Michigan Salvages Weekend With Split

Saturday, October 29, 2005
Carlson Center, Fairbanks, Alaska

Michigan came out of the gate flying tonight capitalizing on their power play chances as they helped Senior goal tender Noah Ruden collect a four to nothing shut out. Tonights win allowed the Wolverines to split the weekend after dropping the opener last night against these same Nanooks.

The Nanooks were whistled for a five minute major penalty with just over eighteen minutes left in the period. While the Wolverines applied the pressure the Nanooks found themselves whistled for a second penalty barely two minutes into the major penalty giving Michigan a two man advantage for a full two minutes. The Wolverines continued to apply the pressure and finally with just over fourteen minutes to play the Wolverines were on the board when Porter flipped a back hander behind the Nanook goalie for the early one to nothing lead. Johnson and Hensick each picked up an assist on the goal. That ended the two man advantage, but left the Wolverines on the power play. The major penalty was ended with the Wolverines unable to score any more goals.

With the clock showing just under two minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty, but the Nanooks were given the option of taking a penalty shot. Alaska elected to take the penalty shot and Ruden came up with the big stop to turn away the scoring chance.

The first period came to an end with Michigan holding a slim one to nothing lead. The Wolverines also held a twelve to eight advantage in shots on goal.

The first ten minutes of the second period pretty much flowed up and down the ice, but that would all change with just over ten minutes left to play. At that time the Nanooks were whistled for a penalty putting the Wolverines on the power play. Michigan worked the puck around the Alaska zone well until they dropped a quick pass back to Johnson who fired a wrist shot that beat the Nanook net minder. Johnson was credited with the power play goal, while both Hensick and Hunwick picked up assists.

The final ten minutes of the period saw penalty after penalty being called against both teams, but neither team would be able to get the puck into the net going down the stretch. The second period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a two to nothing score. The Wolverines ended two periods of play with a twenty-three to seventeen advantage in shots on goal.

The third period was penalty filled with Kaleniecki getting the penalties rolling when he was called for a five minute major to give Alaska an extended power play. Things didn't go well for the Nanooks as they were whistled for a penalty of their own about two minutes into Michigan's major penalty. Shortly after that the Nanooks were whistled for a second penalty to put Michigan on the power play. Skating four on three the Wolverines took advantage of the open ice working the puck around the Alaska zone. Michigan would get off a wrist shot that was blocked, but the puck rebounded to the side where Hensick was waiting to patiently guide the puck into the net to extend Michigan's lead to three goals. Johnson picked up the lone assist on the power play goal.

With just over four minutes left in the period Michigan would once again move to the power play and would once again make the Nanooks pay. As the Wolverines moved the puck around the Nanook zone Hunwick would take a shot that would just kind of slip between the goal tender and the post to make it four to nothing. Both Cogliano and Porter would pick up assists on the goal.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of four to nothing. The Wolverines ended the game with a thirty-four to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal.

The game slowly deteriorated into a penalty filled special teams battle, but Michigan really took control in the first period when they scored the games first goal quieting the crowd and keeping the Nanooks chasing rather than leading. With so much special teams play it isn't surprising that Michigan's special teams played an important role in this game. All four goals came off the power play and the penalty kill was perfect on the night. Michigan stays on the road next Friday as they travel to South Bend to play Notre Dame, but they return to Yost next Saturday when they host the Irish.