Another Wolverine/Spartan Tie

Friday, January 27, 2006
Munn Ice Arena, East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan and Michigan State have not been able to decide winners in their games many times in recent history and tonight was no different. All the scoring took place in the first period and nobody was able to get a puck past a goal tender the remainder of the night as the game ended in a one to one tie after sixty-five minutes of play.

Michigan's defense once again gets lazy and it leads to a Spartan goal to give the arch rival an early lead. The Spartans had the puck in the Michigan zone and banged it behind the goal off the back boards. The puck bounced back out front and before Sauer could tell what was going on the puck was behind him and the Spartans had the early lead with just over fourteen minutes to play.

Michigan gets a late period goal as Kaleniecki gets a huge goal to tie the game and give the Wolverines new life. The Spartans turned the puck over and Kolarick scooped it up, flying into the Spartan zone. He got off a shot that was blocked, but the rebound was not covered and Kaleniecki was right there to put the puck into the net to tie the score with under one minute to play. Kolarik picked up the lone assist.

The first period came to an end with the game all tied at one goal each. The Wolverines ended the first period of play with an eight to seven advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan starts the second period with 1:14 of power play time. Both teams would see power play chances come and go, but neither team was able to score. The second period would end with the game still tied at one goal each. Michigan out shot the Spartans in the period thirteen to four to end forty minutes of play with a twenty-one to eleven advantage in shots on goal.

For the second period in a row both teams saw power plays come and go as neither team was able to score the tie breaker. Regulation time came to an end with the score all tied at one goal each. The Spartans out shot the Wolverines nine to six in the final period of play, but it was Michigan who ended regulation play with a twenty-seven to twenty advantage in shots on goal.

Each team saw at least one good look at the goal, but the game comes to an end with the score all tied at one goal apiece. The Spartans again out shot the Wolverines two to one in the overtime period, but as with the third period it was Michigan leading in shots on goal as they end the game with a twenty-eight to twenty-two advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines needed to get a win against the Spartans tonight and as has become the case in recent years they were unable to generate much offense, consequently ending up with their fourth tie game in five tries. They get one more chance in this years regular season to get a win over the Spartans as the action moves to Joe Louis Arena tomorrow night to decide which of these teams wants to win more.