Wolverines Advance To Joe Louis

Sunday, March 14, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

With their backs to the wall the Wolverines came from behind to win the third and decisive game against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks to advance to the semi-final round of the CCHA tournament. The win kept alive the Wolverines hopes of once again making the field of the NCAA tournament; the field for this tournament will be selected Sunday following the CCHA tournament final.

Both teams moved up and down the ice with both teams seeing some scoring chances in the early going, but neither team able to get anything past the goal tenders. Both teams would see power plays come and go, but the game remained score less through the first thirteen minutes of play.

That score less tie would end with just over seven minutes to play when the Wolverines, in much the same fashion as last night, scored the games first goal. With the puck in the Maverick zone defenseman Matt Hunwick found Jeff Tambellini at the left face off dot and got the puck quickly to him. From there Tambellini took a quick wrist shot that made it through the Nebraska goalies legs and into the net. Both Hunwick and Moss picked up assists on the Tambellini goal.

The similarities to last nights game would continue when Michigan was whistled for a penalty with just over five minutes left to play in the period. Late in the Maverick power play Michigan had a chance to take a two goal lead when Woodford had a great chance at scoring a short handed goal, but he was turned away. Right from that block the Mavericks carried the puck down the ice in a three on two break. Montoya moved one way to defend against the shot, but instead it was passed across ice to a streaking Maverick who got it in the net before Montoya could recover to score a power play goal late in the period.

The first period came to an end with the score all tied at one goal each. Michigan held a ten to nine advantage in shots on goal.

It looked as though the second period would end with the score still tied at one, but the Mavericks when a strange bounce of the puck gave them a great scoring chance. With barely a minute and a half left to play in the period the Mavericks blasted a shot at the Michigan goal which hit the post. However, the puck bounced right straight back to the shooter who simply lifted the puck up over a prone Montoya.

The second period ended with the Mavericks in the lead by a score of two to one as the similarities to Saturday nights game continued. Michigan extended their edge in shots on goal finishing two periods of play with a twenty-one to fifteen advantage in the category.

Michigan came out in the third period swarming the Nebraska goal, putting on pressure early and often. With just over thirteen minutes to play that pressure would pay off when Michigan would score off a rebound of their own. Things got started when Brown fired a shot at the Maverick net that clanged off a post. As both teams looked for the puck Helminen skated in and slid the puck past the pile of players to get Michigan back to even. Brown received the lone assist on this goal.

Just fifty-nine seconds later Michigan would strike for their second goal of the period. Another shot from outside was blocked and again the rebound was not covered. Seeing the puck Werner quickly pinched down and fired a shot through the Maverick net minders legs to put Michigan ahead to stay. Ebbett received the lone assist on the goal. The Mavericks took a time out following this goal to stem the Wolverine tide.

It would take roughly another minute and half for the Wolverines to strike for the third time in two and half minutes, but score they would to take a two goal lead. This goal was setup by a Nebraska penalty with just under ten minutes to play. Working the puck around the Maverick zone Tambellini would let loose a slap shot from the point that made it through a number of players and into the Nebraska goal. Assists on this power play goal went to Nystrom and Rohlfs.

Seconds after scoring there fourth goal the Wolverines would be whistled for the first of four straight penalties to put Nebraska on the power play. Michigan would kill off this penalty, but would pick up penalty number two immediately following the expiration of the first penalty. Nine seconds later they would be whistled for a second penalty putting Michigan down two men. As soon as they could the Mavericks pulled their goal tender to give them a six on three advantage, but leaving their net open. After a couple of misses at the open net Helminen finally slid the puck down the center of the ice and into the open net for Michigan's fourth goal of the period. The goal was scored as unassisted.

The game came to an end with Michigan winning by a score of five to two. The game ended with Michigan holding a thirty-five to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal.

It took over eight periods of play, but the Wolverines finally put together a period of playoff style hockey, playing with the desperation and edge necessary to win games in a tournament setting. The extra game that they had to play this weekend may have been a blessing in disguise if it has proven the jolt the Wolverines needed to get them focused on the games at hand. There are no more games at Yost and there are no more second chances. From this point forward every game could be their last as single elimination hockey will be played from this point forward.

Michigan will receive a bye through the CCHA quarter finals and will have to wait until Thursday night to find out their semi-final opponent will be as they attempt to win their third straight CCHA tournament championship.