Wolverines Escape With Opening Victory

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

In an eerily similar game the Wolverines dominated the first two periods of play, only to once again flirt with disaster in the third period. The difference this week against these same Bulldogs was the gritty play of one of the freshmen, Travis Turnbull, who stayed after the puck, worked it out front of the Ferris goal and scored an insurance goal, turning the momentum once again in favor of the Wolverines.

Michigan got on the board first with just over twelve minutes to play in the opening period when they forced a turnover at the Ferris blue line, worked the puck deep, and finally popped it out front for a quick scoring shot. After getting control of the puck at the blue line Michigan worked it down behind the goal. A quick pass out front of the goal led to a quick shot by Hensick that beat the goalie for the score. Porter and Dest each picked up an assist on the goal.

Barely two minutes later, with the clock showing just over eleven minutes to play, the Wolverines opened up a two goal lead when Ebbett fired a rocket from between the circles. Michigan had the puck deep in the Ferris zone and got off a shot that was blocked, with the puck ending up out near the blue line. From there Hunwick skated a couple of steps in, sent the pass over to Ebbett who fired the puck without hesitation. The puck was past the goal tender before he knew what happened. Hunwick had the lone assist.

With just under eight minutes to play a Ferris player got in alone on Ruden and was able to fire off a shot from point blank range. While Ruden was in the right spot to make the spot his glove was off by a couple of inches, allowing the puck into the net between his glove and the post.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan holding a two to one lead. Michigan held a slim nine to eight advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan would score the first goal of the second period, taking almost as long to score in this period as they took to score the games first goal. With just over thirteen minutes to play it was once again Ebbett firing a laster of a shot from the right face off dot to beat the Ferris goalie. Michigan skated it into the Ferris zone, passed the puck back and forth a couple of times as they closed with the goal, with Ebbett finally banging it home. Cogliano and Porter each picked up an assist on the goal.

Barely fifteen seconds later it looked like Ferris had once again cut into the Michigan lead when they thought they had scored a goal. However, the official immediately waved the goal off and after review the ruling was upheld.

With about nine and half minutes to play Ferris was whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Just thirteen seconds into the power play Michigan had the puck between the face off circles where Kaleniecki fired a laster of a shot that was behind the goalie before he could react. Hunwick and Kolarik each picked up an assist on the power play goal.

With the clock showing just under six minutes to play in the second period Ebbett was carrying the puck down the left side boards. He fought through a hook, gaining the Bulldog zone. As he got to the top of the left face off circle he fired a pass over to the right of the net to Porter who fired off a shot that beat the goal tender for the score. Ebbett and Kolarik each picked up an assist on the goal.

Just seconds after giving up Michigans fifth goal, off the ensuing face off, Ferris got control of the puck, walked through the Michigan defense, and closed with the Michigan goal. As they got in tight to the goal they slid the puck past Ruden for the score to cut Michigans lead to three.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan holding a five to two lead. The Wolverines out shot the Bulldogs fourteen to ten in the period to end forty minutes of play with a twenty-three to eighteen advantage in shots on goal.

Much like they did just two weeks ago, after building a strong lead in the opening two periods of play, the Wolverines came out flat in the third. They managed to hold the Bulldogs at bay for almost the first ten minutes of the final period, but you could see the Bulldogs slowly taking control of the game.

With the clock just under eleven minutes the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Bulldogs on the power play. With the clock still showing over ten minutes to play the Bulldogs walked the puck right down the center of the ice, closed on the Michigan goal, and punched the puck past Ruden to cut Michigans lead to two.

Barely forty-five seconds later Michigan would turn the puck over right in front of the Michigan goal. Before Ruden could react the Bulldogs had scooped up the puck and put it past him for the score, cutting Michigans lead to one, and turning all the games momentum to the Bulldogs.

Michigan managed to hold the Bulldogs at bay for the next six minutes when Turnbull would make the play of the game, scoring Michigan's sixth goal, and turning at least some of the momentum back to the Wolverines. Turnbull was deep in the Ferris zone, working hard along the end boards for the puck. He gained control, skated out front to the right of the goal where he spun around and fired off a shot that got past the net minder for the score. The goal was initially scored as unassisted, but Cogliano was eventually given an assist on the goal.

With a face off in the Michigan zone Ferris would call a time out with just 1:37 to play. When they returned to the ice the Bulldog goalie was on the bench, leaving the net open. Neither team would be able to score in the final seconds as the game came to an end with Michigan winning by a six to four score. The Bulldogs out shot the Wolverines fourteen to four in the final period to end the game with a thirty-two to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

While the Wolverines were able to pull out a win this time, this game ended to much like the last game against Ferris; with Michigan getting badly out played in the final period, almost handing the game to the Bulldogs. You can assume the Bulldogs will come at Michigan hard tomorrow night after coming so close tonight. The Wolverines have to find a way to put together sixty more minutes of hockey this weekend to finish off this series and advance to the CCHA semi-finals.