Wolverines Tame Wildcats

Saturday, March 27, 2004
Verizon Wireless Arena, Manchester, New Hampshire

The Wolverines, playing their best hockey in over a month, dominated the Wildcats from New Hampshire in every phase of the game to take a four to one decision in the first round of the NCAA Northeast regional. They play tomorrow at 4:00pm against the regions number one seed, Boston College, for the right to advance to this years Frozen Four in Boston.

The Wolverines got exactly the start they needed as they hit the ice skating with authority. They were digging for the puck from the opening face off and that hard work paid off early. As the puck passed over the goal line, going behind the New Hampshire goal, Kaleniecki got control and wrapped it around front. His first attempt failed, but he kept chipping at the puck and he got it up and over the goalies shoulder for a quick goal just 1:05 into the game. This goal was scored as unassisted.

Michigan would fail to connect on two power play goals and neither team would be able to take advantage of two minutes of four on four play, leaving the first period to come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of one to nothing. The Wolverines ended the period with a fourteen to two advantage in shots on goal.

Matching penalties were called at the end of the first period, leaving both teams with four men each to start the second. The Wolverines would be whistled for a second penalty just fifteen seconds into the second, giving New Hampshire a power play early in the second period. Michigan would end up killing off all the penalties, returning to full strength with their one to nothing lead intact.

Michigan would add to their lead with just over ten minutes to play in the period when they would break out of their zone with a two on one advantage. New Hampshire had taken a big shot, but it was blocked near the top of the circles, taking a big bounce toward neutral ice. Gajic was right there to scoop it up and head for the New Hampshire zone. As he entered the Wildcat zone Gajic veered to his right, drawing the defender, then made a great cross ice pass to Ebbett. Ebbett crashed to the net, making a great back hand shot through the five hole as he passed in front of the net. Ebbett got credit for the goal with Gajic picking up the lone assist.

Just shy of a minute later New Hampshire was whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Michigan worked the puck around the New Hampshire zone very well, especially as the power play began to wind down. With just thirty-three seconds left in the power play that puck movement would pay off as Michigan got the puck to a pinching Werner who had a clear shot at the goal. Michigan moved the puck from out high, down low, then across ice to the inside ring of the circles, where Werner blasted it home. Gajic and Hensick each received assists for the goal.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of three to nothing. The shots were much closer in this period, but Michigan still out shot the Wildcats fourteen to ten. After two periods of play Michigan holds a twenty-eight to twelve advantage in shots.

The Wolverines would add to their lead early in the third period using a great up ice pass to create a clean break for Kaleniecki. Kaleniecki would receive the pass just outside the Wildcat blue line, but he was behind the defense. With the defense behind him he raced into the New Hampshire zone, taking a shot as he approached the goal. This shot was blocked, but the rebound came right back to him and he chipped that up and over the Wildcat goalie for the Wolverines fourth goal of the game. Ebbett would pick up the lone assist on this goal.

Michigan would kill off a couple of penalties through the middle of this period and looked to be well on their way to a shut out in this game, but the Wildcats had other thoughts as they finally got the puck past Montoya with just over six minutes left to play. Michigan was trying to clear the puck when New Hampshire got control of it, flipped it out front, where it was redirected into the net from point blank range. While the Wildcats looked for a turn of momentum the Wolverines quickly forgot about the goal and returned to business, stifling any further comeback attempts by the Wildcats.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of four to one. The Wolverines ended the game with a thirty-eight to twenty-eight advantage in shots on goal.

This was a solid sixty minutes of hockey for Michigan as they once again looked like the team that was playing so well in January and early February. Now the task for Michigan is to maintain this level of play for one more game, as they face the number one seed Boston College Eagles tomorrow for the regional championship. If they can win that game they will have about a week and half to regroup and refocus for their fourth straight Frozen Four. However, to get to that Frozen Four they still have a lot of work to do and that all starts Sunday at 4:00 pm.