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Buckeyes Blast Wolverines
Saturday, November 15, 2003
Schottenstein Center, Columbus, Ohio
A combination of solid defense and solid goal tending led to Michigan's victory
over the Buckeyes last night. Their lack of those two things in tonights game cost
them a win as they give up five unanswered goals in another disappointing road loss.
Michigan got off to a fast start when Dwight Helminen got the puck into the Buckeye
net just twenty one seconds into the game. Gaining control of a turnover deep in the
Buckeye zone led to a quick shot that hit a post, sending the puck behind the net. Brown
after shooting over the net regained control of the puck, got it out to Helminen, who
stuffed it home for the quick goal. Helminen got the goal and Brown picked up the lone
assist.
Unfortunately that lead wouldn't last very long as Ohio State charged into the Michigan
zone barely three minutes later to score the equalizer. Making a beautiful pass to a
waiting player in the slot the Buckeyes slid the puck through the five hole before Montoya
could react, tying the score at one goal each.
The tie score would hold up until there were just over four minutes left to play in the
period. Once again some very crisp passing by Ohio State led to the score. This time they
were able to pull Montoya way out of position, leaving themselves an easy shot at a wide
open net. Using an odd man rush the Buckeyes faked a shot that pulled Montoya to one side
of the net. As soon as Montoya was pulled to one side a quick pass, in front of the net,
led to the wide open shot before Montoya could recover and get back in position.
The first period would come to an end with Ohio State leading by a score of two to
one. Michigan finished the first twenty minutes of play with a fourteen to thirteen
advantage in shots on goal.
The second period would start in discouraging fashion when the Buckeyes were presented
with a gift. The Buckeyes attempted to center the puck, but it deflected off a Wolverines
skate and drifted toward the goal. As Montoya attempted to clear the puck away his stick
hit the puck at a strange angle, knocking it into the net for the Buckeyes third goal of
the night.
The teams would trade penalty after penalty through much of the remainder of the period,
penalties that eventually led to the Buckeyes being hit with a five minute major. The Wolverines
started on this five minute power play skating with a two man advantage for about
thirty-three seconds. Even though they didn't come up with a score at that time they
still had over four minutes of power play time. The Buckeyes, however, had other ideas as
they stymied the Michigan power play at every turn. Finally, with just a minute and half
left in the period (and for all intents and purposes the power play) the Buckeyes came
up with a short handed goal that all but ended any hopes the Wolverines had of winning
this game. The initial shot was blocked by Montoya, however, he didn't cover the rebound
and a trailing Buckeye was right there to poke the puck home.
The second period would come to an end with Ohio State now holding a four to one lead.
Michigan continued to lead in shots on goal with a twenty-seven to twenty-four count.
The teams battled up and down the ice for much of the opening half of the final period
before Ohio State would once again get the puck past Montoya to drive a stake through the
Wolverines heart. This time it was a backhand shot from Montoyas shot that made it into
the net for the Buckeyes fifth straight goal.
Just as the clock moved under the four minute mark Michigan would get one goal back
to cut the Buckeye lead to three, but it was to little, to late. Winning a face off in
the Buckeye zone Ebbett got the puck back to Kaleniecki. Kaleniecki drove the puck down
the slot, beating the Ohio State net minder top shelf for the goal. Ebbett was credited
with the lone assist.
The game would come to an end with the Buckeyes winning, five to two. Michigan ended the
game with a forty-six to twenty-nine advantage in shots on goal.
The inconsistency of the Michigan defense continues to plague this team as they drop
their third road game of the season, also giving up five unanswered goals in the process.
Where they had played solidly on Friday night, they seemed to be continuously out of
position tonight, allowing odd man rushes time after time. The Wolverines have next
weekend off, giving them two weeks to work on their consistency issues before hosting
Wisconsin and Minnesota in the College Hockey Showcase over Thanksgiving weekend.
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