Mavericks Win Weekend Opener

Friday, February 17, 2006
Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska

Another Friday, another lack luster performance by the Michigan hockey team. While they had ample opportunity to win this game, almost doubling the number of shots taken by the home standing Mavericks, Michigan simply didn't get it done, missing scoring chances, giving up odd man rushes, and generally playing their usual ho-hum Friday night game. With the loss the Wolverines fall to third in the CCHA and creep ever closer to losing that first round bye in the CCHA play offs.

Just two and a half minutes into the game the Wolverines turned the puck over at the red line, leading to the Mavericks first goal of the game. The Mavericks scooped up the disregarded puck, marched right into the Michigan zone, and blew the puck past Ruden to score the games first goal and get the home crowed completely into the game.

With the clock just under fourteen minutes the Mavericks struck for the second time in this period, once again taking advantage of a Wolverine miscue. Michigan seemed to have the play defended, but the defenseman caught an edge, falling down, giving Nebraska another odd man rush up the ice. Once again they walked in on the Michigan goal and blew the puck past Ruden to score the games second goal.

The first period would come to an end with Nebraska leading by a two to nothing score. Michigan held a slight ten to eight advantage in shots on goal.

Both teams would get power play chances and scoring opportunities in the second period, but neither team would be able to get the puck past the goal tenders in the second period. After forty minutes of play the score was still tied at two goals each. Michigan out shot Nebraska twelve to six in the period, giving them a twenty-two to fourteen advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock showing less than fourteen minutes to play in the final period the Mavericks seemed to seal the victory when they scored their third unanswered goal, building a three to nothing lead. A Maverick player received the puck at the top of the face off circle, did a quick spin move, and fired a shot right down the slot that beat Ruden for the goal.

With eleven and half minutes to play Michigan finally got on the board, beginning a furious come back attempt that would be full of both highs and lows. Michigan's first goal of the game came from a pass from Hensick to Hunwick, who was stationed just to the left of the goal. As he received the puck he directed it into the goal for the score. Hunwick got credit for the goal, while Hensick and Porter each received an assist.

It would be almost eight minutes later, with just under four minutes to play, before Michigan would score again, this time it was defenseman Jack Johnson doing the honors. Again it was Hensick who got the play going, skating around the Maverick zone, waiting for someone to get open. Johnson had pinched down, getting open, and Hensick fed him the puck, which he promptly fired into the Maverick net. Once again it was Hensick and Porter each picking up an assist.

About one minute later with the clock just under the three minute mark it would be Hunwick scoring his second goal of the game to tie things up. Cook fired off a shot from the circle that was blocked, however, the rebound was left on the ice and Hunwick was right there to chip it in for the score. Cook and Ebbett each picked up a point and the Wolverines seemed to have everything going their way.

The euphoria of the come back didn't last long. With the game tied the Wolverines seemed to go back to sleep and off the ensuing face off, just six seconds after getting the game tied, the Mavericks skated through the Michigan defense as if it wasn't there, closed on the Michigan goal, and slid the puck under Ruden for the game winner.

The game would come to an end with the Mavericks winning four to three. Michigan out shot the Mavericks nineteen to eight in the period to end the game with a forty-one to twenty-two advantage in shots on goal.

This style of play has become to familiar of late for this Michigan hockey team as they slowly put together one of the worst seasons in recent Michigan hockey history. While I can't say they played a terrible game, they continue to lack that extra step that has been so typical of Michigan hockey teams over the last fifteen years. This leaves them ever so close, but always a step slow and a goal short when they can least afford either. Once again Michigan is looking at a Saturday game they really must win to salvage anything from this weekend, we'll just have to wait and see which Michigan team shows up for that contest.