Wolverines Sweep Warriors

Saturday, October 19, 2002
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines were a touch slow out of the gate tonight allowing Merrimack to pick up the first shot on goal, but the Michigan steadily built up pressure on the Warrior goal as they got into full game mode. Even with the slightly slower start the Wolverines would again score before four minutes had ticked off the clock. Michigan had been working the Warrior zone hard digging and fighting for the puck when the Warriors tried to clear. The clearing pass didn't make it past Tambellini who sent a great pass to Helminen who made a little move on the goal tender and just flipped the puck into the net. Tambellini received the lone assist.

With roughly thirteen minutes to play in the period Merrimack would pick up their first penalty of the game to give Michigan their first of nine power play chances on the night. In this first power play the Wolverines were unsuccessful. Merrimack would be called for another penalty less than a minute after killing off their first, but again Michigan would be unable to take advantage of the extra man. During this Wolverine power play Michigan would get whistled for a penalty that ended their power play about twenty seconds in, setting up Merrimack for a short power play of their own. Merrimack was unable to do anything with their short man advantage.

With just under seven minutes to go the Wolverines would strike for the second time, this time from a face off to the left of the Merrimack goal (if you were the goalie looking out). In to take the draw, Moss got control of the puck and snapped a pass in front of the goal tender all the way over to the left of the Merrimack goal. Waiting in perfect position was Kaleniecki who wasted no time, scoring his first career goal. The lone assist went to Moss.

Merrimack would be whistled for another penalty as the clock moved under the five minute mark, but again the Wolverines couldn't take advantage of the extra man. The Warriors would get whistled for their fourth penalty of the period just as the clock moved under the two minute mark to give Michigan one last power play chance of the period. Michigan scored a goal, but unfortunately it came after the buzzer had sounded as they come up just shy of getting their third goal of the period. The first period came to an end with Michigan leading by a score of two to nothing. Michigan once again finished the third period with a big edge in shots on goal with a thirteen to three count.

There was a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct handed out to Merrimack at the twenty minute mark of the first period giving the Wolverines a seven second two man advantage to start the second period. While they didn't score with the short two man advantage the Wolverines would score on this power play to extend their lead. Michigan had been having trouble getting any kind of push into the Merrimack zone when Moss finally carried the puck deep into the Warrior zone. Moss was behind and to the right of the Merrimack goal when he zinged a pass out front and to the left of the goal where Kaleniecki was waiting. Kaleniecki was wide open and just kind of rolled the puck up and over the Warrior net minder for his second goal of the night. The assists on this power play goal went to Moss and Richmond.

With 17:48 to play, not long after the initial power play of the period ended, the Warriors were again whistled for an infraction putting Michigan right back on the power play. With time running out on this power play Michigan brought the puck into the Warrior zone, but they didn't seem to have it really under control; they just kind of ended up in the Merrimack zone. Sloppy or not the puck ended up right on the doorstep of the Warrior goal with Richmond right there to stuff the puck through the five hole and into the Warrior goal. The lone assist on this power play goal went to Werner.

Barely two and a half minutes later with the puck out by the blue line Ebbett would send a floating shot toward the Warrior zone. While it looked like an easy shot to stop it just kept floating, right over the shoulder of the Warrior net minder and into the goal for Michigan's third goal in the first seven minutes of the period. Werner again picked up the lone assist on this goal. Merrimack took a time out here to regroup and settle themselves down.

The penalty fest would continue in this period as Merrimack and Michigan would both be whistled for penalties. Even though there were few times when both teams were at full strength for the remainder of this period there was no further scoring. The second period ended with Michigan holding a five to nothing lead. Michigan again out shot the Warriors in this period by a significant amount and held a twenty-eight to eight edge in shots on goal through two periods.

The Warriors started the third period with 1:27 of power play time, but they were unable to score with the extra man. Matching penalties were called with just under seventeen minutes to play in the period, but neither team would score while they each skated with four men.

With just over thirteen minutes to play the bid for Michigans second shut out of the season ended. Just as he crossed the blue line Derek Kilduff let a shot go that looked to be surely stopped by Montoya. However, whether he lost sight of it or just misjudged it the puck sailed past Montoyas outstretched glove and into the goal to put the Warriors on the board.

With the possibility of a shut out gone Michigan brought in back up goalie Noah Ruden to get him some game time work and filled in admirably. While the Michigan defense held the Warrior attack at bay, Ruden had to come up big a couple of times to turn away a flurry of shots. Through each of these flurries Ruden stood tall and made some great saves.

Neither team would score again and the game would end with Michigan winning the night by a score of five to one. The Wolverines, while getting out shot in the third, ended the game with a thirty-six to twenty edge in shots on goal.

Michigan should feel better about tonight than last night. They played a solid sixty minutes of hockey; not great, but solid. They kept the pressure up through the entire game, kept the shots against their goalie to a minimum, and got some power play goals. The power play could still stand some improvement. They only converted on two of their nine chances, although they do seem to be getting close to breaking out while on the power play. The penalty kill is strong as they once again allowed Merrimack no goals on any of their six power lay chances. Michigan still must work to limit the number of penalties they are taking. Against a stronger foe all those power play chances will eventually end up hurting them.

Michigan gets their first home sweep of the year in the opening weekend of play. Last year they only had two home sweeps and those didn't come until February. Michigan should also have great confidence in Ruden, knowing that if Montoya can't go they have a solid net minder waiting to fill in. Next weekend Michigan opens CCHA play when they host the Nanooks of Alaska-Fairbanks. This is a big series for Michigan; not only is it in conference play, but it's against a team that is expected to challenge for the CCHA title this year. In addition, these are the only two games that these two teams will play against each other in the regular season. An expected conference contender to open CCHA play should get the Yost faithful worked into a frenzy.