Wolverines Ground Falcons

Friday, February 20, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

With Miami off this weekend the Wolverines welcome the Bowling Green Falcons to Yost Arena with a chance to put some real distance between themselves and the second place Redhawks in the CCHA standings. Michigan got off to a fast start and never looked back as they easily handled the visiting Falcons to take the first of this weekends two game home stand by a seven to three score. This weekends games are also the final two home games of the regular season, with Saturday night being senior night.

With just over three minutes gone in the opening period the Wolverines made their first trip to the penalty box, something they would do often in this game. While the Falcons had the extra man they were unable to score a goal.

Shortly after killing off the Falcon power play Michigan would find themselves on the power play as the Falcons made their first trip to the sin bin. Michigan worked the puck around the zone effectively, looking for the opening that would lead to a score. While it wasn't the perfect opening, Tambellini finally ended his goal drought when he got a shot off from a flat angle that just made into the corner of the net. Standing almost on the goal line to the left of the goal he fired the shot that ended the goal drought and put Michigan on the board with just over thirteen minutes to play. Werner and Hunwick each picked up an assist on the goal.

Two minutes later, with just over eleven minutes to play Bowling Green would once again go the penalty box and Michigan would once again capitalize while on the power play. Breaking out of their zone with puck Michigan got the puck up to Hensick at center ice. From there Hensick carried the puck right down the middle of the ice, cutting to his right as he neared the goal. With the goalie following along he shot back to his left, putting the puck into the net for Michigan's second power play goal of the period. Kaleniecki and Ebbett each received an assist on the goal.

Both teams would take a couple more penalties in the period, but there would be no further scoring. The first period came to an end with Michigan leading by a two to nothing score. The Wolverines also held a sizable eighteen to seven advantage in shots on goal.

The Falcons would get within one early in the second period off a strange play deep in the Michigan zone. A delay penalty to Michigan was going to be called as soon as they got possession of the puck. The puck was bouncing around the Michigan zone and many of the players started to slow down expecting the penalty call to be made. With Montoya clearly relaxing in goal the Falcons suddenly got control of the puck, firing a shot from the top of the face off circles that easily beat Montoya, cutting the Michigan lead to one with just over a minute played in the second period.

The score would remain two to one for most of the first ten minutes of the period, but that would all change with just over ten minutes to play. Hensick and Kaleniecki broke free, charging into the Falcon zone on a two on one break. Hensick carried the puck deep into the zone showing incredible patience, waiting for the Falcon goalie to commit to him. As the goalie finally made his choice and moved to defend against Hensick he made a great pass across the crease to Kaleniecki who made the easy shot to put Michigan back up by two. Kaleniecki got credit for the goal while Hensick received the lone assist.

Less than a minute later, with just under ten minutes to play, Michigan would strike again to open a three goal lead. Michigan once again had the puck in the Falcon zone, but they didn't have great control of it. As the puck bounced around in front of the net, between the face off circles, it ended up bouncing to Rohlfs. As he got the puck he took a nice back hand shot to slip the puck past the goalie and into the net for goal number four. Rohlfs got the goal, with Werner and Dest each picking up an assist.

Just as the clock moved under the five minute mark Michigan would add their third goal of the second period, fifth of the game. This time it would be Helminen who would receive the puck just outside the Falcon blue line. With the puck on his stick he charged into the zone, skating right down the slot. With a single defender in front of him partially screening the goalie he sent a wrist shot over the net minders shoulder that hit the under side of the cross bar and ricocheted into the net. Both Rohlfs and Rogers picked up assists on the goal.

With just over two minutes left to play the Falcons would score their second goal of the game, just after Michigan had killed off a Falcon power play. With the puck down deep in the Michigan zone they got off a shot that Montoya stopped. Although he stopped the shot he didn't handle the rebound very well and the resulting second shot by the Falcons beat him for the score.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a five to two score. The Wolverines continued to lead in shots on goal, ending two periods of play with a thirty to seventeen advantage in the category.

Michigan would quickly extend their lead exactly one minute into the third period when Kaleniecki broke loose all alone into the Falcon zone. Michigan won a face off in their own zone getting control of the puck near the top of the face off circles. As he was falling down Gajic got just enough of his stick on the puck to nudge it up the ice to Kaleniecki who raced into the Falcon zone. Making a little deke move Kaleniecki carried the puck right to the goal and fired it home for Michigan's sixth goal of the game. Both Gajic and Kaleniecki picked up assists on the goal.

Barely thirty seconds later one of the strangest series of events I've ever seen would lead to a Falcon goal and a ten minute misconduct penalty that sent Montoya to the penalty box. A group of players crashed into the Michigan net, knocking Montoya down with the players landing on top of him. With two Wolverines and one Falcon laying on top of him he had no chance of guarding the goal and most fans thought there would be a stoppage of play. Instead the officials allowed play to continue, Bowling Green got the puck out front, and made the easy shot into the undefended goal for their third score of the game. Montoya, not at all happy with the officials said something as the referee skated past and was immediately whistled for the misconduct. Because it was a misconduct penalty Montoya had to serve it and he headed for the penalty box. Ruden would finish the game, making a number of outstanding saves as the period wound down.

With just over sixteen minutes to play the Falcons were whistled for a penalty that put Michigan on the power play. With the clock just under fifteen minutes to play the Falcons picked up their second penalty giving Michigan a two man advantage for forty seconds. While they didn't score with the two man advantage the Wolverines would score a power play goal with just over thirteen minutes to play to score their seventh goal of the game. Michigan hadn't had much success setting this power play up, but they suddenly were in close to the Falcon goal with power play time running low. Michigan got off a point blank shot that was blocked, but the Falcon net minder didn't cover the rebound. Another Wolverine would get off another point blank shot that was again blocked, but again the rebound was not covered. Finally Gajic gathered up the puck and blasted it into the net to score Michigan's seventh goal. Both Kaleniecki and Hensick picked up assists on the goal.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of seven to three. The Wolverines ended the game with a forty-three to twenty-nine advantage in shots on goal.

This contest turned into a penalty filled battle that saw a total of thirty-one penalties for a total of ninety-four minutes called between the two teams. Somehow through all those distractions the Wolverines found time to score seven goals and take one step closer to a perfect CCHA home record. Tomorrow night will be Senior night and will most likely be another chippy affair as these two teams seem to have a serious dislike for each other. Michigan clinched home ice for the first round of the CCHA playoffs with tonights win and if they can complete the sweep tomorrow night they will extend their lead on second place Miami to five points.