Wolverines Get Shut Out

Saturday, October 30, 2004
Ewigleben Ice Arena, Big Rapids, Michigan

After shutting out the Bulldogs at Yost last night the Wolverines had the tables turned as their road woes continue, especially in Big Rapids. After playing a physical game, that saw both teams flying up and down the ice for most of the night, it was a weird hop and an unlikely scorer in overtime that led to Michigan's one to nothing loss.

The first period was much like every other game we've seen so far this year, with both teams combining for ten penalties. While not every penalty resulted in power plays, since several penalties were handed out in pairs, neither team was able to score with the extra man. The first period ended with the score still knotted at zero. Michigan held a slight edge in shots on goal, ending one period of play with a ten to eight advantage in the category.

The second period was fairly fast paced. Both Michigan and Ferris were whistled for penalties in the first five minutes of the period, but neither team would take advantage of the extra man. Those were the only two penalties of the period until the clock was inside the final two minutes of the period, when the Wolverines would get whistled for a second period. Michigan successfully held the Bulldogs at bay to finish two periods of play with the score still tied at zero. Michigan dominated the shots in this period out shooting Ferris fifteen to three, ending two periods of play with a twenty-five to eleven advantage in shots on goal.

There were only a handful of penalties called in the third period, with each team getting one power play. Both teams would fail to score on those power plays. Regulation time would come to an end with the score still tied at zero. Shots were even in the third, but Michigan held a thirty-three to nineteen advantage in shots on goal through three periods of play.

It would take less than two minutes for the game to end when Matt Rutkowski got off a shot from the top of the left circle. It wasn't a huge shot, but it kind of hopped along the ice, took a weird hop just as it reached Montoya. With the puck hopping strangely it just slipped between Montoyas blocker and his stick, ending up in the net. The unassisted goal gave Ferris the one to nothing overtime victory. That was the only shot registered in the 1:52 of overtime that was played making the final totals in shots on goal thirty-three for the Wolverines and twenty for Ferris.

Even after playing a solid road game the Wolverines still come up empty as their road woes seem to continue. That score ended a run of over 150 minutes of scoreless hockey for Montoya, cost the Wolverines two points in CCHA play, and continued a string of inventive ways this Michigan team has found to lose on the road over the last season and a half. Next weekend the Wolverines host Miami for a pair of games between two of the CCHA's top teams.