himself all alone as he charged into the Bulldog zone Tambellini buried the puck in the net, putting Michigan back on top by two goals. The lone assist went to Ortmeyer.

Things would get quite chippy as time began to run out on the Bulldogs and both teams saw several players make trips to the sin bin over he course of the final seven minutes. Neither team would be able to take advantage of the extra man and as the final minute of play approached Ferris was still down by two. Finally getting the chance to pull their goalie with 1:10 left to play the Bulldogs looked for one of those two goals. A center ice face off brought their goalie back on with forty-five seconds to play, but with thirty-three seconds left he was back on the bench. In the end Ferris could not come up with another goal and the game ended with Michigan winning by a score of six to four. The Wolverines ended the night with a thirty-seven to twenty-two advantage in shots on goal.

It was, as expected, a tough win for the Wolverines tonight, but it was a win they simply had to have. Tomorrow nights game will be on the Bulldogs home ice and the Wolverines certainly didn't want to go to Big Rapids trying to salvage the weekend. After getting off to a somewhat slow start Michigan played the last fifty minutes of hockey in fine form. They disrupted the Bulldogs, took advantage of most of their scoring opportunities, and eventually ended up with the win. Tonights win gives the Wolverines a slight advantage in the conference race and a win tomorrow night would leave them in good position for the final month of games. However, don't expect the Bulldogs to hand the game to Michigan. They have not been swept all year and will certainly be looking to salvage something out of the weekend when play moves to their ice. It should be a barn burner in Big Rapids on Saturday night.