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Michigan Dominates Western To Gain Sweep
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
It's been over four years since the Bronco's won a game at Yost Arena and they
didn't do anything to change that statistic tonight as Michigan and Western finished
a weekend home and home series in Ann Arbor tonight. Using a stifling defense and
an attacking offense the Wolverines struck early and often and then kept scoring
right through the game to finish a weekend sweep with a seven to nothing shut out.
Michigan got out of the gate fast in this game taking the attack to the Broncos
right from the opening face off. While the Wolverines attacked early it would take
almost half the opening period before they would finally get the puck in the net.
With just over ten minutes to play Gajic got the puck deep in the Bronco zone
where he lost control near the crease. Hensick was right there to pick up the puck
and skate around the goal and back out the other side. As he moved out toward the
blue line he made a beautiful pass back and across the ice to Kaleniecki who was
positioned by the back side post. Kaleniecki wasted little time punching the puck
into the net for the games first score. Both Hensick and Gajic received assists
on the goal.
With just over six minutes to play in the period Michigan would score again as
Brown stripped a Bronco of the puck near the Western blue line. As he took control
of the puck he turned and charged into the Bronco zone, rushing the net. As he
neared the net he managed to get the puck up over the Bronco goalie for Michigans
second goal of the game. The goal was recorded as unassisted.
Barely two minutes later Hensick would score Michigan's third goal of the game
with an outstanding exhibition of speed and skill. Burnes got the puck to Hensick
just outside the Michigan blue line and he took off through neutral ice. As he crossed
over into the Western zone he a turned a defenseman around with some great stick handling.
He then deked the goalie and slid the puck into the corner of the net. It was a great
individual effort by Hensick to score the goal, while both Burnes and Gajic got
assists for the goal.
The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of three
to nothing. The Wolverines outshot the Broncos thirteen to two in the period.
The second period would start much the same way that the first one ended. With
just over two minutes played Hensick carried the puck into the Western zone, driving
hard for the net. As the Bronco defense started to collapse around him he dropped
a pass back to Kaleniecki who was trailing him on his left. As soon as the puck
hit Kaleniecki's stick he blasted the puck up high and over the outstretched glove
of the Bronco goalie to give Michigan a four to nothing lead. Hensick and Gajic
both received assists on the goal.
For the next eight or nine minutes play continued without a score, but the Wolverines
were clearly dominating the play. Both teams traded some penalties as the frustration of
the Bronco's started to show up in their play. With roughly eight and half minutes
left in the period Michigan would score their fifth goal while on the penalty kill.
Michigan was just looking to clear the puck out of the Western zone, but Brown got
behind everyone and was in perfect position to receive a pass in neutral ice. Michigan
got a quick outlet pass up to Brown who then streaked into the Bronco zone and sent a
blistering shot up over the Bronco net minders shoulder as he reached the right face
off circle. Brown got the goal and Ebbett got the assist.
Just as the clock moved under the three minute mark Michigan would notch their
sixth goal of the night, this time with Ebbett getting the goal rather than an assist.
Michigan came into the Western zone making some crisp passes that got the Western
defenders a little off balance. Michigan finally got the puck to Ebbett, who slashed
toward the goal, made a great move to go around a defender, skated right through the
slot in front of the net, finally back handing the puck through the five hole for the
goal. Moss and Ryznar picked up assists on this goal.
The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of six to
nothing. They also continued to dominate in shots on goal ending two periods of play
with a twenty-four to nine advantage in the category.
Western would put a new goalie in net to start the third period and the Broncos
came out skating hard, trying to get something positive out of a night where they
had been totally dominated by the home standing Wolverines. Both teams kept up a
steady parade of players to the penalty box, but neither team was able to score with
the extra attacker. Western kept Michigan scrambling in this period as they peppered
Montoya with shots from every direction, but he was on top of his game making some
unbelievable saves to hold onto his shut out.
That would all change as the clock moved under the two minute mark as the Wolverines
would strike for their final goal of the night, this time on the power play. Once again
it would be Gajic and Hensick making the play. Gajic got the puck to Hensick down in
the right corner. Hensick skated behind the net, coming out on the left side, and wrapping
a shot around and into the net for Michigans seventh of the game. Gajic and Kaleniecki
both got assists on the goal.
With just over one minute to play chaos erupted on the ice as the Bronco's frustration
reached the boiling point. At a stop of play fights broke out between the two teams as
all five players on the ice paired up and mostly wrestled around. However, two groups
of players went to far and four players were given game disqualifications for fighting.
Western will lose two players for their next game as will Michigan as both Woodford and
Brown will have to sit out next Fridays game against Lake State.
No further scoring would take place and the game would end with Michigan shutting out
the Broncos seven to nothing. The Broncos outshot the Wolverines twenty-one to eleven
in the third period to get the game totals close, but Michigan ended the game with a
slight thirty-five to thirty advantage in the category.
Michigan continues to play solid hockey in the second half as they garner their
second straight CCHA sweep, once again inching closer to that top spot. In a very
similar fashion to their weekend series against Ohio State the Wolverines were strong
on Friday night, but stronger on Saturday night. If they can continue to play at
this level there aren't many teams that will be able to withstand the Wolverine
attack. Next week Michigan gets a new kind of test. After playing a couple of
contenders for the conference title, making it that much easier to focus on the
weekends games, Michigan will next take on Lake Superior, a team not contending for
the title. These are games where Michigan could take the opponent to lightly and
end up losing. While the Lakers aren't contending for the title they are a much
improved team and are capable of pulling out a victory if Michigan doesn't come to
play. That will be the Wolverines test next week, to see if they maintain their
current level of play or if they play down to their opponent.
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