Wolverines Sweep Broncos

Saturday, January 8, 2005
Lawson Arena, Kalamazoo, Michigan

It was another typical Western game with both teams flying up and down the ice, sticks and bodies flying everywhere. Staying true to form when they play at Lawson the Broncos kept things close, then the Wolverines blew the game open, then the Wolverines got sloppy allowing the Broncos back into the game, finally the Broncos got the game tied only to see Michigan win on a late goal. This game certainly had a little bit of everything and in many ways the Wolverines are lucky to have gotten the win and the series sweep over the Broncos.

The pace was fast and the play was physical right out of the gate and just like last night it would be the Broncos getting on the scoreboard first. With just under sixteen minutes to play there were be a scrum of players in front of the Michigan net, all trying to get at the puck. Western got a couple of pokes at the puck, but Montoya turned them away. However, the Broncos just got to many chances finally stuffing the puck into the net for the games opening score.

With just over fifteen minutes to play a player from each team was sent to the sin bin. With the clock under fourteen minutes the Broncos were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. The Wolverines were working the puck well on this power play until Hensick finally got a shot from left of goal. This shot was blocked, but the rebound went right, ending up on the stick of Gajic. As soon as the puck hit his stick, Gajic banged the puck into the net to get the game tied. Both Hensick and Rogers received assists on the goal.

With the clock sliding under the eight minute mark the Wolverines were sent to the penalty box giving the Broncos a power play chance of their own. The Wolverines killed off all but twenty-seven seconds of this power play, but with those twenty-seven seconds left with the man advantage the Broncos got the puck behind Montoya for the second time in the game. Western got the puck down low to the left of the goal, then made a great pass across the ice to the right for an easy shot into a wide open net.

The first period of play would come to an end with Western leading by a score of two to one. The Broncos also held a slight edge in shots on goal with an eleven to nine count.

The first eleven minutes of the second period were relatively uneventful, with both teams moving the puck up and down the ice, both teams getting and missing on scoring chances. That would all change as the clock slid below the nine minute mark. Michigan would put together a great rush up the ice using speed and some great passes to get into the Bronco zone. Once in the offensive zone the Wolverines got the puck to Kaleniecki who one timed a shot from the high slot that was past the Bronco net minder before he knew what was going on. Both Moss and Brown picked up assists on the goal.

With just over eight minutes to play, forty-four seconds after scoring their last goal, the Wolverines would strike again. This time Michigan got a two on one break into the Bronco zone. Tambellini and Kolarik were passing the puck back and forth as they drove deeper into the Bronco zone. Tambellini carried the puck deep into the zone, looked like he was going to shoot, and finally sent a little pass over to Kolarik who was able to chip the puck into the net to put Michigan in the lead. Both Tambellini and Hunwick picked up assists on the goal.

With just over six minutes to play Michigan would strike for their third unanswered goal of the game. Moss was down low fighting hard along the boards to keep the puck alive. He kept after it until he was finally able to send a pass over to Kaleniecki who was all alone on the backside of the goal. As soon as the puck got to Kaleniecki he punched it into the goal for the score, his second of the night. Moss got the lone assist on the goal.

With just under six minutes to play, less than thirty seconds after their last goal, Michigan would score their fourth unanswered goal to take a three goal lead. There was a face off to the right of the Bronco goalie that Michigan won clean. The puck was drawn right back to Tambellini who fired a one timer as soon as the puck hit his stick. The puck was in the net before the Bronco goalie really knew it was there and Michigan was on the board again. Assists went to Martens and Kolarik.

With just forty-six seconds left in the period the Broncos won a face off in the Michigan zone that would lead to a score. Much like the last Michigan goal the Broncos won the face off clean, getting the puck back to one of their players. Even though the puck was almost back to the blue line, the Bronco player fired a shot that made it through a cluster of players and into the Michigan net, cutting the Wolverine lead to two goals.

Immediately after the goal Michigan was whistled for a penalty to put the Broncos on the power play. Working the puck around the Michigan zone, Western had Michigan turning in circles. Finally with just over three seconds to play they got off a shot that beat Montoya high and to the wide side of the net to score their fourth goal, cutting the Michigan lead to one goal as the second period came to an end.

Period number two was over with Michigan holding the slimmest of leads with a five to four advantage. The Bronco's really extended their advantage in shots on goal ending two periods of play with a twenty-six to sixteen advantage in the category.

With the clock just under the nine minute mark the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting Western back on the power play. A power play that would once again prove to be Michigan's undoing. The Broncos carried the puck down the left side of the ice, driving deep into the Michigan zone. As the defense collapsed on the puck the Bronco player slid a nice little pass across to the right side of the net where the waiting Bronco shot the puck high over Montoyas glove to tie the game.

With just over two minutes left to play the Broncos would get whistled for a penalty, giving Michigan a late power play opportunity. With just fifty-three seconds of regulation time left Michigan would get the game winner and then hang on for the victory. With the puck down low Gajic was looking to take a shot, but he was well covered. Gajic managed to send the puck through the crease, but it looked like no Wolverine would be there to chip at the puck. Suddenly while standing slightly to the side and behind the front of the net Kaleniecki managed to reach out front with his stick and just redirect the puck into the net for the score. Both Gajic and Hensick picked up assists on the power play goal.

The Broncos would take a time out and return to the ice with their goalie on the bench. While they tried mightily to score the Broncos were held at bay by Michigan long enough for the clock to expire and the game to end.

The final score was Michigan six, Western five, a hard fought victory to gain the Wolverines a sweep for the weekend. The Broncos out shot the Wolverines thirty-five to twenty-seven for the game.

This was an up and down, back and forth game, that was decided in the final minute of play. Michigan looked to have put the game away late in the second period when they had reeled off four unanswered goals. However, they got sloppy late in the period allowing the Broncos to cut the lead to one. Then Western got it tied in the third and only a great effort by Kaleniecki in the final minute allowed Michigan to win the game in regulation time. The Wolverines continue to struggle on the penalty kill and on defense in general, but they also keep finding ways to win games. Next week Michigan hosts the Nanooks from Alaska-Fairbanks for a pair of games at Yost.