Wolverines Incinerate Irish

Friday, March 11, 2005
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines, who gave up the games first goal, ended the first twenty minutes of play trailing the Fighting Irish. Unfortunately for the Irish that was the high point of the game for them as the Wolverines lit the lamp seven times in the second period, adding three more tallies in the third on their way to a ten to one victory in the CCHA first round opening game.

While the Wolverines had been carrying the play through most of the period there were no scores until the clock moved down to just over the four minute mark. With the puck behind the net an Irish skater tossed it out in front of the goal into a group of players. As Montoya attempted to get to the puck somebody got a stick on it and nudged it just enough to trickle over the goal line. The Irish had the first goal of the game.

The Wolverines would be whistled for penalties with just under four minutes and just over two minutes (giving the Irish a thirteen second two man advantage), but they killed off both of the penalties. As the first period ended the score was Notre Dame one, Michigan nothing. The Wolverines led the Irish in shots on goal with an eleven to six count.

It would take less than two minutes of the second period before the Wolverines got on the board when Nystrom scored Michigans first goal with just over eighteen minutes left in the period. Brown had the puck in the Notre Dame zone and hesitated just long enough for Nystrom to get open down low. As soon as he was open Brown passed the puck down and Nystrom tapped it home for the score. Both Brown and Dest picked up assists on the goal.

Barely fifteen seconds later the Irish were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. It only took ten seconds of the power play for the Wolverines to take the lead and they never looked back. Michigan moved the puck very well as this power play got under way, with quick crisp passes. With the puck low and left of the goal Tambellini suddenly came open in the high slot. Nystrom got the puck quickly out to Tambellini who got off an even quicker shot to score the power play goal with seventeen and half minutes to play in the period. Nystrom and Ebbett each picked up an assist.

With just over thirteen minutes to play Ryznar carried the puck from one end of the ice to the other, getting off a booming shot that the Irish net minder blocked, but the rebound popped out in front of the net. As the puck lay in front of the goal Woodford swooped in and chipped it into the goal, going top shelf over the goalies glove. Gajic and Ryznar picked up assists on the goal.

After Michigan scored their third goal Notre Dame took their time out to try and settle things down. Unfortunately for the Irish it only delayed the onslaught. With just over twelve minutes left to play Michigan dug the puck off the boards and got it to Gajic who was at the top of the right circle. As soon as he got the puck he rifled a shot that beat the Irish goalie clean for Michigans fourth goal of the period. Assists went to Dest and Werner. Notre Dame switched goalies following this goal.

With the clock just under the six minute mark the Irish were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan back on the power play. With just over five minutes to play, barley thirty seconds into the power play, Michigan had goal number five. Once again it was some great passing that created the opening needed for the score. Hensick got things started with a quick pass to Gajic, who got a quick pass to Rogers, who tapped the puck into a wide open net. Rogers got the power play goal, while Gajic and Hensick each got assists.

With just over four minutes to play Notre Dame once again put Michigan on the power play as they were once again in the sin bin. Michigan continued to roll with the man advantage as they continued to use great puck movement to create openings in the Irish defense. Michigan moved the puck quickly around the zone, finally getting it down to Kolarik who was stationed at the back door. As he has done several times this year Kolarik deflected the puck into the net off one of the opponents players for the power play goal. Ebbett and Tambellini each picked up assists on the goal.

With just under three minutes to play one player from each team was sent to the penalty box. With just over one minute to play and twenty-four seconds in the prior penalties the Irish were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. It looked like the period might end with a six to one Michigan lead, but with just seven seconds left on the clock Michigan knocked in a goal for their seventh of the period. Michigan got off a shot from out front of the net that didn't have much on it and looked like it would be easily blocked. Just as it got to the net it was deflected just enough to get it past the Irish net minder, through the five hole, and into the net. Kolarik got credit for the goal while Hensick and Rogers each picked up assists.

The second period came to an end with Michigan holding a commanding seven to one lead. Michigan continued to dominate in shots on goal, out shooting the Irish twenty to five in the period. That left Michigan with a thirty-one to eleven shot advantage through two periods.

With the big six goal lead and no chance of a shut out Michigan started Ruden in goal at the start of the third period.

Both teams were moving the puck up and down the ice as play got underway in the third period. Michigan would once again start the scoring with just over fourteen minutes to play in the period. Rogers were jump on a loose puck between the circles. He drew back for a big shot, but a group of players suddenly got between him and the goal making any kind of shot all but impossible. Showing great patience he pulled back on his shot, shifted slightly to one side, waited for an opening, and then banged the puck into the net for the score. Ebbett and Nystrom each picked up assists on the score.

With just over thirteen minutes to play Hensick made a great out let pass to Porter who carried the puck into the Irish zone. As he closed on the net he deked the goalie and slid the puck into the net for Michigans ninth goal of the game. Assists went to Hensick and Martens.

After giving up their ninth goal the Irish brought in their third goalie of the night. With just over five minutes to play Michigan brought in Mayhew to get a little game time between the pipes.

As time began to run down it looked like the game might end without another score, but with just fifty seconds left Michigan notched their tenth goal of the game, third of the third period. Gajic intercepted the puck at the blue line and carried it into the Irish zone. As he approached the goal he made a little move that created just enough of an opening for him to bury the puck in the net. Woodford and Hunwick each picked up assists on the goal.

The game came to an end with Michigan winning by a ten to one score. The Wolverines ended the game with a forty-two to fifteen advantage in shots on goal.

A tremendous opening game in the first round of the CCHA playoffs as the Wolverines put the conference on notice that they are ready for the playoffs. While they didn't exactly play bad in the first period they took things to an entirely different level in the second and third periods, simply dominating the Irish in every phase of the game. While you would like to think that tomorrow nights game will be just as easy its probably a safe bet that the Irish will keep things much closer. It should be a battle as the Wolverines look to end the best two out of three series tomorrow night.