Wolverines Sweep Wildcats

Saturday, February 8, 2003
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines got this game underway by putting some intense pressure on the Wildcat goal right from the opening whistle. Michigan seemed to be able to pass at will in the Northern zone and constantly worked the puck, looking for a shot at the goal. While they had few shots on goal the Wolverines would get the first power play chance of the night when the Wildcats were whistled for a penalty with just over four minutes gone in the period. Michigan got a couple of looks at the goal, but could not score with the extra man and play continued.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats they were whistled for their second penalty of the night just seconds after the first one had expired. This time it took just eleven seconds for the Wolverines to score a power play goal. Following the face off Michigan quickly went to work. Richmond got the puck deep into the Wildcat zone where Ebbett got control of it and banged a shot at the goal. This shot was blocked, but the rebound went right to Rogers who chipped it into the goal. Rogers gets the first goal of the game, while both Ebbett and Richmond picked up assists.

With 11:44 to play Ryznar and Gajic broke through neutral ice with a two on one charge. Using Ryznar to draw the defense, Gajic carried the puck all the way to the net and punched the puck home giving Michigan a quick two to nothing lead. Moss and Swistak picked up assists on this goal and Northern called a time out to regroup.

Northern would continue being their own worst enemy as they were put Michigan back on the power play with just over ten minutes to play. With just under nine minutes the Wildcats would be whistled for penalty number four, giving Michigan a 53 second, two man advantage. Michigan cycled the puck around the Wildcat zone with authority and once again it would be Ebbett directing the power play from behind the net. This time Ebbett made a great pass out front to Moss who wasted no time flipping the puck into the net. Ebbett and Rogers would received assists on Moss's goal and Michigan had a three to nothing lead. Since this goal was scored just seconds after the first penalty was killed off this ended any remaining power play time.

With about three and half minutes to play in the period Northern would be whistled for their fourth penalty of the period, but this time they were able to kill it off without giving up a goal. Michigan would put the Wildcats on the power play late in the period when they were whistled for a penalty with just forty-two seconds left to play. The period would come to an end with Michigan holding the three to nothing lead. The Wolverines would end the period with a slight edge in shots on goal with an eight to six count.

The Wildcats started the second period with 1:18 of power play time, but were unable to take advantage of the extra man. Once they were back at full strength Michigan once again resumed their methodical attack of the Northern goal. With more great passing Shouneyia got the puck out front to Ortmeyer who buried it through the Northern goalies five hole. Shouneyia and Tambellini both received assists and Michigan's lead was now four.

Hoping to stop the goal parade the Wildcats replaced their goalie following the fourth Michigan goal. The Wildcats wouldn't help their new goalie much as they were once again on their way to the sin bin with just under fourteen minutes to play. It looked like Michigan scored their fifth goal of the game just as this power play was expiring, but it was waved off as the referee called a penalty just a fraction of a second before the goal was scored. Just when it looked like they had extended their lead the Wolverines suddenly found themselves killing a Northern power play.

With thirty-four seconds left in their power play Northern was whistled for a penalty to end their power play and set the Wolverines up for a power play of their own. All of these penalties would be killed off, but the Wildcats were once again whistled for a penalty with about five and half minutes left in the period. With thirty-four seconds left in this Wolverine power play the Wildcats were whistled for a second penalty giving Michigan a significant two man advantage. With just over three minutes to play in the period and 1:14 left in the current Michigan power play Northern picked up yet another penalty had a two man advantage for over one minute. This time the Wolverines would take advantage of the extra attacker and with just 2:35 left in the period Michigan picked up their third power play goal of the game. Gajic would score the goal, while Ebbett and Rogers each picked up an assist.

Because Michigan scored their fifth goal while skating with the two man advantage their power play continued. With just over one minute to play in the period and just six seconds left in the current Wolverine power play Northern picked up another penalty to keep the Michigan power play rolling. A number of players decided to have a wrestling match near the end of this period and each team sent a player to the penalty box. This left Michigan with a four on three power play for the remainder of this period. The second period would come to an end with Michigan holding a five to nothing lead. Michigan picked up a couple more shots on goal and ended two periods of play with a sixteen to twelve advantage in the category.

At the start of the third period the teams were skating four on four for the majority of the remaining power play. Northern got a short power play once their last penalty finally expired, but in the end neither team would net an early period goal.

With barely one and a half minutes played in the final period Northern was once again on the penalty kill. This time, however, would seen an outcome completely different than previous Michigan power plays. With just over seventeen minutes to play and twenty-four seconds left in the Michigan power play Northern would get control of the puck and advance into the Michigan zone. Helminen was shadowing the Wildcat player. When the Wildcat player got close to the Michigan goal he took a shot that Helminen at least partially blocked, but the puck jumped straight up in the air, went high over Montoyas shoulder, and dropped down just inside the net for the Wildcats first goal of the night.

There would be a number of penalties called in the final thirteen minutes of play, but there would be no more scoring. The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of five to one. The Wolverines ended the game with a twenty-seven to nineteen advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan played one of their best weekends of hockey in sweeping the Wildcats this weekend. Not only did they beat Northern for the first time in five games, but they got a sweep over the Wildcats, something previously unheard of. More importantly Michigan picked up four points in the CCHA race to keep pace with Ferris and Ohio State who continue to lead the conference. Next weekend Michigan will play a home and home series against their arch rival, Michigan State; the first two meetings between these two teams this year. Once again Michigan goes into a huge weekend series in a must win situation. Next weekend should be one of the most intense of the season so far and with a maize out planned and a visit to Yost by the infamous thunder sticks, the old barn should really be rocking.