Wolverines Ground Falcons

Friday, January 20, 2006
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

After playing a list less game against arch-rival Michigan State just three days ago a different Wolverine team showed up tonight to play Bowling Green. The Wolverines jumped out to a quick two to nothing lead and never looked back on their way to a six to one victory over the visiting Falcons.

As the first minute of play was coming to an end a delay penalty was about to be called on the Falcons when the Wolverines negated the penalty call by scoring their first goal of the night. A quick pass behind the net to Mitera led to the first shot which was blocked, but the rebound was not covered and ended up on Ebbetts stick. Getting off a quick shot Ebbett buried the puck in the net and Michigan had the early lead. Both Mitera and Kolarik got assists on the goal.

With just over eighteen minutes to play the Falcons were whistled for the games first penalty putting Michigan on the power play. With fifteen seconds left in this man advantage the Falcons were whistled for a second penalty giving Michigan a short two man advantage. While Michigan didn't score with the two man advantage they did score half way through the second penalty. With fifteen and half minutes left on the clock some quick back and forth passing around the net opened a gap that Cogliano wasted no time taking advantage of when the puck hit his stick he immediately chipped it into the net for the score. Cogliano got credit for the power play goal, while Turnbull and Ebbett each picked up an assist.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan holding a two to nothing lead. Michigan ended the period with an eleven to seven advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan was hit with a penalty at the twenty minute mark of the first period giving Bowling Green a full power play to begin the second period of play. Michigan applied great pressure while short handed getting several scoring chances that were turned away. However, with just five seconds left in the Falcon power play the Wolverines got the puck past the Bowling Green net minder to extend their lead to three goals. The goal was setup by an incredible blind, back hand pass by Cogliano as the skated from left to right in front of the Falcon net. The pass came back to Cook who was all alone with the puck and staring at a wide open net. Cook easily slid the puck into the net for his first goal of the year (and his first career goal). Cogliano and Miller each got an assist on the short handed goal.

Barely two minutes later, with just over sixteen minutes left to play in the period Michigan would score their fourth goal of the game. Some great play by Michigan kept the puck in the Bowling Green zone and some great passing got the puck down deep in that zone. The Wolverines got off a shot that was blocked, but the rebound was not covered. Cogliano got to the loose puck and banged it home for the score. Fardig and Kolarik each picked up an assist.

With the clock just under nine minutes the Falcons would finally get on the board, beating Ruden with a quick shot from in close. The Falcons skated into the zone without much pressure from Michigan. A quick cross ice pass as they closed on the Michigan goal, followed by a quick shot saw the puck hit the back of the Wolverine net.

With just over seven minutes left in the period Hensick received the puck near the Michigan blue line and headed for the Bowling Green end. Making some great moves with the puck, leaving a couple of Falcon defenders dazed and confused, he carried the puck into the Falcon zone eventually burying the puck in the net for Michigan's fifth goal of the game. Porter picked up the lone assist on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan hold a five to one lead. The Wolverines out shot the Falcons fourteen to twelve in the period to end forty minutes of play with a twenty-five to nineteen advantage in shots on goal.

With just over five minutes left to play Michigan used another set of great passes while in close to the Falcon net to setup their sixth goal of the game. Porter finally ended up with the puck and as he skated past the goal he flipped a nice back hand shot behind the goalie for the score. Miller and Hensick each picked up assists on the goal.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of six to one. Michigan ended the game with a thirty-seven to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

This was probably Michigan's best game of the second half as they skated hard from the opening face off to the closing horn. They passed the puck well, worked hard in the corners, and didn't have nearly as many problems protecting the puck in their own zone that they have had in prior games. Now they just have to finish the weekend tomorrow night as they travel to Bowling Green for a Saturday night game against these same Falcons.