Wolverines Shut Out Bulldogs

Friday, October 29, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

While the Wolverines still got out to a somewhat slow start, they played much better defense giving up one of their lowest shot totals of the season in route to a three to nothing shutout over the Ferris State Bulldogs.

The first period was very defensive as the Bulldogs seemed to have Michigan a bit off their stride in the early going. There were a number of times when Ferris almost got behind the defense, but Michigan was just fast enough to recover.

It took just over six minutes for the first penalty to be called in this game, with each team seeing two power plays in the first period. Neither team could convert with the man advantage and the first period came to an end with the score still tied at zero. The shots on goal were indicative of the defensive nature of the period as both teams ended twenty minutes of play with six shots.

Michigan had a lot more zip in the second period generating a number of good scoring chances and keeping constant pressure on the Bulldog goal. That pressure finally paid off when Ebbett and Porter led a two on one break into the Bulldog zone. As Ebbett reached the circles the Ferris goalie positioned himself to take on the shot but a quick pass over to Porter left the freshman with an easy shot into a wide open net for the games first tally. Assists went to Ebbett and Gajic.

About five minutes later Michigan would notch their second goal of the period in a very unusual way. The puck had been shot toward the Bulldog net and Gajic had been dragged down to the ice. With the puck laying on the ice and the Bulldog goalie not seeing it, Gajic was able to get just enough of his stick on the puck to get it over the goal line while still laying on the ice. Both Ebbett and Tambellini picked up assists on the goal.

A number of penalties through the final half of the second period left both teams mostly playing special teams, with neither team again finding the back of the net. The second period ended with Michigan leading by a score of two to nothing. The Wolverines out shot the Bulldogs twenty-two to six in the period to end two periods of play with a twenty-eight to twelve advantage in shots on goal.

The third period was marred by a number of penalties as play got chippy. While neither team was able to score with the man advantage Michigan's special teams would have one final statement to make. With just over half the period gone Michigan was killing a penalty when Mike Brown broke into the Bulldog zone with the puck. As he came down the right wing he let fly a booming shot that beat Brown low to the stick side for Michigan's third goal of the game. Assists went to Nystrom and Rogers.

The game came to an end with Michigan winning by a score of three to nothing. The Wolverines ended the game with a thirty-seven to seventeen advantage in shots on goal.

It looked like both teams had adjusted to the new rule enforcement in this game as things started out without a penalty in the first six minutes or so of play. However, once the penalties started to come they just wouldn't stop. Between both teams there were a total of twenty-four penalties, although quite a number of those would come in three different groups when players continued well beyond the whistle. This was the first game of the season that Michigan failed to connect on the power play, going zero for eight on the night. Tomorrow Michigan makes the trip to Big Rapids where they always seem to struggle. If the Wolverines want to keep their CCHA record unblemished they will have to play their best game of the season to date.