Wolverines Shoot Down Eagles

Saturday, November 1, 2003
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines started strong and finished strong to win their only game of the weekend over the visiting Purple Eagles from Niagara. Scoring two goals in each of the games three periods Michigan advanced their record to 7-1 as they prepare for a stretch of games that will test this team and take them to the end of the first half of the season.

Niagara gave Michigan all they could handle in the opening stanza of this game holding the Wolverines score less for over ten minutes until Michigan was finally able to find the net while on the power play. The Eagles saw a man go to the penalty box with just nine minutes left in the period and Michigan immediately went to the attack. Just forty seconds into the power play some great tic-tac-toe passing around the Eagle zone opened up a lane to the goal. Presented with the opening Tambellini wasted no time taking the shot, but the Eagle net minder came up with the block. However, it was Michigan forward David Moss who came up with the rebound and quickly tucked it into the net for Michigan's first goal of the game. Assists went to Tambellini and Rogers.

Michigan would strike again less than a minute later to extend their lead to eight goals. Working the puck back into the Eagle zone off the face off that followed their first goal the Wolverines got the puck into the corner to the left of the Eagle net. The Eagles collapsed their defense over toward the puck, leaving Rohlfs all alone to the right of the goal. Getting control of the puck and seeing the opening Werner made a great pass through the crease to the waiting Rohlfs. All that was left to do was put the puck into the wide open net, which Rohlfs did, and Michigan was up by two. Assists on this goal went to Werner and Woodford.

It looked like Michigan would pick up a third goal in the period when they appeared to have scored with just over one minute left to play, however, the goal was immediately waved off with the referee indicating it was directed into the goal with a high stick. The first period would end with Michigan holding a two to nothing lead. Michigan also held the edge in shots on goal with a nine to three count.

Michigan started the second period with a bit more jump in their skates coming up with their third goal of the game less than one minute into the period. Michigan got the puck to Tambellini just as he crossed the blue line and entered Niagara territory. Skating down the left side of the ice Tambellini positioned himself for the shot and took it. This shot was blocked, but the rebound came right back toward Tambellini. With an Eagle defender on his back Tambellini reached back, got his stick on the puck, and just wristed it past the Eagle net minder for Michigans third goal. Assists on this goal went to Nystrom and Dest.

It would take another six minutes for Michigan to score again, but score again they would, seemingly taking control of the game. Carrying the puck the length of the ice, from their own zone into the Eagle zone, Ebbett drew the defense to him, made a great pass through the crease to Brown. Brown made it look easy chipping the puck into the net for goal number four, the first of his career. Assists went to Ebbett and Kaleniecki.

With everything going the Wolverines way the defense started to jump into the offensive side of things a little to much in the closing ten minutes of the period and got a bit soft. The Eagles took advantage of this and kept themselves in the game. After coming close on several occasions Niagara got the puck in on the Michigan net and got three or four chances at it before finally putting in the net with just under four minutes left in the second period.

Michigan had just failed to convert on a power play when the Eagles would score their second goal of the game with under one minute to play. Getting a turn over at center ice the Eagles charged into the Michigan zone, pulled Montoya out of position, and put a back hand shot into the net.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of four to two. The Wolverines out shot the Eagles sixteen to ten in that period to hold a twenty-five to thirteen advantage in shots on goal through two periods.

The third period was a score less battle for the first ten minutes of play, but the power play would once again prove beneficial for the Wolverines. Niagara was sent to the penalty box with just over eleven minutes left to play leaving Michigan with the extra attacker. Working the puck around the zone Michigan got the puck on net, with several players crashing to the net looking for the rebound. With a group of players all chipping at the puck in front of the net Michigan punched the puck home for goal number five. The goal was credited to Ebbett with assists going to Kaleniecki and Gajic.

Twenty-six seconds later Michigan would score goal number six when the Eagles turned the puck over right in front of their goal. Looking to move out of their zone the Eagles lost control of the puck right in front of their goal. As the puck lay on the ice Michigan's Charlie Henderson moved quickly to get his stick on the puck and the puck in the net for his second unassisted goal of the year.

Noah Ruden would take over in net with about seven minutes to play in the game. This contest would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of six to two. The Wolverines ended the game with a thirty-eight to twenty-two advantage in shots on goal.

Except for a little defensive lapse in the second period Michigan played another solid game of hockey as they get ready for a string of games that will take them to the end of the first half and test their ability. The Wolverines start this stretch of games with a home and home series against last years defending CCHA regular season champions Ferris State. The Bulldogs are off to a very slow start this year, giving Michigan a great opportunity to sweep. These will be the only two games played between these two teams during the regular season making the four points all that more important.

Michigan follows up those two games with a road series against Ohio State, one of the three teams in their cluster. Michigan has a rare mid November off week which is then followed by two key non-conference games against Wisconsin and Minnesota as the College Hockey Showcase comes up on the schedule. Those two games are followed by a home and home series against the Michigan State Spartans, another cluster team. Michigan completes play for the first half with a pair of games against Nebraska in Omaha. If Michigan can get on a roll they can separate themselves from the field in the CCHA and help their non-conference standing which could pay big dividends in March. It's going to be a tough stretch of games and should lead to some great college hockey.