Lakers Swept By Wolverines

Saturday, November 16, 2002
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The action was fast and furious from the opening face off in tonights contest between the Wolverines and the Lakers. While neither team was caught sleeping, neither team was caught unawares. Michigan would get whistled for the first penalty of the game with just over fifteen minutes to play. The Wolverines would kill that penalty off and play would continue.

Just after that Michigan penalty was killed the Lakers would collect their first trip to the sin bin with just under thirteen minutes to play giving Michigan their first power play of the night. That power play would last long, however, as Michigan picked up another penalty barely fifteen seconds into their initial power play. Both teams would kill off their penalties while the Lakers would kill off a second penalty collected with just over eight minutes to play in the period.

The tone of this scoreless contest would change with just over six minutes left to play when Gajic would strike for the Wolverines. Getting the puck in low and close Gajic would get a shot off that was blocked. Picking up his own rebound Gajic would punch the puck back into the net for the Wolverines first goal of the night. Assists went to Ryznar and Roemensky.

Barely a minute later it looked like the Wolverines were moving to the power play, but the penalty was a ten minute misconduct and both teams skated with five each. Michigan would give the Lakers another power play in the final five minutes and the Lakers would put Michigan on the power play with less than one minute to play, but neither team would be able to score a goal. The first period ended with Michigan leading by a score of one to nothing. The Wolverines held a slight edge in shots on goal with a nine to six count.

Michigan started the second period with 1:07 of power play time, but they were unable to take advantage of the extra man. The play would continue up and down the ice with neither team able to break the stalemate. It looked like Gajic was on his way to picking up his second goal of the night when he got free on a clean break, but the Laker goalie turned his scoring chance away.

Michigan would put the Lakers on the power play with just under eleven minutes to play but they would escape without giving up a goal. The Lakers would put the Wolverines back on the power play with just under seven minutes to play in the period. Adding to their misery the Lakers would collect a second penalty with fourteen seconds left in their first giving the Wolverines a short two man advantage, but more importantly extending their overall power play time by two minutes. Finally, with just under four minutes to play in the second period Michigan would tally a power play goal to extend their lead to two goals. This goal was set up by relentless back and forth passing in the Laker zone that eventually had the Lakers chasing the puck back and forth across their zone. Finally getting the pass they wanted Ebbett got off a shot from in close that beat the Laker net minder for the Wolverines second. Assists went to Richmond and Werner.

The third period came to an end with Michigan leading by a score of two to nothing. The Wolverines continued to hold a slim margin in shots on goal with a nineteen to sixteen count. There was a tussle in front of the Michigan bench at the end of the period that would lead to some penalties.

Each team picked up a penalty at the end of the second period and they would spend the first two minutes of the third skating with four men each. Neither team would give up a break and they each killed off the penalties. Michigan would find themselves on the power play with just under fifteen minutes to play when the Lakers were called for closing the hand on the puck (basically a Laker picked up the puck and threw it the length of the arena - much like Komisarek did in last years West Regional). The Wolverines would not be able to take advantage of the man advantage.

The Lakers would get another shot on the power play with just over eleven minutes to play, but would be unable to take advantage. With just under eight minutes to play in the game the Lakers would get perhaps their best chance to notch a goal or two on the Wolverines. With Woodford collecting a five minute major and a game misconduct the Lakers found themselves on the power play for an extended length of time. With less than half the five minute power lay left the Lakers would pull their goalie to get a two man advantage. Through all of this the Wolverine penalty kill was up to the task and turned away every Laker shot.

The five minute major came to and end with about two and half minutes left to play and the Lakers continued to play without a goalie in net. With just under two minutes the game would be put away when Michigan gained control of the puck at center ice. Gaining control of the puck, Werner wasted little time in finding an opening in the Laker defense and sending the puck into the open net for the Wolverines third goal of the game. The goal was unassisted.

The game came to an end with Michigan getting the win by a three to nothing score. Michigan continued to hold a slim lead in shots on goal with a twenty-seven to twenty-one count.

All in all this was a much better game for the Wolverines. They didn't score as many goals as they did on Friday night and perhaps should have scored one or two more, but they fought hard the entire sixty minutes. The Lakers, while clearly over matched, didn't give anything to Michigan as they also skated very hard for the entire sixty minutes. The sweep for the Wolverines was good for them as they gained the advantage in the CCHA race with Ferris losing their first conference game this weekend.

The next three weeks will give everyone a much better idea where the Wolverines are in this hockey season. Next week they host Notre Dame for a two game series, the final home series of the seasons first half. Thanksgiving weekend the Wolverines take to the road in the annual College Hockey Showcase where they will play against Wisconsin and Minnesota. Finally, on the first weekend of December the Wolverines take a road trip to Marquette where they will take on Northern Michigan in a key CCHA weekend series. The competition takes a definite step up for Michigan, starting next weekend. While they should be up to the task, only time will tell if they can overcome their remaining injuries and their overall youth to prevail.