Wolverines Sweep Mavericks To Hold Lead

Saturday, February 12, 2005
Qwest Center, Omaha, Nebraska

The Mavericks started this game flying, while the Wolverines started it crawling giving up an early lead, then having to fight their way back, before finally finding a way to win the game. This was the first sweep suffered by the Mavericks on their home ice this season and they certainly made the Wolverines work for the sweep.

The Wolverines seemed to have lead in their skates, while the Mavericks looked like they had wings as they had Michigan scrambling to keep up right from the opening face off. With the clock closing on the fifteen minute mark the Mavericks scored the games first goal. Using some great passing around the Michigan zone they got the puck to an open Maverick in the high slot. Wasting no time he banged a shot past Montoya for the early lead.

With just over eight minutes played and the teams skating four on four the Mavericks fired in their second goal of the game to extend their lead to two. Two things happened that made this goal easier for the Mavericks than it should have been. First, they caught Michigan in a line change and second Michigan turned the puck over giving the Mavericks even more room to work. A Maverick walked in on the Michigan goal, deked Montoya, and slid the puck into the net for the goal.

The first period came to an end with Nebraska leading by a score of two to nothing. The Wolverines ended the first period with a slight eight to six edge in shots on goal.

With the clocking showing that exactly two minutes had been played in the second stanza the Mavericks were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play early in the period. Pinching down from the point Hunwick was skating hard down the right side of the ice. While skating he fired off a shot that surprised the Maverick net minder to give Michigan their first goal of the game. Assists on the power play goal went to Nystrom and Werner.

The Mavericks got the lead back to two goals shortly after Michigan cut it to one, keeping the Wolverines chasing. With just over three minutes played the puck was bouncing around in front of the Michigan net with a fairly large group of players from both teams all whacking at the puck. Out of the forest of legs and sticks a Maverick player was able to get just enough of his stick on the puck to chip it into the net to regain the Mavericks two goal lead.

With just over fifteen minutes left to play the Mavericks were sent to the sin bin putting Michigan back on the power play. With the clock just under the fifteen minute mark the Wolverines struck for the second time in the period to once again cut the lead to one goal. This time Michigan caught the Mavericks in a line change and got the puck to Hensick who then streaked right down the slot all alone. He made a move as he closed on the Maverick goal, driving the puck to the back of the Nebraska net for the score. Assists went to Kolarik and Montoya.

The second period came to an end with the Mavericks leading by a score of three to two. The Wolverines expanded their lead in shots on goal ending two periods of play with a twenty-six to eleven shot advantage in the category.

It would take almost eleven minutes before Michigan would get the games tying goal and once again it would be Hensick doing the damage. Carrying the puck from one end of the arena to the other Hensick closed on the Maverick goal and fired off a hard fore hand shot that beat the Maverick net minder, tying the score at three. Porter and Martens each picked up an assist on the goal.

The game would remain tied until just over two minutes of regulation time remained. Michigan had the puck down deep in the Maverick zone, eventually pushing the puck toward the Nebraska goal. With the puck in front of the goal several players from both teams were trying to hit the puck. Michigan was trying to get it in the net, while the Mavericks were trying to clear it out. In the end it would be Michigans David Moss who would get enough of a stick on the puck to knock it into the Maverick net, putting the Wolverines ahead for the first time in the game. The lone assist went to Hensick.

With about one and half minutes to play Michigan iced the puck, putting the face off deep in the Michigan zone; at that time Nebraska took their time out. The Maverick goalie returned to the game, but came out with roughly one minute to play. With the Maverick net open the play was taking place in the Michigan zone. With about forty-five seconds to play Michigan took a time out to insure that they knew what they needed to do. With about thirty-five seconds to play both teams sent a player to the penalty box, but the Mavericks kept their six on five advantage. With ten seconds left in regulation time Michigan was whistled for a penalty, giving the Mavericks a two man advantage. The Wolverines were able to hold the Mavericks at bay and slip away with the win.

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

The Mavericks hadn't been swept at home this season and they surely make the Wolverines work for the privilege of being the first team to gain that distinction. The somewhat slow start didn't help Michigan's cause, but for the second straight night the power play played a big role in the Wolverine victory. The other factor for Michigan in this game was TJ Hensick. He scored two goals and assisted on the game winner as he continues to step up when Michigan needs a play.

The sweep allowed Michigan to maintain their slim one point lead over Ohio State in the CCHA race. Next week Michigan has a home and home with Notre Dame, playing Friday night at a neutral site in Fort Wayne (still considered a Notre Dame home game) and on Saturday night at Yost Arena. Meanwhile the Buckeyes will be playing just an hour up the road in East Lansing as they take on the Spartans in a two game stand at Munn.