|
|
|
Wolverines Pitch Shutout
Friday, December 6, 2006
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Wolverine goal tender, Billy Sauer, turned eighteen today, treating himself and
his team mates to a shut out victory over the visiting Nanooks from Alaska. Michigan
got off to a slow start, surviving a handful of early Nanook scoring chances on
their way to a four to nothing victory.
Michigan got on the board first with the clock just under sixteen minutes when
they punched the puck past the Alaska net minder. The initial shot came from the
boards and was blocked, but the rebound was left on the ice near the right corner
of the net. Michigan had players in place to dig out the puck, putting it into the
net for the early score. Fardig was given credit for the score, while MacVoy and
Dest each picked up an assist.
The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of one
to nothing. The Nanooks held a ten to nine advantage in shots on goal after
twenty minutes of play.
Michigan extended their lead just a minute and a half into the second period
when they got control of the puck in the Alaska zone, skated it the length of the
ice, and buried it in the net. Porter got things going by getting the puck to Hensick
who skated it down the ice along the boards, with Bailey trailing down the center
of the ice. As the Nanook defense went for Hensick and the puck he made a great
pass over to Bailey who blasted the puck into the net for Michigan's second goal of
the contest. Bailey got credit for the goal while both Hensick and Porter picked
up assists.
With just over nine minutes to play in the second period Michigan would notch
their third goal of the game following a flurry of activity in front of the Nanook
net. Miller got off the initial shot that got things started, but it went wide of
net. With the puck now bouncing around the net Michigan got several swats at the
puck as they looked for the goal. It appeared that the Alaska goal tender had the
puck covered when it popped out from under his pads. Seeing the puck Kolarik quickly
punched it into the net to score Michigans third goal of the game. Assists went
to Rohlfs and Miller.
The second period came to an end with Michigan holding a three to nothing lead.
Michigan out shot Alaska thirteen to seven to hold a twenty-two to seventeen
advantage in shots on goal.
Michigan would score their fourth and final goal of the game just as a series
of penalties all expired and clock neared the midpoint of the final period. Just
as those penalties were expiring Porter picked up the puck at the Michigan blue
line and headed through center ice, into the Nanook zone. As Porter came down
the right side the Alaska defense started to close. As they got close he made a
great pass to his left to Hunwick who wasted no time to bury the puck in the net
for the goal. Hunwick got the goal, while Porter and Kolarik each picked up an
assist on the goal.
Following a bit of a brawl at the end of the game the final whistle would blow
with Michigan winning by a score of four to nothing. Michigan ended the game with
a thirty-one to twenty-six advantage in shots on goal.
The Wolverines got the new year off to a good start with this shut out and to add
to the good new Northern beat Miami to draw Michigan within four points of first
place with a game in hand. That Miami loss makes tomorrow nights game even more
important. If Michigan wants to take full advantage of the Redhawk loss they need
to complete the weekend sweep.
|
|
|