Wolverines Earn Sweep On Senior Night

Saturday, February 3, 2007
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

For the longest time in this game it looked like the inevitable slip was going to happen. The Wolverines peppered the Bronco goal with shots, but couldn't get any in. The Bronco's wouldn't go away and seemed to be on the verge of scoring a game winning goal all night. In the end it was a special teams goal by one of the Seniors that gave Michigan the game winning goal on their way to a three to one victory on Senior night.

The first period was a real defensive battle as neither team garnered many shots and neither team was able to get a puck in the goal. After twenty minutes of play the score was still tied at zero. Michigan had a slight six to four advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines finally got on the board just forty seconds into the second period when Johnson fired off a cannon of a shot that beat the Western goal tender clean. Hensick had just missed a chance in close and the puck was kicked out to the left corner. Michigan was able to get to the puck and quickly passed it to the high slot where Johnson was waiting. Johnson wound up and sent a slap shot through the crowd in front that was behind the goalie before he knew it was on its way. Porter got the lone assist on the goal.

With eleven and half minutes to play in the period the Bronco's were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Off the ensuing face off the Bronco's carried the puck the length of the ice, were allowed to get in close to the Michigan net, where they got off a couple of quick chances, the last one trickling under Sauer and across the goal line for a short handed goal.

The second period would come to an end with the score all tied up at one goal each. Michigan out shot the Western twenty-five to ten in the second period to hold a thirty-one to fourteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With the clock just under sixteen minutes in the final period Michigan was whistled for a penalty, giving the Bronco's an early power play chance. About a minute into the power play Michigan was able to get the puck out of their zone and into neutral ice. Once their Rohlfs got control of it and chipped it up the right boards, past a Western player, and then was able to get around that player and continue up the ice with the puck. Rohlfs headed straight for the goal, flipping a back hand shot up and over the goalies shoulder for the short handed goal with fourteen and a half minutes yet to play. Hunwick got the lone assist on the goal.

The intensity picked up through the remainder of the period as Western tried to get the game tied back up and Michigan fought to hold their lead. With one minute left to play the Bronco's pulled their goalie to get the extra attacker. With just twenty-four seconds left on the clock Michigan was able to score into the empty net to seal the win. Cogliano got the puck just inside the Michigan blue line and chipped it ahead to Kolarik who was breaking through center ice. Kolarik was free to go in and score the goal, but in one of the more unselfish things I've seen in a while he noticed the player breaking into the Bronco zone with him was defenseman Chris Summers. Kolarik tipped the puck over to Summers who carried it the rest of the way and scored his first career goal. Kolarik and Cogliano each got assists on the goal, Kolarik earned a great deal of respect, and even grabbed the puck, giving it to Summers as a memento.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of three to one. The Wolverines out shot the Bronco's fourteen to six in the final period to end the game with a forty-five to twenty advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines did pretty much everything in this game except score goals, making the game far closer than it probably should have been. It looked like this weekend was going to end in disappointment as so many weekends have already this year, but tonight they managed to find a way to get a goal and hold the lead for the win. It was great to see not only from a team perspective, but also for the Seniors so their last home game was a win and not a bitter loss. Last year's Seniors didn't get that kind of send off as Michigan let a three goal lead slip away in the third, eventually losing that game.

Tonights win finished off the third straight weekend sweep for the Wolverines, leaving there record at eight and one since the the start of the second half. The win allowed Michigan to stay in second place, still six points behind Notre Dame who won their second straight squeaker of a game over Bowling Green. Miami ended up playing Alaska to a draw which leaves both the Wolverines and the Redhawks with thirty points (although Miami has three games in hand on Michigan so eventually you have to figure they will retake sole possession of second place). Last nights win also allowed us to retain our two point lead over the fourth place Spartans, with our final contest of the year against those same Spartans looming on the horizon. From here on out Michigan plays on the road and they have to find a way to keep winning if they want to finish this year right. Their first challenge is next weekend when they make road trips to Bowling Green on Friday and then down to Joe Louis on Saturday for their final regular season match up with Michigan State.