Redhawks Ground Wolverines

Friday, October 10, 2003
Goggin Ice Arena, Oxford, Ohio

The Michigan Wolverines got off to a less then auspicious start to their current CCHA campaign as they were soundly beaten by the Miami Redhawks on this Friday night in the first conference game for both teams.

Miami would get the scoring started in this contest when their constant pressure finally paid off with a power play goal, late in the first period. The Redhawks had cycled the puck through the Michigan zone and back out to the left point. From that location they took a slap shot that made it through all of the players between it and the net, glanced off the top of one of Montoya's pads, and into the corner of the net.

Michigan would even things up a little over a minute later, also on the power play, when Rogers got a pass across the ice to a waiting Hensick who popped the puck into a wide open net. Tambellini got this goal started with a huge shot from the point that hit and rebounded off the Redhawk goalies pads and into the right corner of the ice. Traffic in front of the net kept the Miami net minder from getting back into position, allowing Rogers to get the pass over to Hensick on the left side of the ice. Taking a couple of steps away from the boards Hensick buried the puck and the game was once again even. Both Rogers and Tambellini received assists on the goal.

Miami would retake the lead with their second power play goal of the game when a wrist shot beat Montoya high on the glove side. This shot came from just inside the left circle and beat Montoya clean. The period came to an end with Miami leading by a score of two to one. While all the scoring in this period came on power plays the period ended with both teams notching twelve shots on goal.

It looked like Michigan would get a chance to once again even the game up when they went to the power play early in the second period. However, rather than the Wolverines coming up with a score the Redhawks turned the tables and scored their third goal of the game, short-handed.

The score would remain at three to one through most of the remainder of the period, but the Wolverines would get back within one with just over three minutes left to play in the period. Rohlfs sent a centering pass through the slot that bounced off the Redhawk net minders pad and into the net. It may not have been the greatest scoring chance, but it counted and Michigan was just one goal behind with the third period yet to play. Assists on the Rohlfs goal went to Helminen and Cook.

The second period ended with the score three to two in favor of Miami. The Wolverines out shot the Redhawks in the period to hold a twenty-six to nineteen advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines were whistled for a penalty late in the second period putting Miami on the power play for over a minute and a half to start the third period. Wasting no time to take advantage of the extra man the Redhawks had their third power play goal of the game just twenty seconds into the final period of play.

The game continued to spiral out of control for the Wolverines when Miami would intercept a pass at the Michigan blue line, walk in on the goal, and slam the puck home for the Redhawks fifth goal of the game, second of the period.

Barely four minutes later the Redhawks would score their sixth goal of the game when they dug a puck out of a group of players in the right corner. Skating the puck toward the net, along the goal line, the Miami player was able to slide a low shot through Montoya's pads and into the net. This was the final goal that Montoya would give up as he was pulled in favor of Ruden.

Even with the change in net minder it would take Miami a little more than two more minutes to score their seventh goal of the contest, once again on the power play. This was another wrist shot from the circle, this time the right circle, that got past Ruden to put the Redhawks up seven to one.

Miami would score one more time with the clock just approaching the mid-point of the period. This goal was scored as an unassisted goal for Miami's Derek Edwardson, the Redhawks eighth of the game, Edwardsons third of the game for his hat trick.

Michigan would score one final goal with just under five minutes left to play in the game when Tambellini would get the puck in the net through shear force of will. The Miami goalie had come up with three straight stops to turn away several good Wolverine scoring chances when Tambellini would finally jam the puck home for Michigans third of the game.

The game would come to an end with Miami winning by a score of eight to three. The Wolverines ended the night with a thirty-five to thirty-two advantage in shots on goal.

It was a rough night for the Wolverines in this penalty marred game. Michigan's special teams performed poorly, their goal tending was below par, and their defense was weak to say the least. There really isn't much else to say about this game as not much went right for the Wolverines. It was a collective team melt down and will hopefully give the Wolverines a wake up call for the remainder of the season.