Wolverines Get Win At Munn

Thursday, November 18, 2004
Munn Ice Arena, East Lansing, Michigan

It was January 7, 2000, almost five full years ago, that's the last time the University of Michigan Ice Hockey team managed to get a win at Munn Arena. That all changed tonight when the Wolverines, who trailed in almost every statistical category, used a stifling team defense and an aggressive fore check to come away with a very important win over the Spartans on their home ice.

While the first period started out fast paced and hard hitting neither team would score a goal or draw a penalty until mid way through the first period of play. The Spartans would be whistled for the games first penalty with the clock showing just over ten minutes left to play. The Wolverines couldn't really get anything running well on this power play and the Spartans had it killed seemingly before it had begun.

Even though they spent the first period getting outshot Michigan would draw first blood in this game finding the net just as the clock moved under the seven minute mark. The Spartans would win a face off to the left of the Spartan goal tender, but they would turn it over to Michigan along the boards. A quick pass out to the high slot found Hensick all alone. Taking a couple of quick steps toward the net Hensick let loose a shot that beat the Spartan net minder top shelf to put Michigan on the board. Hensick got the goal, while Brown picked up an assist.

Michigan would get hit with their first penalty of the game with just twenty-two seconds left in the period. The Spartans would get a chance, but the first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of one to nothing. The Spartans held a huge edge in shots on goal ending one period of play with a sixteen to eight shot advantage.

The Spartans started the second period with 1:38 of power play time, but they would be unable to take advantage of the extra man. However, with just over seventeen minutes to play the Wolverines would once again head to the sin bin and this time it would prove costly. The Spartans hadn't gotten much going on this second straight power play, but they as they moved into the final forty-five seconds of power play time they got down close and got a shot on Montoya. Montoya blocked the shot, but a Spartan landed on him, taking him to the ice, and out of play. With the puck bouncing around in front of the net and Montoya on his back, the Spartans were able to chip it into the net to tie the game.

Michigan would be whistled for a third straight penalty just ten seconds after the Spartans had scored their power play goal to tie the game, but just ten seconds into this man advantage the Spartans were whistled for their first penalty of the period to end the power play and set Michigan up for a very short power play. No scoring would come while the teams skated four on four or while Michigan was on the power play.

With just over nine minutes to play Michigan would get a second power play in the second period. While they would come close a couple of times, they would be unable to score with the man advantage.

With just over seven minutes to play, just as the Spartans had returned to full strength, there was a face off at center ice. The puck came out to Rohlfs who was all alone and had a step on everyone. With the puck on his stick he charged into the Spartan zone, going straight down the slot. As he closed with the net he switched to his back hand and just flipped the puck up over the Spartan net minders shoulder to score the Wolverines second goal of the game. The goal was unassisted.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of two to one. The Wolverines out shot the Spartans nine to eight in the period, but still trailed the Spartans who held a twenty-four to seventeen advantage in shots on goal through two periods of play.

Michigan would get whistled for a penalty with just fifty-eight seconds ticked off the clock in the final period of play. However, it would be Michigan striking while a man short for their third short handed goal of the year. Michigan got the Spartans tangled up in their own zone, forcing a turnover at the Spartan blue line. Michigan came into the Spartan zone with a two on one break, getting off a shot that was blocked. The rebound came right up the slot where a streaking Werner picked it up and blasted it through a host of bodies in front of the Spartan net to extend the Wolverine lead to two goals, short handed style. Moss picked up the lone assist.

Just as the clock moved under the fifteen minute mark Michigan would strike for a fourth goal, their third straight to really take control of the game. It all started when Hensick stole the puck from a Spartan between the circles. He spun and shot, but the shot was blocked. The puck went into the corner where both teams tried to get control, but it would be Brown for Michigan who would come out of the tangle with the puck. He skated behind the Spartan goal and just stuffed a wrap around shot between the post and Spartan goal tender for Michigan's fourth goal of the game. The goal was scored as unassisted.

Just as the clock moved under five minutes the Spartans would cut the Michigan lead to two goals as the Wolverines got a little lax on defense leaving a Spartan completely alone in front of the net. A quick pass from behind the net to the unmolested Spartan and a quick flick of the wrist had the Spartans on the board for the second time in this game.

There would be no further scoring as Michigan won by a score of four to two. The Spartans ended the game with a thirty-one to twenty-two advantage in shots on goal.

This was a huge win for the Wolverines, winning at Munn Arena for the first time since January of 2000. Both teams get a night off and then they face each other again, this time at Yost. You can bet the Spartans will be looking to turn the tables on the Wolverines, but if Michigan can hold home ice it would be a huge weekend to start their run through the final month of the first half.