Wolverines Salvage Split With Power Play

Saturday, November 8, 2003
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines salvaged a split for the weekend scoring all three of their goals while on the power play, with the game winner coming at the opening of the third period. This win keeps the Wolverines in the thick of the CCHA conference race with a road series coming up next weekend against the Buckeyes.

Tonights game started much like last nights with both teams moving the puck up and down the ice. Also, like last night the Bulldogs would give Michigan the first break of the game by taking a penalty with just over four minutes played. Sticking with the script of mirroring last nights game Michigan would strike on the ensuing power play to get on the board first. Passing the puck around the Bulldog zone with long cross ice passes, Michigan created the crease they needed for Gajic to send a blistering slap shot from the right circle to beat the Ferris net minder. Assists went to Martens and Werner.

Unfortunately the lead would last long as the Wolverines were on their way to the sin bin barely thirty seconds later. Just eight seconds into the power play Ferris would take a shot from just inside the Michigan blue line, straight down the slot. While the shot didn't look screened and appeared to be an easy stop, it was redirected just as it approached the net and beat Montoya over his glove.

Each team would gather penalties through the final fourteen minutes of the period, but there would be no further scoring. The first period would come to an end with the score tied up at one each. The Wolverines held an eleven to six advantage in shots on goal.

The second period started eerily like the first. The Bulldogs were whistled for a penalty just over four minutes into the period. Michigan worked the puck around the Bulldog zone, this time using shorter more precise passes, until they once again opened up a scoring lane. This time, a shot very much like the shot that got Ferris their first goal, Michigan got off a shot from just inside the blue line that traveled straight down the slot. The shot wasn't redirected, but the net minder was screened and the puck was in the net. The shot and goal went to Rogers, with assists going to Hensick and Moss.

Just as the clock moved under the six minute mark in the second stanza the Bulldogs would once again get the game even the games only even strength goal. The Bulldogs had charged into the Michigan zone and gotten off a good shot that Montoya blocked. However, he didn't cover the puck, it rebounded off to his left, and the Bulldogs were right there to chip the puck into the net over a sprawled Montoya.

The second period would come to an end with the game still tied, this time at two goals each. Through two the Wolverines held a twenty-three to fourteen advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan did start the third period with 1:58 of power play time for a penalty that was assessed to Ferris with just two seconds left in the second period. Once again the Wolverines worked the puck around the zone with some great passing. However, the Bulldogs were also playing some tight defense not opening a shooting lane. Finally, with just twenty-five seconds left in the power play enough of a crease opened up for a Tambellini one timer from the left circle that made it through the traffic and into the net. Assists went to Rogers and Moss.

Again each team would take some penalties through the remainder of the period, but neither team was able to find the net. With just 1:16 left the Bulldogs got their goalie out of the game to add the sixth attacker, but Michigan got the puck back out to center ice. With a face off at center ice the Ferris net minder came back in, but didn't stay long as he headed back to the bench as soon as the puck went back into the Michigan zone. While they got some shots, at least one of them coming very close to scoring, the Bulldogs could not get the puck past Montoya. The game came to an end with Michigan winning by a three to two score. The Wolverines ended the game with a thirty-three to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal.

A better game of hockey by the Wolverines tonight as they played much better team defense, made better decisions with the puck, and just played a more focused game than they had last night. That being said there are still plenty of things for this team to work on as they don't seem to be playing as well as they were just two or three weeks ago. Michigan will have to be ready to play on the road next weekend as they play two crucial games against the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus.