Wolverines Salvage Tie

Friday, March 5, 2004
Munn Arena, East Lansing, Michigan

After controlling the first two periods of play, entering the third period with a one goal lead, the Wolverines were beaten at every turn in the third period by the Spartans who took the lead and finally had to settle for a tie when Michigan got a short handed goal with just over one minute left to play in regulation time. The tie eliminated the Spartans from contention in the CCHA race and left Michigan just one slim point ahead of Miami who beat Ohio State in overtime.

There would be no goals and no penalties in this game as both teams came out playing a physical brand of hockey throughout the first nine minutes of this game. Suddenly both teams would take some penalties creating a power play for each team, but neither team would be able to score. The Wolverines would be whistled for a penalty with just two seconds left in the period, but the first period would end with the score tied at zero. The Wolverines would hold a slim nine to six advantage in shots on goal.

The Spartans started the second period of play with 1:58 of power play time, but the Wolverines were able to hold them at bay, killing off the Spartan power play to keep the score tied at zero.

That would all change as the clock moved one tick below the fifteen minute mark. Tambellini would get the puck as he passed the face off circle to the left of the Spartan goalie. He would carry the puck around behind the net, coming back out front from the right. As he got back in front of the goal he banged a back hand shot past Vicari to score the games first goal. Helminen received the lone assist on the goal.

The teams would trade some penalties through the middle of the period with neither team able to get another puck past the goalies. That would all change with just over three minutes left to play. The Spartans would get things started when Booth carried the puck over the blue line, put on a burst of speed that got him past the defense, and then lifted the puck over Montoyas shoulder on the short over his glove.

About two minutes later, with just over one minute to play, Michigan would retake the lead when they got the puck to Helminen as he hit the Spartan blue line. He then put on a burst of speed that put him in position to split the defense. With that speed he did split that defense, marched in on Vicari, and muscled the puck into the net to Michigan back in front. Both Nystrom and Martens received assists on the goal.

Barely fifteen seconds later, following the ensuing face off, Michigan would strike for a third time, to extend their lead to two goals. Michigan would get control of the puck and would carry it back through center ice. They would get the puck to Werner who would fire a shot as he got inside the blue line that would make its way through a lot of traffic in front of the Spartan goal, ending up at the back of the net off an Ebbett redirect. Ebbett received credit for the goal, while Werner and Ryznar each received an assist.

Another fifteen seconds later the Spartans would cut the Wolverine lead to one goal as they would drive the puck deep following the ensuing face off. They got a pass across the ice that led to a shot that Montoya was able to block with his stick, but he couldn't recover quickly enough and before he could get back up the Spartans had lifted the puck up and over his stick for their second goal of the period.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan holding the slim three to two lead. The Wolverines continued to lead in shots on goal finishing two periods of play with a twenty-five to twenty shot advantage.

Michigan would hold onto their one goal lead for about half the third period when the Spartans would receive a gift from the Wolverines to tie the game. Just as the clock moved under the eleven minute mark the Spartans had the puck in the Michigan zone and were attacking the net. An initial shot was blocked, but the rebound wasn't covered. However, Montoya was in perfect position to make a second stop on the follow up shot until one of Michigan's defensemen slid through the crease, wiped Montoya out, dragging him out of the net. With a wide open net to shoot at it was an easy shot for the Spartans to tie the game at three.

The game would remain tied for about three minutes when, with just over eight minutes left to play, the Spartans would get their fourth goal of the night. This time they had the puck behind the Michigan goal with another Spartan planted right in front of the Michigan net. The Wolverine defense didn't clear that player out. The puck was flipped from behind the net, right out front, for a point blank shot at Montoya that he was unable to stop. With just eight minutes left to play the Wolverines were now behind in a game that they had basically controlled for two periods of play.

Michigan turned up the heat looking to get back to even, but the Spartan defense was turning away all chances. With about two and half minutes left to play in regulation it looked like Michigan was without hope when Brown was sent to the penalty box for a holding penalty. With the Spartans on the power play Michigan had to play much more conservatively to insure that the Spartans didn't add to their lead. With just over one minute left to play the Spartans took an unexpected time out to plan strategy for the final minute of the game. Coming out of the time out the face off was in the Spartan zone to the left of Vicari. Michigan won the draw and punched a shot to the net that got knocked down at the face off circle. Ryznar was able to get the puck, spin away from a Spartan defender, and rifle a shot that beat Vicari to tie the game. Assists on this short handed goal went to Dest and Woodford.

Regulation play would come to an end with the score all tied at four goals each. The Spartans out shot the Wolverines twelve to four in the third period to end regulation play with a thirty-two to twenty-nine advantage in shots on goal.

The Spartans scored a goal with 3:55 left in overtime that was immediately waved off by the officials as it was hit in by an obvious high stick. After that scare (at least for the Wolverines) there were no further goals scored. The overtime period would come to an end with the score still tied at four goals each. The final shots on goal counts were thirty-five for Michigan State and thirty-one for Michigan.

This game couldn't have ended the way Michigan wanted it to. After controlling the game for the first two periods of play, the Spartans turned it up a notch in the third and really threw the Wolverines off their game. They had Michigan scrambling for much of the third period just to keep up. Michigan let a game get away in the third period that they probably should have won. For the Spartans a great effort to get back into the game and almost pull it out when they hadn't had much success to that point.

The one point for the tie did keep Michigan in first place and it did eliminate the Spartans from contention, at least for the CCHA regular season title. Michigan is guaranteed at least a second place finish and can win first place out right if they can beat the Spartans on the neutral ice of Joe Louis Arena tomorrow night. It won't be easy as the Spartans continue to fight for their NCAA lives, but this Michigan team also has much to play for. They are fighting for a number one NCAA seed and they would also like to win a big game away from Yost going into the playoffs for the confidence boost that can have. It should be another wild one as these two arch rivals go at it again tomorrow.