Wolverines Power Past Mavericks

Friday, February 11, 2005
Quest Center, Omaha, Nebraska

Michigan used their power play to finally over power the home standing Mavericks to pick up an important road win in this tight CCHA race. The game was tied at three goals each at the end of the first period, but the Michigan defense stiffened, while the special teams found their stride allowing the Wolverines to pull away over the final forty minutes of play.

Michigan did what every road team wants to do at the start of this game - they scored early. With just over three minutes played the Captain, Eric Nystrom, scored the Wolverines first goal of the night to get the Wolverines rolling. Nystrom was on the receiving end of a pass just as he came off the bench. The Maverick defense couldn't get to him before he broke into their zone with the puck. Walking in on the Maverick goal Nystrom buried the puck for the games first score. Assists went to Ebbett and Dest.

Unfortunately the Wolverine lead did not last long as the Mavericks answered back less than a minute later, with just over four minutes played. The Mavericks had the puck in the Michigan zone. With the puck near the goal line a Maverick spun and fired a flat angle shot that beat Montoya low to the glove side. Just like that the game was tied.

About two and half minutes later, with six and half minutes of the first period already in the books, a scuffle broke out that saw two Wolverines and three Mavericks sent to the sin bin, putting Michigan on the power play. Less than thirty seconds later the Mavericks were whistled for a second penalty, give Michigan a minute and a half of two man advantage. Shortly after gaining the two man advantage Michigan scored their first power play goal of the game. The Wolverines had the puck in deep when they got off a shot at the goal. The puck came off the Irish goal tenders stick, straight up the slot, ending up right on Kolarik's stick. Kolarik wasted no time stuffing the puck in the net to put the Wolverines back on top. Both Tambellini and Werner picked up assists on the goal.

It took the Mavericks a little longer to tie the game this time, but not much longer. Less than two minutes later, with just over nine minutes played, the Mavericks were on the board with their second goal of the game. Montoya was out of net in the corner playing the puck, getting it to a Michigan defenseman. Unfortunately he turned the puck over while trying to clear it allowing the Mavericks to get off a shot before Montoyta was fully back in net. It was an easy goal into the open net and the game was tied.

With just over eight minutes left to play in the period, barely two minutes after scoring their last goal, the Mavericks took the lead for the first time in the game. With Michigan in the penalty box the Maverick power play was working the puck around the Michigan zone when they got off a shot. That shot was redirected right in front of the net, just slipping past Montoya.

It would take Michigan about five minutes, but they would answer the Maverick goal to once again tie the game. The Wolverines were again on the power play working the puck around the Maverick zone. They closed on the net, got off a shot, that was blocked, but the puck was not covered and was bouncing around on the ice in front of the net. With Wolverines in position they kept chipping at the puck, finally getting it past the Maverick goal tender for their third goal of the game. Nystrom got his second goal of the period, while Kolarick each picked up assists.

The first period would come to an end with the score all tied at three goals each. The Wolverines held a slim ten to nine edge in shots on goal.

Just over one minute into the second period the Mavericks were back in the penalty box and the Wolverines were once again on the power play. Just over a minute later, with the puck to the side of the goal and nobody near him, Werner was able to take two or three swipes at the puck, with his final swing getting the puck past the Maverick net minder to put the Wolverines back in front. Kolarik and Ebbett each picked up assists on the goal.

Each team would get whistled for a couple more penalties through the period, but neither team would be able to score through the final eighteen minutes of the second period. After two periods of play the Wolverines were on top by a score of four to three. The Wolverines stretched their lead in shots on goal, ending two periods of play with a twenty to fourteen advantage in the category.

A series of penalties, starting with Michigan and ending with Nebraska, ended with the Wolverines on the power play. The first thing big break on this Wolverine power play went to the Mavericks when they scored a short handed goal to once again tie the game at four goals each with just over eight minutes to play.

The Wolverines shook off the break down and while on the same power play scored a goal of their own to retake the lead. Kaleniecki had taken position in the slot, between the circles. Hensick was skating with the puck in the Maverick zone when he fired a pass to a wide open Kaleniecki. As soon as the puck hit his stick Kaleniecki blasted a shot that beat the Maverick net minder top shelf to put Michigan back ahead with just under eight minutes to play. Hensick and Rogers each picked up assists on the goal.

Michigan would have to kill off a penalty in the final five minutes of play and would do so without giving up a goal. It looked like the game would end with Michigan winning by one, but in the final 30 seconds of the game Hensick scored an insurance goal to seal the win. Hensick flew up the ice, getting behind the Maverick defense before entering their zone. As he closed with the goal he got off a shot that was blocked, but the rebound popped right back to Hensick who then buried it for the score. Assists went to Tambellini and Porter.

The game came to an end with Michigan winning by a score of six to four. The Wolverines ended the game with a twenty-six to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal.

The Mavericks made them work for it, but in the end the Wolverines were able to come away with a very important road win to hold onto their slim lead in the CCHA race. The defense got off to a slow start in this game, giving up far to many goals in the opening period, but at least the offense showed up early and often to off set the lack of defense. The Mavericks have not been swept at home this year so tomorrow nights game should be a barn burner.