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Wolverines Rally To Defeat Buckeyes
Friday, January 9, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
The Wolverines started fast and rallied late to overcome a spirited Buckeye
come back in the second period, ending the night with a very important win in
CCHA play. The win proved even more timely as the conference leading Miami
Redhawks dropped a game against the Northern Michigan Wildcats. With a win tomorrow
night the Wolverines can end up in a tie for first place after starting the
weekend in sixth place.
With just over seventeen minutes to play in the first period the Buckeyes were
whistled for their first penalty of the night giving Michigan the first power play
opportunity of the night. After failing to mount much pressure for the majority of
the power play Michigan suddenly got something going late. Passing the puck from
corner to corner Michigan got it down deep with just twenty-two seconds left in the
power play. As the puck was passing through the crease Nystrom was in perfect
position to direct it into the net for the games first score. Gajic and Hensick
picked up assists on the goal.
While the teams traded penalties for the remainder of the period there would be
no further scoring. The first period would come to an end with Michigan holding
the slim one to nothing lead. The Buckeyes held a slight edge in shots on goal,
finishing the first period with a ten to eight advantage.
Each team was assessed a penalty at the twenty minute mark of the first period
so the second period started with each team skating with four men each. Even with
the extra space on the ice neither team was able to apply much pressure and both
teams returned to full strength with no scoring.
While Michigan seemed to have lost the sense of urgency they played with in the
first period, the Buckeyes started to turn the flow of the game in their favor as
time slowly ticked away. With just over twelve minutes to play in the second
period Ohio State would get even, taking advantage of yet another defensive break
down by the Wolverines. The Buckeyes had trapped the puck in the Wolverine zone
for an extended period of time as Michigan failed to clear the puck time after
time. That inability to clear the puck would finally cost them as they turned the
puck over right in front of their net, giving the Buckeyes a point blank shot which
they didn't miss.
With some extra jump in their skates the Buckeyes would score their second goal of
the game and take the lead less than twenty seconds later. From the face off held
following their first goal the Buckeyes took control and immediately moved into the
Wolverine zone. Playing as if still stunned from the Buckeyes first goal, the
Buckeyes sliced through the Michigan defense as if it didn't exist and banged the
puck into the net for the second time, taking the lead with just under twelve minutes
to play in the second period.
The next seven or eight minutes would see a parade of players entering and exiting
the penalty box as both teams were whistled for a number of penalties. With just
under three minutes to play in the period the edge would go to the Wolverines as
they ended up with a short two man advantage. While Michigan essentially squandered
the two man advantage their power play continued for another minute. With the extra
man Michigan applied pressure to the Buckeye goal, pressure that would finally pay off
with just over two minutes to play in the period. Snapping a pass to Gajic, who
was off to the right of the goal, he got off a shot from an extreme angle that beat
the Buckeye net minder high to once again tie the game. Both Hunwick and Werner
received assists for the goal.
The second period would come to an end with the score all tied at two goals each.
The Wolverines ended the second period with a twenty-three to twenty-one advantage
in shots on goal.
Michigan would start the final period of regulation time with a bit more focus
and energy as they constantly carried the play to the Buckeyes. As the clock
moved under the fourteen minute mark that pressure would pay off with what proved
to be the game winning goal. Making an outstanding play to keep the puck in the
Buckeye zone Hunwick passed the puck down into the center of the ice. Out of the
ensuing scramble for control of the puck Ebbett would get the puck over to Ryznar
who would find the twine for Michigan's third goal of the game. Both Ebbett and
Hunwick received assists for the goal.
From that point forward the game turned into a defensive struggle as the Buckeyes
tried to get the game tied for the second time, while the Wolverines battled to protect
their lead. With 1:18 to play and a face off coming just outside the Michigan blue line
the Buckeyes called time out. While their goal tender returned to the ice for the
face off he was off the ice with about one minute left to play. Through this final
minute of play Michigan's defense did a fine job of disrupting the Buckeye attack
never allowing them to mount any kind of scoring threat.
The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of three to two.
At the end of the game both teams had tallied twenty-nine shots on goal.
For a while it looked as if the Wolverines were going to let this game slip away
as they seemingly lost their focus in the second period, especially the first half
of that period. After giving up those two Buckeye goals the Wolverines seemed to
once again engage themselves in the game. That refocus by the Wolverines came
just in time as they got the game tied before the end of the second period and
then won it in the third. They will need to continue that spirited play tomorrow
night when they play the second game of the weekend against these same Buckeyes.
If the Wolverines can complete the sweep of the Buckeyes they will end the weekend
in a much better position than they started it within the CCHA and nationally.
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