Wolverines Slip Past Under-18's

Saturday, February 26, 2005
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines didn't play their best game of the season by any stretch, but they managed to put together a solid third period to save themselves from what would have been a somewhat embarrassing loss to the National Under-18 team. The US team took it to the Wolverines right from the opening face off and never let up. It took a goal with just 5.3 seconds left in the third period to put Michigan over the top and secure the win. The Under-18's absorbed the gut wrenching loss, while the Wolverines let out a collective sigh of relief.

You knew things were going to be tough for Michigan right from the start of this game as an absolutely terrible play in the Michigan led to a turnover right in front of Montoya. The puck popped out and dropped to the ice in front of and slightly to Montoyas right. Future Wolverine Dan Fardig was right there to chip it into the net and just twenty-three seconds into the game the US team was up one to nothing.

Michigan would tie the score just as the clock moved under the fourteen minute mark of the opening period. Michigan had gotten the puck down deep in the US zone and fired off a shot that was blocked, but the rebound wasn't covered. Tambellini got his stick on the puck, maneuvered around a couple of defensemen, and squeezed the puck between the goalie and the post to tie the game. Porter and Hensick each picked up an assist on the goal.

With just over nine minutes to play in the period Team USA would regain the lead off a shot from the point by future Wolverine Jack Johnson. The shot went through a lot of traffic and as it got close to the net it hit and deflected off a Michigan defender, slipping past Montoya for the score.

The first period would come to an end with Team USA holding a two to one lead, with both goals being scored by future Wolverines. While the Under-18's held the lead on the score board the Wolverines held a large advantage in shots on goal with a thirteen to five count.

Team USA started the second period with thirty-eight seconds of power play time, but they would not be able to take advantage of the extra attacker.

With the clock showing just under eighteen minutes to play in the second stanza Martens got off a blistering shot from the high slot. The shot was screened somewhat screened and beat the USA goalie high, tucking neatly into the top corner of the net. Both Gajic and Moss picked up assists on the goal.

With just over seventeen minutes left to play Team USA was whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Moving the puck well in the US zone the Wolverines kept the pressure on with the extra man and that pressure finally paid off. With just twenty-nine seconds left in the power play, just under sixteen minutes left in the period, Michigan got the puck over go Gajic who was positioned at the lower right face off circle. As soon as the puck hit his stick he blasted a shot that was past the Team USA goalie before he knew what was happening. Hunwick and Rogers picked up assists on the Gajic power play goal and the Wolverines had their first lead of the game.

While the Wolverines now had the lead Team USA wasn't done by a long shot. With just over fourteen minutes to play in the period a Team USA player carried the puck from their zone, through neutral ice, and into the Wolverine zone. Skating around a couple of Michigan defenders, making them look like their skates were frozen to the ice, the Team USA player marched right in on the Michigan goal, stuffing the puck past Ruden to score Team USA's third goal of the game.

With the clock moving just under the nine minute mark everyone in the Arena got a glimpse of why every school has been recruiting Phil Kessel. Kessel had the puck on the left wing when he fired off a quick shot that squeezed between Ruden and the post over his blocker. Just like that Team USA was once again in the lead.

With just over six minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting Team USA on the power play. With the clock just under six minutes the Wolverines were whistled for a second penalty giving Team USA a two man advantage for 1:28. Using great puck movement in the Michigan zone Team USA finally got the puck down low to Kessel who had been left all alone standing at the back door. As the puck hit his stick he snapped it into the net for his second straight goal of the night.

The second period would come to an end with Team USA leading by a score of five to three. Team USA out shot the Wolverines eighteen to fifteen in the period, but Michigan still held an overall twenty-eight to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock just under the fifteen minute mark in the final stanza Tambellini received a pass at center ice and streaked into the Team USA zone down the right side of the ice. As he got to the face off circle he wristed a shot that beat the Team USA goalie and cut the Team USA lead to one goal. Hensick and Hunwick each picked up assists on the goal.

With just under twelve minutes to play Team USA was whistled for a penalty. Michigan was putting on a lot of pressure, but had been held off the score board and then with just over ten minutes to play Team USA was hit with their second penalty, giving Michigan a two man advantage for thirty-nine seconds. It would only take about eighteen seconds with the two man advantage and the Wolverines would tie the game with a power play goal. Ebbett had the puck behind the Team USA goal, feeding the puck quickly out front to Porter who was positioned just to the right of the crease. As soon as he got the puck Porter jammed it into the USA goal for the game tying goal. Ebbett and Kolarik each picked up assists on the goal.

It looked like the game was going to overtime as the clock was ticking rapidly down to zero, but the Wolverines put on one last frenzy of shots in the closing seconds of the game. With Team USA unable to clear the puck Michigan got a pass over to Tambellini on the far side of the slot. From there Tambellini slipped the puck past the Team USA net minder for the game winning goal with just 5.3 seconds left to play. Hunwick and Rogers each picked up assists on the goal.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of six to five. The Wolverines ended the game with a forty-seven to thirty advantage in shots on goal.

While Team USA has beaten quite a few Division I hockey teams over the years, tonights dramatic come from behind win kept the Wolverines from being one of those teams. However, as difficult as the loss may be for Team USA to swallow they have to know what an outstanding job they did, taking the Wolverines right to the edge. It was a great game for all concerned. Team USA came oh so close to getting their first win over Michigan, the Wolverines found a way to win at the end, and the fans got to see five of next years Wolverines about seven months before the put on the maize and blue for the first time. If these players are any indication of the strength of Michigans incoming class next year, then the future looks bright indeed.

Since tonights game was an exhibition game neither it or statistics (like goals, assists, etc...) count toward season records. The Wolverines return to CCHA play with the conference title on the line next Friday at Bowling Green.