Wolverines Complete Third Straight Sweep

Saturday, January 31, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines completed their third straight CCHA sweep of January, knocking off the Lakers by a four to nothing score. As they have since the start of the second half Michigan once again finished the weekend stronger than they had started the weekend, as they blistered the Laker net minder with twenty-one shots in the first period alone.

As the clock moved under the seventeen minute mark of the first period both teams sent a player to the penalty box, leaving each team with four men on the ice. Michigan worked the puck around the ice, breaking out of their zone and heading for the Laker zone. As Martens crossed the blue line Ebbett hit him with a perfect pass. As Martens neared the top of the left face off circle he fired a slap shot that beat the Laker net minder over his shoulder for Michigans first goal of the night. Ebbett and Rogers picked up assists on the goal.

The Lakers would get one power play chance about midway through the period, but would be unable to score. The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of one to nothing. The Wolverines finished one period of play with a twenty-one to three advantage in shots on goal.

At almost the same point in the second period both teams would once again send a man to the penalty box, leaving each team with four men. With forty-one seconds left in those matching penalties the Lakers were whistled for another penalty putting Michigan on the power play. From the face off following the Laker penalty Michigan took control of the puck and raced into the Laker zone. Michigan got the puck down low to Gajic who was off to the right of the Laker net. Using some nifty stick handling moves Gajic got open and fired a shot that deflected off a Laker in front of the goal and into the net. Hensick and Ebbett each picked up assists on this power play goal.

With just over eleven minutes to play the Lakers would once again put Michigan on the power play and once again the Wolverines would make them pay. Michigan moved the puck very well around the Laker zone, finally getting it to Hensick. As Hensick circled through the zone in front of the net, he moved behind the net and back out the other side. As he came back out from behind the net he sent the puck through the slot where Kaleniecki redirected it through the five hole for Michigan's third goal of the game. Both Hensick and Rogers picked up assists on Michigans second power play goal of the period.

Michigan would kill off a Laker power play in the final five minutes of the period. As two periods of play ended Michigan led by a score of three to nothing. Michigan out shot the Lakers fifteen to five in this period, ending two periods of play with a thirty-six to eight advantage in the category.

The Lakers would send in a new goalie to start the third period and both teams seemed to settle down into a defensive posture as the pace of the game seemed to slow just a bit as the Lakers became more successful in clogging the passing lanes. Both teams would take and kill off penalties in the periods first ten minutes, but neither team was able to score.

With just over ten minutes left to play Michigan would score their fourth and final goal of the game when Michigan got another goal off a deflection in front. Standing on top of the goal line in the right corner Rohlfs centered the puck, sending it into a group of players in front of the net. As the puck got into traffic it deflected off a Laker defender, past the goalie, and into the net. The goal was scored as unassisted.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of four to nothing, their second shut out in three games. The Wolverines ended the game with a hefty forty-nine to thirteen shot advantage.

The first month of the seasons second half couldn't have gone any better for the Wolverines. They have stepped up their level of play, putting an end to most of the defensive break downs that cost them several games in the first half. They have taken each weekend, with each weekend presenting a different type of challenge, and found answers for them all. Next weekend a new challenge as they move into the month of February with a long road trip to Alaska-Fairbanks. The Nanooks have been very tough to beat at home this year and are currently tied for third in the CCHA. They can make a move up next weekend if they can beat Michigan, however, Michigan can once again do away with another contender if they can come up with another sweep. A solid road trip by the Wolverines would set the stage for the show down with Miami in the second week of February at Yost.