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Wolverines Stumble, Fall To Nanooks
Saturday, December 8, 2006
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Michigan once again started slow in this game, however, unlike last night they
didn't survive the slow start as the Nanooks put three goals in the net in
the games first eight minutes to take control of the game. In the end Michigan
could never mount a come back as the Nanooks skated to a four to two victory.
Things started out chippy right from the start with the Nanooks ending up on
the power play barely a minute into the game. They wasted little time, needing
just twenty seconds of power play time to score the games first goal. With the
puck in close to the Michigan net a quick pass from right to left provided the
opening required with a quick shot high to the blocker side found the inside of
the net.
A little over a minute later the Nanooks dumped the puck into the Michigan
zone, getting it behind the net. The Alaska players got to the puck first and
using another quick pass, right to left, they had the puck in the net for their
second goal of the game with just over two minutes ticked off the clock.
With the clock just under twelve minutes and the Nanooks on the power play
with a two man advantage they scored their third goal of the period as they once
again used a right to left pass to find an open back door to the net, making
it look easy as they scored the goal.
The first period would come to and end with Alaska holding the three to nothing
lead. The Nanooks also ended the first period with a sixteen to nine advantage
in shots on goal.
With just under nine minutes left in the second period the Nanooks got the puck
in close to the Michigan net and were bouncing it around down in front of the
net. As a pile of players buried Sauer the Nanooks got the puck in the net for the
score. The play was reviewed and in the end the goal was counted giving the Nanooks
a four to nothing lead.
Barely twenty seconds later, with just over eight minutes to play Michigan got
their first goal of the game. Forcing a turn over at their blue line the Wolverines
broke through center ice and into the Nanook zone all alone. Kolarik carried the
puck straight into the Nanook zone. As he got between the circles he fired a shot
that beat the Nanook net minder to get Michigan on the board. Kolarik got the
goal and Kaleniecki was given an assist.
The third period would come to an end with the Nanooks holding a four to one
lead. Michigan out shot the Nanooks eleven to five in the period, but the Nanooks
clung to a twenty-one to twenty lead in shots on goal.
With just over ten minutes left to play the Wolverines scored their second goal
as they got Sauer off the ice and a sixth attacker on as a delay penalty was going
to be called on Alaska. Michigan got the puck into the Alaska zone along the right
hand boards and got off a shot that beat the Alaska goalie for the score. Miller
got the goal, while Mitera and Turnbull each picked up an assist.
Michigan would get a number of power play opportunities through the final
ten minutes of the game, but they were unable to take advantage of the extra man,
now going zero for their last twenty power plays. The game came to an end with
the Nanooks picking up a four to two victory. Michigan ended the game with a
thirty-five to twenty-four advantage in shots on goal.
Not only did the Wolverines lose a game on home ice that they could not afford
to lose, they gave Miami back the two points that they had picked up on Friday
night when the Redhawks had lost their opening game to Northern. With poor play
and a complete lack of a power play Michigan didn't look like a team ready to
make a run at the CCHA championship. If they want to get that championship they
will need to play much more consistent hockey from this point forward.
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