Mavericks Grab Game Two

Saturday, March 13, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Mavericks grabbed, clutched, and ran the trap to perfection tonight as they beat the Wolverines three to one, forcing a third and decisive game in this best of three first round series.

The game started exactly as the Michigan faithful hoped it would, with a quick Michigan goal that looked to be a sure sign of a Michigan sweep in this series, but that goal was one of the few highlights for Michigan in this game. Winning a face off to the right of the Maverick goal tender Michigan got the puck back out to the point where Nystrom sent a quick shot toward the Maverick net. The shot was blocked, but the rebound came right out to Brown who one timed the puck into the net for the early one to nothing lead. Both Nystrom and Dest received assists on the Brown goal.

The teams would trade some penalties through the middle of the period, but it would be back to back penalties assessed to Michigan late in the period that would give the Mavericks their chance to tie the game. Michigan was whistled for the first of this pair of penalties with 7:46 left in the period. They were whistled for their second penalty with 6:24 to play, giving Nebraska a two man advantage for thirty-eight seconds. The Mavericks got the puck down behind the Michigan goal, looking to make a pass out front for a shot. As time ran down in Michigan's first penalty it looked like Nebraska was going to make that pass out front and Montoya started to move to his left to be in position for a block. However, instead of passing the Nebraska player slipped the puck to the net where it slid between Montoya and the post for a power play goal, tying the game at one goal each.

The first period would come to an end with the score all tied at one. Shots on goal were also even with each team taking thirteen shots at the opposing goalie.

Michigan started the second period with fifty-six seconds of power play time, but they were unable to take advantage of the extra man. Much like the first period, both teams would get whistled for penalties with neither team taking advantage of the extra attacker.

Nebraska would take the lead for good with just over ten minutes left to play when they got just enough on a shot to get it through the five hole and into the net. The Mavericks had applied some great pressure, finally getting off a shot that appeared to be stopped by Montoya. However, with the puck between his pads, he was unable to get complete control and it trickled behind him toward the goal line. As it came out from under Montoya a Nebraska player was able to get just enough of his stick on it to put it in the net for the go ahead score.

More penalties were assessed against both teams in the final ten minutes of this period, but again neither team was able to capitalize. The second period would come to an end with Nebraska leading by a score of two to one. Michigan out shot the Mavericks in the second period nine to seven for a two period advantage in shots on goal of twenty-two to twenty.

Michigan tried desperately to even the score in the third period, but they could barely get a shot on goal, with many shots blocked by the stifling Nebraska defense. The Mavericks put the game away with just over six minutes to play when they scored their third goal of the game on a break away. Michigan had taken another shot from out near the blue line, that hit a Nebraska defender and took a big bounce back toward the blue line. A Maverick just happened to be in the right place at the right time to scoop up the puck and fly into the Michigan zone with the entire Michigan team trailing behind. The Nebraska skater brought the puck right down the slot and blasted a shot through the five hole for the goal as he closed on Montoya.

The game would end with Nebraska winning by a score of three to one. The Wolverines ended the game with a slight thirty to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines hit the ice flying in this game, but seemed to lose a little something when Nebraska scored that power play goal in the first period. That seemed to take the wind out of their sails and it gave Nebraska a huge lift. That emotional turn, coupled with a stifling defense by the Mavericks, were enough to do in the number one seeded Wolverines. Instead of getting their hoped for sweep in the first round Michigan must now prepare to play a third game on Sunday for the chance to advance to the CCHA semi-finals next weekend at Joe Louis. The low seed has never beaten the one seed in the CCHA tournament so the hill to climb for Nebraska is tall, but they've given Michigan problems all weekend long and if the Wolverines don't come ready to play on Sunday they may find themselves watching the remainder of the CCHA tournament from their couches.