Another Weekend, Another Split

Saturday, February 11, 2006
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

As has become standard operating procedure of late the Wolverines came out flying on Saturday, following a Friday night loss. Taking just less than four minutes to score the games first goal, the Wolverines scored early and often to build up a four to two lead in the first period. That score would stay unchanged for the final two periods of the game, but it would be enough for Michigan to win the game.

With just over sixteen minutes to play in the opening period Michigan got the games first goal, following a couple of missed shots up close to the goal. With the puck bouncing around in front of the net the Laker goal tender allowed one to many rebounds and Michigan was able to chip it in for the score. Kaleniecki got credit for the goal, while Ebbett picked up his first assist on the night.

With just over eight minutes to play the Wolverines would force a turn over in the Laker zone and get the puck to Kaleniecki breaking to the net. It looked like nothing would come of the chance as Kaleniecki fell to the ice just as he was getting ready to shoot. The puck continued toward the goal, but it was barely moving. In what can only be described as a strange event the puck slid between the goal tenders legs and into the net for the score, leaving an upset Laker goal tender. Kaleniecki picked up his second goal of the game and Ebbett picked up his second assist.

With five and a half minutes to play Michigan would break out of their own zone with Ebbett once again leading the charge into the Laker zone, carrying the puck up the boards. As he reached the top of the circle he unleashed a laser of a shot that beat the goal tender top shelf for Michigans third goal of the period. Both Kaleniecki and Dest picked up assists on the goal.

Seconds later, with the clock still showing over five minutes to play, it looked like Michigan had their fourth goal of the game. Once again they had the puck bouncing around in front of the net and they appeared to chip it in for the score. However, the officials went to the review and for the second night in a row a reviewed goal was waved off, leaving the Wolverines with a three to nothing lead.

With two and half minutes to play in the period Michigan would get that fourth goal using some fantastic passing to work the puck up the ice, followed by a great shot to net the score. Fardig and Swystun worked the puck up the ice, passing it back and forth between them, keeping the Laker defense off balance. One final pass by Fardig as they closed on the goal gave Swystun the opening he was looking for and he fired a shot that beat the net minder for the score. Fardig got the lone assist.

In the final two minutes of the period Michigan eased up just a notch on their defense by both the forwards and the defensemen. This proved costly as they surrendered two goals in about thirty seconds of time.

With a minute and a half left in the period the Lakers brought the puck into the Michigan zone down the left boards. As the puck got to the face off dot the Laker player made a nice pass through the slot to a teammate, standing all alone to the right of the Michigan goal. As the pass hit his stick he flipped it up over Rudens shoulder for the score.

With the clock just under one minute an almost identical play led to the Lakers second goal. The Lakers brought the puck into the Michigan zone down the left side boards, this time skating the puck through the slot. As the Laker passed the Michigan goal he flipped a back hand shot up over Rudens shoulder for the score, cutting Michigans lead to just two goals and giving the Lakers reason to believe.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of four to two. Michigan ended the first twenty minutes of play with a twelve to seven advantage in shots on goal.

Both teams would see scoring chances come and go through the second period, but at the end of forty minutes the score was still four to two in favor of Michigan. The teams each put nine shots on goal in the period, leaving Michigan with a twenty-one to sixteen advantage in shots on goal.

The third period was much like the second, with the exception that the Lakers pulled their goalie with 1:45 to play, giving them an extra attacker as they looked to work some magic again tonight to get another win. The Wolverines didn't allow the Lakers to score and Michigan's best shot at the open Laker net went just wide leaving the score at four to two after sixty minutes of play. The Wolverines ended the game with a twenty-four to twenty advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines started this weekend of play with a chance to really open some space between themselves and the Spartans, solidifying their second place position in the CCHA. Instead the weekend came to an end right where it started, with Michigan just one point ahead of the Spartans and just three points ahead of the Lakers and the Mavericks (who Michigan has to play next weekend out in Nebraska). With just four games left the Wolverines have left themselves no room for error and must find a way to win each of these games if they want to insure their position in second place. Any Wolverine loss, coupled with a win by the Spartans, Lakers, or Mavericks will see Michigan sliding down the CCHA standings.