Wolverines Clip Redhawks

Friday, November 5, 2004
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines used an aggressive defense, stifling penalty kill, and a powerful power play to completely dominate the Miami Redhawks on their way to a weekend opening five to two victory.

Michigan got things going early in this game, scoring their first goal less than two minutes into the contest. The Wolverines were battling hard for the puck along the boards to the right of the Miami goal. As they worked the puck toward the blue line Moss got control and made a great pass over to the far circle where Tambellini had been left all alone. As soon as the puck hit his stick he rifled a shot that beat the Miami net minder clean to give Michigan their first goal of the night, just one minute forty seconds into the contest. Moss picked up the only assist on the goal.

The teams would trade penalties through the middle of the period, but a penalty with just under three minutes left to play in the period would prove costly for Michigan. Already down one man Michigan was going to be called for a second penalty, so the Redhawks pulled their goalie out and got an extra attacker on the ice for a six on four advantage. While Michigan scrambled to get the puck out of the zone the Redhawks got off a shot that was coming right down the slot. A Michigan defenseman blocked the shot, but it dropped to the ice right in front of the goal. Before another Michigan player could get to it and before Montoya could adjust to the new situation the Redhawks had the puck in the net and had the game tied at one.

Michigan would be whistled for another penalty with just under two minutes to play in the period. This time they held the Redhawks at bay until the period could come to a close with the score all tied at one. The Wolverines had almost doubled the shots on goal, ending one period of play with a thirteen to seven advantage in the category.

Miami would start the second period with twelve seconds of power play time, but they would be unable to get anything done in that short period of time. Just as the clock moved under the eighteen minute mark the Redhawks would head to the sin bin and Michigan would move to the power play. Michigan was working the puck around the Miami zone well, moving it from one side to the other, then back over, getting Miami more and more off balance. With just over seventeen minutes to play in the period and with 1:21 of power play time left the Wolverines found Tambellini, once again left all alone to the goal tenders left. This time he was standing at or just outside the goal line, making a nifty goal from the flat angle to put Michigan back on top. Both Moss and Hunwick picked up assists on the power play goal.

Again the teams would spend the middle of the period trading penalties, but this time it would be Michigan finding a way to score late in the period to extend their lead. The Redhawks had been whistled for a penalty just as the clock moved under the five minute mark. The Redhawks had been fairly successful in disrupting this Wolverine power play. That would all change with just thirty-seven seconds left in the man advantage. The Wolverines came charging into the Miami zone, driving deep down the slot and getting off a shot. The shot was blocked, but Kolarik was stationed just to the left of the Miami goal. The puck bounced his way, he got his stick on it, and bounced the puck into the net off the Miami goal tender. Hensick and Werner picked up assists on this power play goal.

Miami would be whistled for another penalty with just twenty-four seconds left in the period, but period two would come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a three to one score. The shots were pretty even in the second period, but Michigan continued to lead in that category with a twenty-four to seventeen edge.

Michigan started the final period of play with 1:36 of power play time, but they would not be able to take advantage of the man advantage. Michigan would kill off a penalty of their own in the early going of the period, but a Miami penalty with about seven and a half minutes left to play would prove costly to the Redhawks.

Miami had tied up Michigan in the neutral zone, but suddenly Moss broke out of the tangle of bodies with the puck and headed into the Miami zone. Tambellini saw the break begin and headed into the zone to Mosses right. As Moss closed on the goal he drew the Miami net minder to him. Moss made a quick pass over to Tambellini who got off another booming shot that beat the Miami net minder clean for Michigan's fourth goal of the game. Both Moss and Hunwick picked up assists on the goal.

With just under three minutes to play and the game getting real chippy the Redhawks made yet another trip to the sin bin and once again Michigan would make them pay. With the puck in the Miami zone, but along the left side boards, Hensick got control and circled away from the boards toward the middle of the ice. He kept circling, using a burst of speed to suddenly separate from the Miami defender. As he broke open he got off a shot that found the back of the net and Michigan had their fourth power play goal of the night, fifth goal of the game. Ebbett picked up the lone assist on the goal.

With about a minute and a half left to play tempers flared and everyone on the ice except the goaltenders ended up in the penalty box. A few game misconducts were handed out and Captain Eric Nystrom ended up with a game disqualification when he came charging back out of the penalty box to apparently continue his discussion with a Miami player. In the end Miami ended up with one extra penalty putting Michigan back on the power play. While the Wolverines had the extra man, it would be Miami who would come up with a short handed goal with just thirty-nine seconds left in the game as Michigan had gotten a little lax in their defense.

That would be the final score of the game as the final buzzer sounded Michigan had the win with a five to two score. The Wolverines ended the game with a thirty-four to twenty advantage in shots on goal.

This was probably Michigan's best game of the season to date as they played consistently hard from beginning to end. They constantly disrupted any attempts by Miami to get any offensive flow going and for the first time in a while had multiple power play goals in one game. Tambellini also had a great night of play, getting the hat trick. This is one of those rare weekends on this years schedule that see a two game home stand against a CCHA opponent as these two teams will do it all over again tomorrow night.