Tigers Maul Wolverines

Thursday, December 29, 2005
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

Colorado College put pressure on Michigan starting with the opening whistle and never let up on their way to a dominating six to one victory. Michigan never seemed to hit their stride and Colorado looked very sharp as they out played Michigan in every phase of the game. Michigan will play tomorrow in the consolation game against Michigan Tech at 4:30PM.

Even though they had been badly out shot in the opening period Michigan had managed to keep the Tigers off the board, but that would all change with barely thirty seconds left in the period when Colorado College would score a power play goal to take the lead. Michigan had been whistled for a five minute major with just under four minutes left in the period. Michigan almost made it to the first intermission without giving up a goal, but a quick pass from low out front led to the late period score.

The first period would end with the Tigers holding a one to nothing lead. The Tigers also held an eighteen to five advantage in shots on goal.

The Tigers got off to a roaring start in the second period while on the penalty kill of all things. Colorado was sent to the sin bin with sixteen and a half minutes still to play in the period. With the clock still showing more than sixteen minutes to play a Michigan defenseman turned the puck over right in front of the Michigan goal. A Tiger was right there to jump on the puck and bury it in the net for the short handed goal and a two goal lead.

With the clock just under fourteen minutes the Tigers struck again, this time while on the power play. Michigan was whistled for another penalty with the clock just under fourteen minutes. Right off the face off, just eight seconds into the power play, the Tigers scored, driving the puck right down the middle of the ice, finally blasting a shot top shelf from between the circles.

The Tigers would score their third goal of the period with less than four minutes left in the period, but once again on the power play. With just over five minutes to play Michigan was again sent to the penalty box. It took the Tigers longer this time, but the end result was the same when the scored off a slap shot as the clock moved under the four minute mark.

The second period came to an end with the Tigers leading by a score of four to nothing. The Tigers held a thirty-two to fourteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

Ruden replaced Sauer to start the third period and at first it looked like it might spark the Wolverines. Just over a minute into the period the Tigers were sent to the sin bin, putting Michigan on the power play. With the clock showing just over seventeen minutes to play Naurato blasted a shot that beat the Tiger net minder to put Michigan on the board. The goal was scored as unassisted.

The spark was short lived as the Tigers got the goal right back just as the clock moved under the sixteen minute mark. The Tigers leading scorer, Brett Sterling, stole the puck and marched in on Ruden all alone. With a little deke at the net Sterling slid the puck through the five hole and the Tiger lead was back to four.

The Tigers would ride that four goal lead until they scored their second short handed goal of the game with less than two minutes left in the game. With that final dagger in the heart the Tigers finished their scoring.

The game came to an end with Colorado College handing Michigan a six to one loss. The Tigers ended the game with a forty-four to thirty advantage in shots on goal.

This was a game that Michigan may as well forget about. There really wasn't much of any worth to take from the game as the Wolverines were out hustled, out worked, and totally out played for sixty minutes of hockey. The players missing while playing in the World Junior Championships certainly had an impact on Michigan's game, but the play of the Wolverines was much worse than those missing players could account for. They will need a much better effort tomorrow if they hope to win a game in this years Great Lakes Invitational.