Wolverines Defeat Nanooks

Friday, October 25, 2002
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michigan looked to come out flying at the start of tonights contest, just as they usually do, however, Alaska had some other ideas. Starting the contest playing a somewhat physical game Alaska kept Michigan a little off stride for the first few minutes of the game. However, the Wolverines would continue to work the ice and continue to push toward the net, as they slowly but surely began to dominate the first period of play.

As the clock was about to move under fifteen minutes to play in the period the Nanooks were hit with the games first penalty to put Michigan on the power play for the first time in the game. Michigan got a couple of decent shots off during this power play, but they were unable to put it all together for a score. That would all change just seconds after the power play ended. Michigan kept working the puck around the Nanook zone as time ran out and before the extra Nanook player could really get into position Moss got off a shot. That shot was blocked, but the puck bounced loose right in front of the net and immediately drew a crowd of Nanooks and Wolverines. Finding himself in the right place at the right time Kaleniecki dug the puck out and punched it into the Nanook goal to give Michigan the early lead with just under thirteen minutes to play. The assists on this goal went to Moss and Ortmeyer.

While the Wolverines continued to apply the pressure over the next five or six minutes it would be Nanooks who would next score. After replacing their goalie, who injured his ankle while scrambling for the puck in front of his net, the Nanooks brought the puck into the Wolverine zone with about seven and half minutes left to play in the period. Working their way through the Michigan defense the Nanooks drew Montoya over to his right, then got the puck around to his left and into the net behind him. That score tied the game at one goal each.

While Michigan would see several great chances to score in the final seven minutes of the period they were unable to find the net. With barely twelve seconds left to play Alaska would get whistled for their second penalty of the period, putting Michigan on the power play for the second time of the game. Even with the extra man the Wolverines were unable to score and the first period came to an end with the score all tied up at one goal each. The Wolverines did have a decided edge in shots on goal with a fifteen to eight count.

Michigan would start the period with 1:48 of power play time, but they never really came close to scoring. That was about the last good thing you can say for Michigans game over the first fifteen minutes of this second stanza.

Playing with little control and not paying attention to the little things that make the Wolverines the team they are they continually gave up the puck in bad places, at bad times. They were also very impatient with the puck, taking many ill advised shots from way out on the perimeter. Alaska would finally make them pay for it with just over fourteen minutes to play in the period when the Michigan defense hung Montoya out to dry. Michigan left a Nanook all alone, right in front of the net, and his teammates didn't miss the chance. Getting the puck out front to their lone player he put the puck in the net, going high over Montoyas glove to give the Nanooks a one goal lead.

The Nanooks would continue to apply pressure to the Michigan goal, but Montoya would come up with some great saves to keep his team in the game during this stretch of sloppy Wolverine play. Michigan finally started to settle down in the final five or six minutes of play and would come up with an unlikely goal to tie the game. Michigan had the puck in the Nanook zone and had just passed the puck out near the blue line to Martens. Seeing a seam through the players Martens let loose a shot that wasn't real hard, but it just kind of floated into the Nanook goal, about shoulder high to the goalie, between the goalie and the post. Suddenly, with his first collegiate goal, Martens had tied the game and given Michigan new life.

While they would carry the play in the final five minutes of play the Wolverines were unable to come up with another goal and the second period would come to an end with the score all tied up at two goals each. The Nanooks kept pace with Michigan in shots on goal for the period, but the Wolverines still had a sizable edge with a thirty to twenty-one count.

Michigan would start the third period, looking like an entirely different team as they flew up and down the ice and applied pressure to the Nanook goal, early and often. It would take just a little over five minutes, but all that pressure finally paid off when Montoya and Helminen made a heads up play and put Michigan back in front. Catching the Nanooks in a line change Montoya got the puck up the ice to Helminen. Helminen picked up the puck and put it in high gear to carry the puck into the Nanook zone. Coming down the right side of the ice, Helminen cut left in front of the goal, and shot the puck high and back to the right to score what would prove to be the winning goal. The lone assist went to Montoya.

With about twelve and half minutes left to play the Nanooks were whistled for a penalty as they about tackled Gajic to stop a possible break away. On the ensuing power play the Wolverines would score their second goal of the period. As the power play was moving into its final thirty seconds the Wolverines were working the puck around the Nanook zone with authority. Some great passing by Woodford and Moss finally drew the Alaska players into positions where they wanted them and the puck was passed back in front of the goal to a waiting Kaleniecki. Looking at a wide open net Kaleniecki just directed the puck into the net and Michigan had a two goal lead. Assists on this power play goal went to Moss and Woodford.

Michigan would score the final goal of the game less than two minutes later and once again it would be Helminen right in the middle of it. Helminen carried the puck down the right side of the ice, deep into the Nanook zone. Just as Helminen was being dragged down he got a pass off through the slot to a trailing Tambellini. After missing a couple of great chances earlier in the game Tambellini didn't waste this chance as he buried the puck in the net for Michigan's fifth goal of the game. Helminen picked up the lone assist on this goal.

Alaska would take a time out to settle themselves down, but the damage had been done. Michigan would continue to apply some pressure, but they couldn't find another score. It looked like things might get interesting with about five minutes left to play when the Nanooks found themselves on the power play with a two man advantage. Michigan had been whistled for a penalty with just under fourteen minutes gone in the period. Barely a minute later Michigan would get whistled for a second penalty, giving the Nanooks a two man advantage for fifty-one seconds. With the crowd cheering them on and with some very spirited play of their own, the Wolverines killed off both penalties without giving up a goal. The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of five to two. The Wolverines would end the game with a significant advantage in shots on goal with a forty-seven to twenty-nine count.

As they have done the last two years Michigan beat the Nanooks on Friday night of their weekend series. The real test will come tomorrow night when these two teams have their rematch. In each of the last two years Alaska has been able to come back and take the Saturday night contest after taking a loss on Friday night. Michigan will be looking for their second sweep in as many weeks. More importantly they will be looking for those all important CCHA points so they can keep pace with some of the other early leaders in the conference. Tomorrow night should prove to be another great game between these two teams, a game both teams will want to win badly for completely different reasons.