Redhawks Sweep Wolverines

Saturday, December 3, 2005
Goggin Ice Arena, Oxford, Ohio

For the second straight night defensive miscues, turnovers, less than spectacular special teams play, and terrible penalties all contributed to the Wolverines fourth straight loss, their second to Miami in as many nights. The Miami sweep of Michigan made this Michigan's fourth straight loss, the first time since the 1988-89 season that any Wolverine hockey team has lost four games in a row.

Both teams had killed off penalties in the first ten minutes of the opening period, with neither team able to take advantage of the extra man, though both teams had scoring chances. With just over nine minutes left in the opening period Miami would get on the board first to take the early lead. Michigan had just killed a Miami power play when a Miami player slid behind the defense, broke into the Michigan zone clean, and beat Ruden for the score.

Just as the clock moved under the nine minute mark the Redhawks were whistled for another penalty putting Michigan on the power play, this time the Wolverines would connect to tie the game. Johnson got things going with a shot from the right point that was deflected down in front. The puck came to Hensick who had an easy chip shot to tie the game with just seven minutes left in the period. Both Johnson and Hunwick picked up assists on the goal.

About two minutes later it was Miami who returned to the power play, but it would be Michigan who would strike for the lead. With the clock showing just under five minutes to play Ebbett picked off a Miami pass at center ice and broke into the Redhawk zone all alone. As he closed on the net he made a move that shifted the goal tender just enough to allow him to get off a wrist shot that found its way to the back of the net. The short handed goal went to Ebbett unassisted.

While the Wolverines took the lead with the short handed goal the lead did not last long as the Redhawks evened things back up a two while on the same power play. With the clock showing just under four minutes a Miami player tipped a centering pass that beat Ruden to tie the game.

The first period would come to an end with the score all tied up a two goals each. The Redhawks nearly doubled the Wolverines shot total ending twenty minutes of play with a fifteen to eight advantage in shots on goal.

There would be just over eight minutes left in the second period before either team would score again, when Michigan was handed a gift. Kaleniecki took a hard shot that was bounced up into the air. It then bounced off the back of a Miami player and finally ended up in the net as the goal tender could not locate the puck. Kaleniecki got the goal and Hensick picked up an assist.

With the clock showing just under three minutes the game shifted permanently in favor of Miami. A Miami player had once again slipped behind the Michigan defense and received a nice pass from a team mate leaving him skating into the Michigan zone all alone. As he closed on the net he stuffed the puck through the five hole for the score tying the game. At the same time Michigan's Johnson picked up three penalties, including a five minute major and a game misconduct to shift momentum to Miami and once again shorten Michigan's bench.

The second period would come to an end with the score tied at three. The Redhawks outshot Michigan sixteen to twelve in the period to end forty minutes of play with a thirty-one to twenty advantage in shots on goal.

The Redhawks would score the game winner just as the clock moved under the eleven minute mark, once again fueled by a Michigan turn over. Miami intercepted a break out pass at the Michigan blue line allowing the Miami skater to come down the slot basically unmolested. From the slot he got off a shot that went through some traffic, beating Ruden in the top right corner.

Michigan pulled Ruden for the last 1:10 of the game, but couldn't come up with a tying score. The game came to an end with Miami winning by a score of four to three. The Redhawks ended the game with a forty-one to thirty-one advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines seemed to have forgotten how to play fundamental hockey right now and its costing them dearly. They are now ten points behind CCHA leading Miami, though they do have three games in hand. Even if they win those games they are still four points short. Add to that the fact that they do not play Miami again in the regular season they now have to depend on Miami losing three more games than Michigan does from now until the end of the year. Unless Michigan can go undefeated in CCHA play from now until the end of the season, and that doesn't seem likely given the way they are playing right now, there doesn't seem much chance of Michigan winning a CCHA regular season championship at this time. There is still a lot of hockey to play and stranger things have happened, but the Wolverines have dug themselves into a very deep hole where second place is beginning to look like the best they can hope for.