Wolverines Survive Bobcat Attack

Friday, October 17, 2003
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines welcomed their second Atlantic Hockey opponent in three weeks to Yost Arena and got all they could ask for as the Quinnipiac Bobcats took a lead into the third period only to see the Wolverine defense stiffen and the offense score just enough to pull out the win.

Michigan got off to a quick start in this game giving the impression that the Bobcats would be an easy opponent, but they proved anything but easy. Chasing the puck into the Bobcat zone, the Wolverines gained control in the corner to the left of the goalie. From there Henderson made a great pass out in front of the net where a wide open Kaleniecki wasted no time putting it into the Bobcat net for a one to nothing lead with just over two minutes gone in the game. Assists went to both Henderson and Moss.

The Bobcats would continue to attack, out shooting the Wolverines for most of the first period, but it would once again be the Wolverines who would find the back of the net just as the clock moved under the eight minute mark of the first period.

The second Michigan goal was started by a Quinnipiac penalty with about eight and half minutes to play. Michigan took advantage of their first power play with some very nice passing around the Bobcat zone that paid off when the desired opening was created in the Bobcat defense that Nystrom wasted little time using. With one and a half minutes remaining in their power play Michigan had a two to nothing lead with Hensick and Moss picking up assists on the power play goal.

Things would tighten up with about five minutes to play in the period when the Bobcats would strike for their first goal of the night. Getting the puck in tight to the net to Montoyas right the Bobcats got off a little choppy shot. Montoya got the stop, but he ended up laying flat on the ice. As he tried to regain position the Michigan defense didn't help things by leaving a couple of Quinnipiac players untouched around the net. They were finally able to dig the puck out and chip it into the net for the score.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a slim two to one lead. Michigan also held a slim lead in shots on goal with a thirteen to twelve count.

Both teams moved the puck up and down the ice for the first six and half minutes of the second period when Quinnipiac would be whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Midway through the power play Michigan iced the puck bringing the face off into the Wolverine zone to the left of Montoya. Getting a clean win on the ensuing face off the Bobcats got off a quick shot that beat Montoya high on his glove side and just like that the game was all tied up as the Bobcats notch a short handed goal.

As the clock neared the ten minute mark of the period Michigan would once again move into the lead as Kaleniecki picked up his second goal of the night. Getting control of the puck in the corner Moss got into an open area and let a shot fly. His shot was blocked, but the rebound came out to the side opposite the shot where Kaleniecki was in position to charge in put the rebound right back at and into the net. Moss picked up the lone assist.

With just over five minutes to play in the middle stanza the Bobcats once again got control of the puck in tight to the Wolverine net. A quick shot slid past Montoya who appeared not to have seen the puck until after it was well past him.

Barely twenty seconds later Michigan would turn the puck over right by their goal and an opportunistic Bobcat was right there to chip the puck into the net to give the Bobcats their first lead of the night with less than five minutes to play in the second period.

The second period would come to an end with Quinnipiac leading by a score of four to three. Michigan extended their lead in shots on goal ending two periods of play with a twenty-nine to twenty-three edge in the category.

The Wolverines hit the ice in the third period with a little more jump in their legs. It would take just over two minutes for Michigan to once again tie the game up when the Bobcat defense left a big hole open that Michigan was able to exploit. As the hole in the defense was opening Michigan intercepted a pass at center ice and quickly moved into the Bobcat zone. Carrying the puck behind the Bobcat net Ebbett slid a quick pass out to Kaleniecki as he approached the crease. Taking a one timer from there Kaleniecki banged his third goal of the night into the net for his first hat trick as a Wolverine. Both Ebbett and Dest picked up assists on the goal.

It looked like Michigan got their fifth goal of the night and had regained the lead just seconds later when Moss chipped the puck into the Bobcat net, but the goal was immediately waved off with the referee indicating that it had been kicked into the net.

Michigan would continue to attack through the third period, but it would take almost the remainder of the period for Michigan to come up with that all important fifth goal to win the game. With just over three minutes left to play a face off was taken in the Bobcat zone to the left of the goalie. Getting control of the puck from the face off Michigan got the puck over to Kaleniecki who put a cap on his night by floating a little back hand shot over the right shoulder of the Bobcat net minder. Ebbett would receive the only assist on this goal.

The Bobcats would try to mount an attack, but the Michigan defense really got tough after re-taking the lead. They kept the play mainly in or near the Bobcat zone forcing the Bobcat goalie to stay in net. They finally got him off the ice to get the extra attacker on the ice with about thirteen seconds left to play. Even with the extra attacker the Bobcats could not crack the tightened Michigan defense.

The game came to an end with Michigan winning by a score of five to four. The Wolverines ended the night with a forty-one to twenty-nine advantage in shots on goal.

The Bobcats were clearly the bigger team on the ice tonight and they used that size advantage quite well, putting bodies on bodies and generally hanging all over the Michigan players all night. For the second Friday in a row Michigan seemed to come out flat in the game and stayed that way for most of the contest. In the end the greater skill and speed came through for the Wolverines, but they can't rely on that every game. The Bobcats came to play and once again you can only hope that this young Wolverine team learns that they have to come to play every game or they can lose just as easily as they can win (in fact its probably easier to lose a game than to win it). Tomorrow night these two teams go at it again at Yost, game time 735 pm.