|
Wolverines Lose Battle, Win The War
Saturday, March 6, 2004
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
The Michigan Wolverines finished a second consecutive lackluster weekend by falling
to the Spartans one to nothing at Joe Louis Arena after escaping Munn Arena with a tie
on Friday night. While the Wolverines were busy squandering another chance to actually
win the CCHA regular season championship, they backed into the championship by virtue
of an Ohio State victory over second place Miami. With the end of the regular season
the CCHA tournament begins next weekend with a best two out of three series at each
of the top six CCHA finishers home rinks.
There first period would be physical, but fast paced as both teams moved the puck
up and down the ice with speed. Each team sent a player to the penalty box about midway
through the opening period, but in the end the period would come to an end with the
score still tied at zero. The Wolverines ended the first period of play with a slight
ten to eight edge in shots on goal.
The second period would see a flurry of penalties that kept both teams from getting
any type of offensive rhythm going as each team had to spend long stretches of time
playing on special teams. Like the first period, the second would come to an end with
the score all tied at zero. Michigan out shot the Spartans in the period again, finishing
two periods of play with a twenty-four to eighteen advantage in shots on goal.
There were no penalties in the third period and it looked like this game was well on
its way to a zero-zero finish when the Spartans got to a loose puck before Montoya and
chipped it into the goal for the games lone score. The Spartans had fired a shot that
Montoya stopped, but the rebound dropped to the ice, just slightly beyond Montoyas
reach in front of the net. A Spartan skating through the area got just enough of his
stick on the puck to chip it up and over Montoyas shoulder giving the Spartans a late
score with just over five minutes to play.
The Wolverines would try to get the equalizer, coming close on several point blank
chances down the stretch, even pulling Montoya with about forty-five seconds left to
get the extra attacker. Close would be as close as they got, with the Spartans turning
away each scoring chance, holding on for the win.
The game would come to an end with Michigan State on top by a one to nothing score.
The Wolverines ended the game with a thirty-four to twenty-six advantage in shots on
goal.
Tonights game caps what has been an extremely disappointing end to the CCHA season
for the Wolverines. After sweeping Miami to take over first place the Wolverines have
been unable to win games, ending up having to rely on Ohio State to beat Miami to stay
in first place. Regardless of all the right things being said in Ann Arbor this team
obviously has trouble playing away from Yost as they manage a single point out of their
last four regular season games.
With tournament play starting next weekend the Wolverines return to the friendly
confines of Yost Arena for a best two out of three against the visiting Nebraska Mavericks.
While the Wolverines will likely sweep the Mavericks at Yost, its the following weekend
at Joe Louis that has to be of greatest concern (and beyond that NCAA tournament sites).
This team needs to find someone who is going to step forward and make "the" play in these
road games that gets the team moving. Last year that player was Ortmeyer, this year
that player has yet to be found.
|