Badgers Sweep Wolverines From Showcase

Saturday, November 27, 2004
Kohl Center, Madison, Wisconsin

While the Wolverines played somewhat better they didn't play that much better as their defense wasn't that good and their offense continued to produce very little punch as the Wisconsin Badgers beat the Wolverines by a three to one score. The loss was the second year in a row that Michigan has been unable to find a win in the College Hockey Showcase.

The Badgers were whistled for a penalty in the first minute of play, but Michigan was unable to take advantage of the extra man. It would take Michigan about four minutes but they would then real off three straight penalties that would leave them on the penalty kill for the greater part of the first ten minutes of play. They managed to overcome two, two man advantages and the lengthy power play time without giving up a goal, but the Badgers had come very close on several occasions.

With just over seven minutes to play in the period an innocent looking set of plays led to Wisconsins first goal of the game. Following a face off in the Michigan zone the puck was bouncing around the ice down around the Michigan goal, but it looked like Michigan would easily get control and move it out of their zone. Instead, no Wolverines seemed able to get a stick on the puck and finally a Badger got down in front of the goal and just chipped the puck between Montoyas pads for the score.

Michigan would get back to even late in the first period when Kolarik would beat the goal tender to the far side of the net. Tambellini was bringing the puck up the ice and saw Kolarik flying into the Wisconsin zone. He bounced a pass off the boards to Kolarik who continued down the right side, finally firing the shot that would beat the goalie and put Michigan on the board. Both Tambellini and Werner would pick up assists on the goal.

The Badgers would get whistled for a penalty late in the first period, but as the clock wound down to zero it was still Michigan one, Wisconsin one. The Badgers out shot the Wolverines thirteen to six for the period.

Michigan started the second period on the power play, but couldn't take advantage of the extra man. The Badgers would actually get whistled for a second penalty just after the carry over penalty expired, giving Michigan more power play time, but the Wolverines were incapable of finding the back of the net with the extra man.

The play would continue up and down the ice until Gajic would get whistled for a penalty that would prove costly as the Wolverines were desperately looking for a win. About midway through the power play the Badgers got a quick pass from one side to the other where a quick shot put the puck in the net and the Badgers had their first power play goal of the game.

It looked like Michigan would get a great chance to get back to even when the Badgers were sent to the sin bin with under five minutes left to play in the period. During the power play the Wolverines got caught with five forwards on the ice and with no experienced defensemen out there the Wisconsin player made it look easy as he cruised over the Michigan blue line, closed on the goal, and beat Montoya over his glove for a short handed goal.

The second period would come to an end with Wisconsin leading by a score of three to one. Michigan out shot the Badgers nine to eight in the period, but Wisconsin continued to lead in shots on goal with a twenty-one to fifteen count.

The third period would see both teams move the puck up and down the ice, but neither team, especially the Wolverines, was able to score another goal. The game would come to an end with Wisconsin on top by a three to one score. The Badgers ended the game with a twenty-eight to twenty-four advantage in shots on goal.

For the second straight year the Wolverines have been swept in the College Hockey Showcase and right now it looks like the Wolverines are in a downward spiral. Even though they swept the Spartans last week, they had been exhibiting some poor defensive play, especially on Saturday of that weekend. This weekend those defensive lapses were even more evident as both teams got far to many quality shots on the Michigan goal. Michigan's troubles don't stop there as their power play continues to be anemic, their offense when playing five on five has disappeared, and in an environment that should have brought out tournament like intensity, the Wolverines appeared lost. Michigan returns to CCHA play this weekend and they need to get back on the winning side of things to at least protect their position in the conference. They won't have to worry about any number one ranking for quite some time after this weekend of play so perhaps now they'll get back to playing sound hockey and get back on the winning track.