Wolverines Complete Sweep of Falcons

Saturday, December 11, 2004
BGSU Ice Arena, Bowling Green, Ohio

Just like last night the Wolverines spotted the Falcons an early lead and then battled the rest of the way to get out of Bowling Green with a one goal victory. The win completed a sweep over the Falcons and ended the first half of the season on a high note as they prepare for the mid season break.

It would take the Falcons just over two minutes to get the puck past the Michigan net minder and take the early lead in this game. Michigan turned the puck over deep in their own zone and the Falcons jumped all over it. While the initial shot was blocked the rebound was not covered and the puck was chipped into the net for the score. The entire sequence of events from turnover to score was very similar to sequence of events that took place in last nights game.

The Falcons would continue to hold their one goal lead through much of the first period, in fact it looked like the period might end with that score, but things changed rapidly with just over one minute to play. While skating four on four Michigan suddenly found themselves on a two to one break into the Falcon zone. Nystrom was carrying the puck into the zone, waiting for some help. Dest was trailing the play, skating hard into the zone and Nystrom, showing great patience, waited until the last second before he send a little back hand pass over to Dest. Dest wasted no time, taking a one timer that beat the Falcon net minder top shelf. Both Nystrom and Ebbett picked up an assist on the score.

Just five seconds later, off the ensuing face off, Tambellini was charging into the Falcon zone with the puck. Using a great shot fake Tambellini back handed a pass over to Moss who fired a rocket into the back of the net to give Michigan the lead. Tambellini got the lone assist.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan holding a two to one lead. The Wolverines held a slight edge in shots on goal with a nine to six count.

The Falcons started the second period with 1:53 of power play time and a quick penalty against the Wolverines gave the Falcons a two man advantage for over one minute. It wasn't so much the extra attacker that ended up tying the game as it was a strange bounce of the puck. The Falcons were dumping the puck into the Michigan zone and Montoya had left the net to stop the puck behind the goal. The puck hit the boards and took a strange bounce that redirected it across the ice and into the net. With his back to the play Montoya could not recover fast enough to prevent the puck from dribbling over the goal line.

With just over eight minutes played the Falcons would regain the lead, again with a strange set of events. Montoya moved out from the net to jump on a puck, but he didn't move fast enough and the Bowling Green player beat him to the puck. Just before he would have landed on the puck the Falcons skater scooped it out from underneath him and slipped it into the net for their third goal of the game.

With just over four minutes left to play in the period Michigan would once again get the game tied. The Wolverines had just failed to take advantage of a fairly long two man advantage when they found a way to get the puck into the net. The Falcons were looking to change some players when they ran into some confusion during their change. That confusion allowed the Wolverines to get the puck to Kaleniecki who blasted the puck into the net to once again tie the game. Assists on the goal went to Hensick and Gajic.

The second period would come to an end with the score all tied at three goals each. The Wolverines ended the second period of play with a twenty-four to thirteen advantage in shots on goal.

Once again the Falcons would strike early in the period when they got a blast past Montoya with just over two minutes played. Sending a one timer sizzing to the goal from the slot the puck beat Montoya high over the glove.

With just under four minutes played a great goal by Hensick would once again tie the game. Picking up a rebound Hensick would circle behind the net, coming back out front on the other side. Again showing great patience Hensick would wait for the shot to open and then he banged it home to tie the game. Hunwick and Brown each picked up assists on the goal.

With just under seven minutes played Hunwick would blast a shot from the high slot that was just deflected down in front by Moss. The redirect was just enough to get the puck past the Falcon net minder to put Michigan in the lead for good. Both Martens and Hunwick picked up assists on the game winning goal.

The game came to an end with the Wolverines holding a five to four lead to get the victory. They ended the game with a thirty-four to twenty-six advantage in shots on goal.

It was a tough game, as they tend to be when the Wolverines head down to Bowling Green, but in the end the Wolverines were able to find a way to get the win. The win allowed the Wolverines to move into a three point lead in the CCHA race as the first half ended, just ahead of the Ohio State Buckeyes. While all the players will now contend with final exams, five Wolverines will prepare to play in the World Junior Championships while the rest of the team will prepare for this years GLI tournament.