Irish Earn Weekend Split

Saturday, November 23, 2002
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

After a somewhat lack luster night Friday the crowd at Yost anticipated seeing a different Michigan team on the ice. It looked like that might be the case as the Wolverines seemed to putting some pressure on the Irish goal in the early minutes of this game. Notre Dame would get whistled for the first penalty of the game before the first minute of time had ticked off the clock. The Irish would have this penalty almost killed off when they would be whistled for their second penalty keeping Michigan on the power play (they had just one second of the two man advantage). Even with the extended power play and a couple of decent shots the Wolverines were unable to score.

With just over fourteen minutes to play in the period Michigan would collect their first penalty of the game, giving the Irish their first power play of the game. With just forty-five seconds gone in the power play it would be the Wolverines, not the Irish, who would score the games first goal. Helminen intercepted a pass at the blue line, drives into the zone uncontested, and goes top shelf for the short handed goal.

The remainder of the period saw both teams trading penalties and power plays. There would be some fire works toward the end of the period as each team missed some great scoring chances. The first period came to an end with Michigan holding the one to nothing lead. However, the Wolverines trailed in shots on goal with a nine to eleven count.

Notre Dame started the second period with 1:29 of power play time, but they would be unable to take advantage of the extra attacker. They would, however, get the game tied with just over sixteen minutes left to play in the period. The puck was in front of the Michigan net, being battled for by both teams. Finally, out of that mass of players the Irish were able to get the puck past Montoya to tie the game.

The teams would trade penalties back and forth over the next ten or twelve minutes, but neither team would be able to take advantage. When it looked like the period might end in a one to one tie the Wolverines finally put things together to notch a power play goal. The Irish had been called for a penalty with just under four minutes left to play in the period, putting Michigan back on the power play. Some crisp passing, from right to left, between Gajic and Nystrom, leads to a Michigan power play goal just eleven seconds into the Irish penalty. The goal went to Nystrom, with Gajic and Shouneyia getting assists.

That would be the last score in the second period which ended with Michigan holding the two to one lead. Even though they managed only five shots on goal through that entire period, Michigan managed to get one in the net for a score. Through two periods the Irish held a significant edge in shots on goal with a twenty-four to fourteen count.

Michigan continued to struggle in this game as the Irish continued to press the attack in the final period of the game. Michigan would get hit with their first penalty of the period with just over seventeen minutes to play. Michigan would get this penalty killed off, but would be about to put the Irish back on the power play as a delay penalty was about to be called. Before the penalty could be called the Irish got Montoya turned around and picked up their second goal of the game to tie the contest.

A string of penalties would be called through the next six or seven minutes, but neither team would be able to take advantage. With just under six minutes to play the Irish would take the lead in the game, just after a power play had come to an end. The Irish charged into the Wolverine zone, drawing Montoya to his right. Rodgers hesitated just a bit, allowing the Irish player to snap off a shot. This shot was blocked, but Montoya didn't cover the rebound. The same player who took the first shot, got his own rebound and this time got it past Montoya.

Not quite a minute later Michigan would once again tie the game with some great work to keep the puck in the Notre Dame zone, allowing Michigan to really apply some pressure. Finally Gajic would find the back of the net with Helminen and Werner each getting an assist on the goal.

Unfortunately the Wolverines went to sleep one final time in this game on the face off following the Wolverine goal. Winning the face off Notre Dame just walked the puck into the Wolverine zone and beat Montoya clean to retake the lead.

Michigan would pull their goalie with 1:17 left to play in an attempt to once again force a tie, but Michigan's luck had run out. The game would come to an end with Notre Dame winning by a score of four to three. The Irish ended the game with a slight edge in shots on goal with a twenty-seven to thirty-one count.

After playing a poor game on Friday, yet still coming away with the win, many fans expected to see a more inspired Michigan team in tonights contest. They might have thought that, but this was not the case. The Wolverines played a decent first period, but just as they did Friday night the played worse in the second, and worse yet in the third. They spent much to much time in the penalty box, got beat to the puck on numerous occasions, and were simply out worked on their home ice.

Perhaps the schedule for the Wolverines has been a bit to easy up to this point. This loss may, in the end, be just what this team needed to once again remind them that if they don't play their best every night, they will get beat. The competition will continue to get better as Michigan takes on two WCHA opponents next week, including defending national champion Minnesota. Then they have one final weekend of CCHA play when they travel to Northern for a weekend series. Everyone will have a much better idea what type of team this Michigan team is after those next four games have been played.