Wolverines Squander Lead, Tie Spartans

Friday, February 4, 2005
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

While the Michigan hockey team showed up to play on Friday night, the first time in several weeks I might add that they did so, it was the Wolverines other achilles heal that reared its ugly head to turn a promising Friday contest into another bitter disappointment. That other achilles heal is of course this teams frustrating habit of not finishing games. The Wolverines had to settle for a tie with their arch rival tonight after holding a two to nothing lead with less than three minutes to play in the game.

Michigan got things rolling early in this game, putting the pressure on the Spartan goal early and often. With just over sixteen minutes to play in the opening period that pressure paid off when Michigan notched their first goal of the game. The Wolverines got off a big shot from the blue line that was blocked, but the rebound was not covered. With the puck on the ice in front of the goal and several Wolverines crashing the net it wasn't a great surprise to see a Michigan player get his stick on the puck first and chip it into the Spartan goal (it was perhaps more of a surprise to see Michigan crash the net like that on a Friday). Henderson got credit for the goal, while both Tambellini and Ebbett picked up assists on the goal.

With about ten and a half minutes left to play the Spartans found themselves in a hole that they continued to dig deeper and deeper. At this time the Spartans were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Less than a minute later they were whistled for their second straight penalty giving Michigan a two man advantage. Barely thirty seconds after that the Spartans picked up their third penalty to extend Michigan's power play time even further. While the Wolverines came close a couple of times they failed to score with the two man advantage, but with the clock just moving under the seven minute mark and about twenty-four seconds of power play time left the Wolverines struck for their second goal of the period. The Wolverines had passed the puck well during this entire power play stretch and had gotten off several great shots, but hadn't been able to get one in the goal. Finally, from one of his favorite shooting positions, Tambellini let loose a laser of a shot from the face off circle that beat the Spartan net minder and gave Michigan a two to nothing lead. Assists on this goal went to Ebbett and Montoya.

Neither team would score another goal in the opening period of play, leaving the Wolverines with a two to nothing lead after the first twenty minutes of play. The Wolverines also held a nineteen to five advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan State started the second period with 1:49 of power play time, but could not take advantage of the extra man. Michigan killed off a couple of penalties during the period, but otherwise it was an up and down period with neither team finding a way to score. The second period ended with the Wolverines still holding their two to nothing lead. Michigan held a twenty-nine to fourteen advantage in shots on goal after forty minutes of play.

Both teams battled up and down the ice in the third period with both goal tenders coming up with some big saves. As the clock really started to wind down, it was under three minutes, the Wolverines seemed to go into a shell, no longer attacking, just sitting back and trying to protect their two goal lead. That apparent change in mentality proved to be their undoing.

With just 2:26 to play the Spartans had the puck in the Michigan zone after yet another failed clearing attempt, to the right of Montoya half way between the top of the face off circle and the blue line. A high floater of a shot through a screen of people that was slightly deflected as it reached the goal got past Montoya for the Spartans first goal of the night. This cut the Michigan lead to one.

With 1:05 to play and the face off just outside the Michigan zone the Spartans called a time out. The Spartan net minder returned to the ice, but didn't get real close to his goal. With just fifty-four seconds left to play the Spartan net minder was off the ice and the Spartans had the extra attacker. Michigan continued to struggle clearing the puck and when they did they were whistled for icing bringing the puck right back into their zone. Unable to clear the puck and unable to get it into the open Spartan net allowed the Spartans to apply sustained pressure on the Michigan goal. With the clock under five seconds and the puck behind the Michigan net, the Michigan defense simply seemed to stop allowing the Spartans to dig the puck out, flip it out front, where it was easily knocked into the Wolverine net to tie the game with just 1.2 seconds left.

Regulation time came to an end with the score all tied at two goals each. At the end of regulation time the Wolverines held a forty to twenty-four advantage in shots on goal.

A five minute sudden victory overtime period was played, but neither team was able to score. The game came to an end with the score still tied at two goals each. Michigan ended the game with a forty-three to twenty-five advantage in shots on goal.

If it's not one thing it's another with this team. They show up to play on Friday night, but they don't play the entire sixty minutes, they played fifty-eight instead. As has become all to common in recent weeks that slight lapse lead to disaster, allowing the Spartans to tie the game. While most times a tie against your arch rival wouldn't be considered that bad of a night, given the circumstances of this game, with all the conference and tournament implications, this tie can be seen as nothing other than a loss for the Wolverines. They allow the Buckeyes to get within two points of the CCHA lead and continue to hurt their chances of playing in Grand Rapids in the NCAA tournament. Tomorrow night both teams go at it again, this time at Joe Louis. Hopefully tomorrow night the Wolverines play an entire sixty minutes.