Wolverines Let Another Win Slip Away

Saturday, February 5, 2005
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

After a shaky first period the Wolverines got their feet under them at the beginning of the second period and looked to be on their way to a win over the Spartans. However, for the second night in a row as the clock got down to the final minutes the Wolverines allowed a late Spartan goal that tied the game. At the end of the weekend the Wolverines had two ties and a lead in the CCHA race that was cut to one point.

Michigan was shaky in the first period, but they avoided giving up any goals. In fact the first period saw a continuous parade of players into and out of the penalty box. Given the amount of time special teams spent on the ice it wasn't a real surprise that there wasn't any real flow to the game through the first twenty minutes of play. After twenty minutes of play the score was still zero to zero. The Wolverines did have a slight eight to seven edge in shots on goal.

The second period was a fast paced battle up and down the ice that saw one score, that for the Wolverines. With jut over five minutes played the Wolverines broke out of their zone with Porter carrying the puck up the right side of the ice. As he was closing with the goal and the Spartan defense oriented on him he made a great pass across the ice to Nystrom. Before the goalie could react Nystrom had buried the puck in the net and Michigan was on the board. Porter and Dest each picked up an assist on the score.

There were no penalties called in the second period and after forty minutes of play the Wolverines had a one to nothing lead. Michigan also had a twenty to fifteen advantage in shots on goal.

The Spartans killed off two early penalties in the final period of play with the action before, during, and after those penalties moving up and down the ice. Once again in the final minutes of the game the Wolverines seemed to change their mind set, going from an attacking team to a team trying to protect their lead. Just like last night Michigan gave up the game tying goal with just over three minutes on the clock. The initial shot came from the point and was blocked, but the rebound was not covered. With the puck on the ice and players in his way Montoya could not get to the puck. The Michigan defense was seemingly clue less that the puck was on the ice in front of the goal, making no attempt to clear it out. Finally the Spartans got a stick on it and flipped it into the Michigan goal to tie the game.

Regulation time ended with the game all tied at one goal each. The Wolverines had a thirty-eight to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal at the end of regulation time.

Just like last night a five minute sudden victory overtime period was played and just like last night neither team was able to score. The game came to an end with the score still tied at one goal each. The Wolverines ended the game with a forty-two to twenty-four advantage in shots on goal.

For the second straight night the Wolverines failed to finish a game and for the second straight night it cost them. While the score sheet will read a tie, this game, like last night can only be considered a loss for Michigan. Their lead in the CCHA is now just one point. The chances of them playing in Grand Rapids in the NCAA tournament are now dimmer and they have to go on the road to play a Nebraska team next week that has been practically unbeatable at home this year. Things aren't getting any easier for the Wolverines down the stretch run, lets hope they figure out how to play sixty minutes of hockey while in Omaha.