Lakers Hand Wolverines Latest Home Loss

Friday, February 10, 2006
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Following a disturbing trend the Wolverines lost another game at Yost Arena tonight, falling to the visiting Lakers by a three to two score in overtime. Turning the puck over just inside their zone, a Laker player walked in all alone on Ruden and beat him to score the game winner, handing the Wolverines their fifth loss of the season on home ice. It took three seasons (2002-2003 through 2004-2005) for the Wolverines to amass that many home ice losses prior to this season (two of those were College Hockey Showcase games). The once almost guaranteed victory at Yost seems to be slipping into history, hopefully this is a one year anomaly, if not we could be seeing the beginning of a slide in the Wolverine hockey program.

The Lakers scored first in this game with roughly thirteen and half minutes to play. They had the puck right at the door step of the Michigan goal. Ruden went down and seemingly covered the puck with his glove, as he settled down waiting for a whistle to blow. The only problem was that the puck wasn't under his glove and was still laying on the ice. The Lakers kept chipping away at it and got it up and over Ruden for the games first score.

With just over nine minutes to play in the opening period, just as a Wolverine power play had ended, Michigan was working the puck up and down the boards in the Laker zone. Michigan got off a shot from the point that was redirected in front of the net, allowing the puck to slip past the net minder for the score. Dest was given credit for the goal with Fardig and Swystun each picking up an assist.

With just over seven minutes to play Michigan would gain their one and only lead of this game when Hensick fired in a shot for the score. The Lakers took a shot from out near the Michigan blue line. The Laker players stick broke, leaving the puck on the ice, still by the blue line. Porter gathered the puck in and started up ice with Hensick trailing. Porter made a nice pass over to Hensick who finished the play off with the score. Hensick with the goal, Porter with the lone assist.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a two to one score. The Wolverines held a slim seventeen to twelve advantage in shots on goal.

With fourteen and half minutes to play the Lakers were sent to the penalty box, giving the Wolverines a chance to open up a two goal lead. With the clock under the fourteen minute mark (a little over a quarter of the way through the power play) it appeared that Michigan had done just that when it appeared that the puck hit the back of the net, bouncing back out. The play was reviewed and the review seemed to indicate that the puck hit a post and never crossed the goal line, leaving the Wolverines with a slim one goal lead.

With the clock just under the eleven minute mark the Lakers got a turn over at center ice and flew into the Michigan zone. As the Laker player neared the Michigan goal he made a move that turned Ruden on his head, leaving him an easy shot for the goal that would tie the game.

The second period ended with the game all tied at two goals each. Michigan out shot the Lakers twelve to eleven in the period to hold a twenty-nine to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal.

Both teams would see scoring chances come and go in the third period, however, regulation time would come to an end with the game still tied at two goals each. The Lakers out shot the Wolverines eleven to eight in the final period leaving Michigan with a thirty-seven to thirty-four advantage in shots on goal.

Neither team seemed to be making much headway in the overtime period, until the Lakers got the break they were looking for just as the clock moved under the two minute mark. Michigan turned the puck over near their blue line, giving the Lakers another break away play into the Michigan zone. Once again it was Ruden against the shooter and once again the shooter won, scoring the game winning goal.

The losses continue to mount for this team as time continues to run out on the season. To lose a game on home ice with so few games left is the absolute last thing this team could afford to do. They are now down to five games, three of those on the road in tough venues. The way this team has been playing this year we could just as easily go four and one over those last four games as one and four. Michigan is rapidly playing themselves into a position where they will have to play in the first round of the CCHA tournament and onto the NCAA bubble. All Michigan fans would like to think they will win the games they need to, to get that first round CCHA bye and make it into the NCAA tournament for the 16th straight year. However, you can't help but think that the bow of the ship has slipped under the water and all that's left is for the rest of the ship to follow.