Wolverines Get Needed Road Sweep

Saturday, February 22, 2003
Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska

Michigan started tonights game in similar fashion as last night, bringing lots of pressure and keeping it up. While they were holding the puck in the Maverick zone it would be those same Mavericks getting the first power play of the game. With just over four minutes played Michigan was whistled for a penalty giving the Mavericks that early power play chance. Michigan would kill of their first penalty of the game without giving up any goals.

Michigan would get their first power play chance of the game with just over seven minutes played when the Mavericks were sent to the sin bin. With power play time still on the clock the Wolverines would be whistled for a penalty, ending their power play and setting the Mavericks for a power play of their own. With the ensuing Maverick power play almost finished they got the puck in deep, allowing them to get the puck past Montoya for the games first goal.

After giving up the early goal Michigan continued to apply the pressure. First, Mink would steal the puck, crash the net, and just miss scoring a goal. The Wolverines kept up the pressure leading to a face off deep in the Nebraska zone. Winning the face off Ryznar spun around, passing the puck to Moss. Moss wasted no time flipping the puck up top and into the goal to tie the game for Michigan. Ryznar got the lone assist on the goal.

Each team would be called for another penalty in the closing minutes of the period that led to the opponent having a power play. In each case the power plays were killed off without giving up a goal. Montoya came up with some big saves and Michigan really sent a flurry of shots at the Maverick goal in the final seconds of the period. The horn sounded with the score all tied up at one goal each. The teams were also even in shots on goal, each with ten.

The Mavericks were whistled for a penalty right at the twenty minute mark of the period setting Michigan up for a full two minutes of power play time to start the second period. While they got some good pressure and a couple of good chances the Wolverines were unable to take advantage of the man advantage at the start of this period.

While they didn't score on that opening power play, they did continue to apply a lot of pressure on the Maverick goal. Michigan continued to put pressure on the Maverick goal as the game clock moved under ten minutes. Montoya would have to come up with a big save with just under nine minutes to play, but he did come up with the save and the score remained tied at one goal each.

With just over thirteen minutes to play and the Wolverines continuing to work the puck around the Maverick zone a great pass would lead to Michigans second goal of the game. Digging the puck out of the corner Henderson would get it over to Woodford. Woodford would make a pass from behind the goal to Ebbett who was all alone out in front of the goal. With nobody there to pressure him it was an easy shot to break the tie and put the Wolverines up by one. Both Woodford and Henderson received assists on the goal.

Seconds later the Mavericks would be whistled for a penalty, the only one of the period, to put the Wolverines on the power play. The Wolverines were really putting the pressure on with the extra man and that pressure would finally pay off as Michigan would get the puck out front to Moss who would keep digging at the puck until he had it in the goal. Both Gajic and Richmond received assists on the goal.

With just under three minutes to play Michigan was whistled for a penalty to give Nebraska a late power play chance. The Wolverines looked like they might get a short handed goal in the early seconds of this power play as Helminen and Nystrom got loose in the Nebraska zone, but the attempt came up short. Michigan would kill off the penalty and the second period would come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of three to one. Michigan also took the lead in shots on goal finishing the second period with a twenty-three to sixteen advantage in this category.

Michigan started the final period with a two goal lead as they continued to put pressure on the Maverick goal. Even with the continued pressure they were unable to score another goal and Nebraska started to get some pressure of their own on the Wolverine goal. With thirteen minutes left to play in regulation time that Maverick pressure would pay off as they force Michigan into a turnover deep in their own zone. Gaining control of the puck at point blank range Nebraska got off a shot that Montoya blocked. However, he was unable to cover up the rebound and the Mavericks chipped it back into the goal to get within one.

With about ten and a half minutes to play Ellis came up with a huge save as Ryznar crashed the goal on a lone break. About one minute later Nebraska would have the puck in the Michigan zone and make a great play to keep the puck in the Wolverine zone. Keeping the puck in the Michigan zone the Mavericks get the puck deep and fling it toward and into the net for the tying score of the game. This was a strange goal as it appeared to have rolled down Montoyas back and into the goal. However it was scored it was on the board and the game was tied.

As the clock moved under the five minute mark it was starting to look like this game might go to overtime. That would soon change as the Wolverines continued to work hard, getting the puck to Nystrom who made a great move to get around a defender and into position to score the go ahead goal. Moving around the defender he just slid the puck under the pads of the Nebraska net minder for Michigan's fourth goal of the game. Assists went to Helminen and Richmond.

Desperation set in for the Mavericks as the clock began to wind down, but the Wolverines continued to keep them at bay. With just 1:02 left to play in regulation the Mavericks took their time out. With the face off deep in the Michigan zone the net minder stayed on the bench and the Mavericks had an extra attacker. The Mavericks would try mightily, but they would be unable to score the game tying goal. Just as time was about to run out Tambellini got free for the Wolverines and slid one final insurance goal into the empty net. Ortmeyer picked up an assist.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of five to three. Michigan ended the game with a thirty-one to twenty-six advantage in shots on goal.

It was a lot harder tonight than it was last night and the Wolverines should have expected that. It turned into a slow paced, clutch and grab game, especially in the second period as the Mavericks were trying everything to slow Michigan down. While they had to do it the hard way, they did get the job done and Michigan comes up with a huge weekend sweep. With Ohio States second straight loss Michigan has now solidified their position in second place and pulled within two points of conference leading Ferris. Next weekend will see the Wolverines take on the Spartans for their second weekend series in three weeks with their arch-rivals. This weekends sweep game coach Berenson his 499th career win. Next weekend he will be going for win number 500 against the Spartans in Yost Arena. That should prove interesting to say the least.