Wolverines Sweep Wildcats

Saturday, November 12, 2005
Berry Events Center, Marquette, Michigan

The Wolverines survived another penalty filled game, including two five minute major penalties in the second period, the loss of two players (because of the nature of the major penalties), to finally pull out a four to three overtime victory.

Michigan was on an early penalty kill when Cogliano started the play that would get Michigan on the board first by picking up a turned over puck in the Northern zone. He would hold the puck long enough to shift the defense to him, then slide a pass over to Porter who had easy tap in for the goal. Cogliano got the lone assist on the short handed goal.

The Wildcats would get the game tied with just over eleven minutes to play when both Johnson and Mitera were sent to the penalty box within one minute of each other, giving the Wildcats a two man advantage. The Wildcats worked the puck down low, then back to the point for a shot that beat Sauer for the power play goal. The goal was scored while still holding a two man advantage so the Wildcats remained on the power play for the next minute, but were unable to score another goal.

With just over six minutes to play the Wildcats would take the lead when one of their players broke into the Michigan zone, skated down the right side, eventually firing a shot that beat Sauer in the top left corner of the goal.

The first period would end with the Wildcats holding a two to one lead. The Wolverines held an eight to seven advantage in shots on goal.

After just killing their first five minute major penalty of the period when Dest got the puck in the Michigan zone. He got a quick pass up to Miller who just as quickly got the puck to Naurato coming out of the penalty box. Naurato carried the puck up the ice and into the Northern zone where he fired a wrist shot that got past the Northern goalie when he misplayed the puck. Assists went to Dest and Miller.

With the clock showing just under seven minutes to play and Michigan on the power play, the Wolverines were working the puck around the Northern zone. After a couple of blocked shots Hensick had the puck and was looking for an opening. That opening came when he fired a pass over to Johnson who blasted a shot five hole to give Michigan the lead. Hunwick and Hensick each picked up assists on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan holding a three to two lead. The Wildcats out shot the Wolverines eleven to eight in the period to end forty minutes of play with an eighteen to sixteen advantage in shots on goal.

With just over eleven minutes to play in the third period the Wildcats would get back to even with their second power play goal of the game. The Wildcats got off a shot from the left circle that stayed low to the ice getting into the goal past Sauers leg.

Regulation play would with the score all tied at three goals each. The Wildcats continued to hold an edge in shots on goal with a twenty-nine to twenty-five shot advantage after sixty minutes of play.

Just over two minutes into the over time period the Wolverines would score the game winning goal, once again courtesy of Naurato. Naurato got control of the puck, skated into the Northern zone and fired off a wrist shot that appeared to be blocked, but somehow squeezed through the goalies pads and into the net to give Michigan the win.

The game came to an end with Michigan winning by a score of four to three. The Wildcats ended the game with a thirty-one to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

For the second straight night the Wolverines pulled out a win after getting out shot by their opponent. Given the number of penalties, especially the two five minute major penalties assessed in the second period this was a hard fought win and should feel that much better when the team has a chance to think about it. There wasn't much chance for any kind of flow to be established in the game, but they kept working hard to eventually come away with the win.

Michigan has next weekend off, returning to action Thanksgiving weekend when they host the College Hockey Showcase. After that they go back on the road to play a pair of games against CCHA leading Miami, the only two games Michigan has against the Redhawks this season so those games already loom large. They finish the first half of the season the following weekend with two games against cluster mate Nebraska-Omaha.