Wolverines Shut Out Mavericks

Friday, March 12, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines struggled on the offensive end of the ice, but played solid defense to come away with a two to nothing shut out over the visiting Nebraska- Omaha Mavericks in the first game of this best two out three series to open the CCHA playoffs. Both teams will go at it again tomorrow night as the Wolverines look to sweep this first round match-up and advance to the semi-finals at Joe Louis next weekend.

The Mavericks made three trips to the penalty box in the first ten or eleven minutes of the first period, with the third trip finally leading to a Michigan score. The penalty that got Michigan on the board came with just over nine minutes left to play in the first period. Michigan worked the puck around the Maverick zone, keeping the pressure on the Maverick goal as they had throughout this period. With time beginning to run out in this power play Michigan got the puck down deep and blasted a shot at the net. The initial shot was blocked, but the puck was left on the ice as a Maverick defender knocked his own net minder to the ice. In the ensuing scramble for the puck Rohlfs was able to lift it up and over the prone net minder scoring what proved to be the game winning goal. The lone assist on the goal went to Tambellini.

With just over seven minutes left in the period Michigan would be whistled for the first of three straight penalties. The third of those coming with roughly four and a half minutes left to play, giving the Mavericks a two man advantage for 1:18. As the Wolverines worked to kill the penalty they turned the puck over in their own zone, leaving Montoya all alone to defend the goal. As the Maverick player closed on the net Montoya took up position and made a stone cold stop to hold Michigans one goal lead. The Wolverines would kill off all their penalties, keeping their one goal lead intact.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of two to nothing. Michigan finished the first period of play with an eighteen to eight advantage in shots on goal.

The second period was a fairly wide open affair with neither team really mounting much of an offensive threat. That would all change with just over four minutes to play when Michigan charged into the Maverick zone, flying down the press box side of the ice. As the Michigan player passed by the net he punched it to the net. The shot was blocked, but the rebound was not covered and the puck bounced around in front of the net, finally coming free on the left side of the goal. Helminen was in the right place at the right time as he just flipped the puck into the open net for the second and final Michigan goal. Assists on this goal went to Nystrom and Hunwick.

Both teams would be whistled for penalties in the closing minutes of the period, but neither team could take advantage of the extra space on the ice. The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of two to nothing. The Wolverines continued to lead in shots on goal, ending two periods of play with a twenty-eight to fourteen advantage in the category.

Michigan started the third period with thirty-seven seconds of power play time, but they could not take advantage of the extra man. With just over eighteen minutes left to play a scrum would break out in front of the Nebraska net that would see several players from each team sent to the sin bin. All of these penalties were off the clock and play continued five on five.

There would be a steady stream of players in and out of the penalty boxes for the remainder of the period, but neither team was able to get the puck past the respective goal tenders and the game came to an end with Michigan winning by a two to nothing score. Michigan ended the game with a forty-one to sixteen advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan seemed to have difficulty getting into any kind of offensive flow in this game, but the puck was taking some strange bounces the entire night. On many occasions a player would attempt to shoot or pass the puck and they would fan on the attempt. While they were somewhat sluggish they managed to get the goals they needed, coupled with solid goal tending and defense, they came away with the win in this first round series. The Wolverines will look for a better game tomorrow night as they look to complete their first round sweep.