Spartans Out Work Wolverines

Friday, March 17, 2006
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

Winning all the key battles in a game that was perhaps closer or perhaps farther apart than it seemed the Spartans ended the night with a four to one victory over the Wolverines to advance to the CCHA tournament finals. While they ended the game with more shots on goal, they never seemed to really take control of the game, and in fact spent most of the game chasing the Spartans who appeared hungrier and more determined as they fought and clawed their way to a solid victory in this semi-final game.

With about twelve and half minutes to play in the game Michigan got on the board first when the Captain Andrew Ebbett found the puck in front of the net and punched it past the Spartan goal tender. The initial Wolverine shot was blocked, but the rebound wasn't covered giving Ebbett the opening he needed. both Kolarik and Mitera picked up assists on the goal.

With just over eleven minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty, putting the Spartans on the power play. Barely forty-five seconds after the Wolverines scored their game opening goal the Spartans were on the board, having punched a rebound of their own into the goal for the score.

The Spartans would extend their lead with just over three minutes to play when the once again got the puck in tight, getting off a point blank shot. While that initial blast was stopped, Ruden again left the rebound on the ice, and once again the Spartans were right there to take advantage.

The first period would come to an end with the Spartans holding the two to one lead. The Spartans ended the period with a nine to three advantage in shots on goal.

Both teams would see scoring chances in the second, with the Spartans seeing the majority of the good ones, but in the end the period would end with the score still two to one in favor of the Spartans. Michigan out shot the Spartans ten to nine in the second, but he Spartans still held an eighteen to thirteen advantage in shots on goal.

The Spartans would come close a number of times, but it would take them nearly the entire period before they were able to score their third goal. With just over two minutes to play the Spartans skated right down the center of the ice, closed with the Michigan net, and slipped the puck past Ruden to take a two goal lead.

With just under a minute to play Ruden would head to the bench. About ten seconds later there would be a face off to the left of the Spartan goalies. Ten seconds after that, the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty, ending their man advantage, but keeping their net empty. Barely four seconds later, there was a face off in the Michigan zone. The Spartans won the face off, popping the puck out in front of the Michigan net. The Spartans quickly jumped on the puck, quickly poking it past Ruden for their fourth goal of the game.

The third period would come to an end with the Spartans winning by a four to one score. Michigan would out shoot the Spartans thirteen to six to end the game with a twenty-six to twenty-four advantage in shots on goal.

Unfortunately for the Wolverines they once again played a solid game, but a pedestrian game. They didn't have that extra step, that extra something that they exhibited last Saturday against Ferris, that saw them controlling the flow of the game and ultimately the out come. The Spartans won all the important battles of the game and earned a meeting tomorrow night against the Redhawks for the CCHA tournament championship.