Michigan Blasts Alaska

Friday, January 19, 2007
Carlson Center, Fairbanks, Alaska

Even thought they spent some large chunks of this game getting out played, especially during the second period, the Wolverines took advantage of their opportunities, had some out standing goal tending, and took the old saying "score early, score often" to heart as they powered their way to a six to two victory over the hosting Nanooks.

With the clock just under the fourteen minute mark the Wolverines got the scoring under way as they took advantage of a mishandled puck at center ice, broke into the Nanook zone uncontested, burying the puck for the early score. It was Cogliano who eventually emerged from center ice with the puck and once he got started nobody was going to catch him and he finished off the solo rush by scoring the goal to give Michigan an early lead in this game. Cogliano got the score, while Mitera picked up the lone assist.

Almost exactly two minutes later, with the clock now just under the twelve minute mark, the Wolverines would strike again, this time off a rebound. The initial shot from the point was blocked, but the rebound was allowed to bounce out in front of the net. With the puck on the ice and at an angle away from the goal tenders position it was an easy tip in for Hensick who was sitting right on the door step of the goal. Both Porter and Johnson picked up assists on the goal.

At the end of the first twenty minutes of play it was Michigan two, Alaska nothing. The Nanooks, an abundance of power play time in this opening period, had an eleven to eight advantage in shots on goal.

The Nanooks would bring the pressure early and often to start the second period, but some huge saves by Sauer kept them off the board. Then with just over fifteen minutes showing on the clock the Wolverines were once again given an opportunity and once again they took advantage. This time it was a broken play at center ice that gave the puck to Michigan. Naurato ended up leading the charge into the Nanook zone, but he also had a Nanook player all over him, doing his best to knock him off the puck. Naurato made a couple of moves as he got close to the goal, finally sliding the puck past the goalie for the score. Both Turnbull and Miller picked up assists on the goal.

With about ten and half minutes to play the Nanooks were whistled for a penalty, putting Michigan on the power play. Just eleven seconds later the Nanooks were whistled for their second penalty giving Michigan an extended two man advantage. It was some quick passing, pin point passing that led to this goal. Porter got the puck quickly down to the right of the goal where Kolarik was stationed. Kolarik used a touch pass to quickly slide the puck to the left side of the goal where Hensick was all alone, making the tap in goal. Both Kolarik and Porter picked up assists on the goal.

The second period ended with Michigan holding a four to nothing lead. Both teams were able to get off twelve shots on goal in the second period, leaving the Nanooks with twenty-three to twenty advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

The Nanooks would finally score a goal with just over ten minutes left in the game. It started with a failed clearing attempt by Michigan from deep in the zone. Michigan tried to clear, but the clearing attempt was blocked, leaving the Nanooks with the puck in close to the Michigan goal. Sauer was able to block the initial shot, but the Nanooks were right there to put the rebound into the net for the score.

With just over six minutes showing on the clock the Nanooks were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. The Wolverines were passing the puck well, when Hensick circled down behind the net on the right, quickly popping out on the left side of the goal. The Nanooks didn't get a man on him allowing TJ to get off a quick shot that beat the goal tender for the score. Johnson and Cogliano each picked up assists on the power play goal with just over five minutes left to play..

The Nanooks broke into the Michigan zone all alone with just over three minutes to play leaving it up to Sauer to stop the shot. While Sauer had made a number of huge stops for Michigan already in this game, this time the shooter won, scoring Alaska's second goal of the period and game.

As with their previous goal it did not go unanswered as the Wolverines responded and responded quickly. Just thirty seconds later, with roughly two and a half minutes left to play, Hunwick was on the receiving end of a pass and was in close to the Nanook net. Taking advantage of the situation Hunwick fired off a quick shot that found the back of the net for Michigan's sixth score of the game. Miller picked up the lone assist.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a six to two score. Michigan outshot Alaska eleven to eight in the final period of play, leaving each team with thirty-one shots on goal after sixty minutes of hockey.

Michigan played a decent game of hockey tonight, but will have to come that much harder tomorrow night, since its a given that the Nanooks will be looking to even the series after the loss tonight. That is especially true given the fact that for stretches of this game the Nanooks carried the play and were the dominate team on the ice. The only thing that kept this game from being closer or even tilting to Alaska was Sauer in goal who came up with some great saves to keep Alaska from gaining any kind of momentum and helped to keep the crowd quiet. Any kind of goal earlier in the game would have ignited both the team and the crowd and there's is no way to tell where things would have gone if that had happened. Hopefully Michigan realizes this and hits the ice with great intensity tomorrow night or they could be the ones trying to dig out of an early hole.