Wolverines Win Close Game Against US-NDTP

Saturday, January 17, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

In their lone game of the weekend the Wolverines won a close exhibition game against the US National team based out of Ann Arbor. The younger players gave the older, more experienced Wolverines all they could handle through two periods of play before Michigan pulled ahead in the third.

Team USA would put Michigan on the power play with less than two minutes played in the game, an opportunity that Michigan took full advantage of. The Wolverines passed the puck around the US zone with authority, making several great passes through the zone that eventually got the puck to Moss off to the side of the goal. As he received the puck he let loose a one timer that beat the US goalie clean to give Michigan the early lead with a power play goal. Nystrom and Tambellini both picked up assists on the goal.

While the Wolverines got on the board early it didn't phase the young US Team as they came back to tie the game barely three minutes later. Michigan had tried to clear the puck out of their zone, but the clearing pass was intercepted by a US defenseman. As he got control of the puck he fired a hard shot that beat Ruden over the shoulder tying the game.

The Wolverines would come back barely two minutes later to retake the lead as Tambellini added a score for the Wolverines. Rogers got the puck to Tambellini at the left circle. As he received the puck Tambellini got off a wrist shot that made its way through traffic, through the five hole, and into the net. Rogers got the lone assist on the goal.

The teams would trade penalties in the final ten minutes of the period, but neither team would be able to score another goal. The first period came to an end with Michigan leading by a score of two to one. While they trailed on the score board Team USA led in shots on goal, ending the first period of play with eleven to Michigans four.

Both teams would trade penalties in the second period with little affect on the game. While both teams moved the puck up and down the ice neither team was able to score a goal and the second period ended with the score still two to one in Michigans favor. The Wolverines turned the tables in shots on goal out shooting the US team twelve to four in the period. That left Michigan with a sixteen to fifteen advantage in the category after two periods of play.

Team USA started the third period on the power play as the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty at the twenty minute mark. That power play didn't last long as the US team sent a man to the box just twenty-six seconds into the period. However, while skating four on four the US team would tie the score with the clock just shy of eighteen minutes to play. The initial Team USA shot was blocked, but the rebound was not covered. A member of Team USA was right there in front of the net to slap the rebound over Ruden's shoulder and into the net.

With just over fifteen minutes to play in the period the Wolverines would retake the lead for good off a great shot by Nystrom. As the Wolverines entered the Team USA zone Nystrom got loose and headed for the back post. Werner saw Nystrom and got a pass over to him as he closed on the goal. Nystrom got control of the puck and wristed a shot past the US net minder for Michigans third of the game. The lone assist went to Werner.

Less than two minutes later Brown would give Michigan a two goal cushion as some great passing got the puck to Brown for a quick score. Moss carried the puck in the US zone, dropping the puck back to a trailing Ryznar as he pushed the US defense deeper into the zone. Ryznar gathered up the puck toward the right circle. As he passed through the circle he sent a pass through goal mouth to Brown who as on the back side post waiting for the puck. As the puck slid past the goal Brown redirected it into the net. Both Ryznar and Moss received assists on the goal. Team USA took a time out at this point to settle themselves down.

While the teams traded penalties over the course of the next eight minutes or so neither team was able to score another goal. That would all change with just over five minutes left to play when Team USA would score a power play goal to get back within one. The puck popped out of a tangle of players near the left face off circle and ended up on the stick of a wide open US player. As he received the puck he let loose a wrist shot that beat Ruden top shelf.

Michigan would seal the victory when Tambellini put the puck in an empty net with just sixteen seconds left to play in the game. The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of five to three. Michigan would end the game with a thirty-two to twenty-five advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines survived a talented US team with a third period burst of goals, but they certainly had to work for the win. As was somewhat expected the Wolverines weren't as energized at the beginning of the game. After last weekends impressive sweep over the Buckeyes the Wolverines had to find it a bit difficult to get mentally ready to play the US Development Team. While they are talented, they are still a couple of years from being able to take on a team with Michigan's talent. That being said they made Michigan sweat just a bit as they never game up and pushed Michigan hard for most of the game. Next week Michigan returns to CCHA play with a key home and home series against the Western Michigan Bronco's.