Falcons Soar, Wolverines Meh!

Friday, February 9, 2007
BGSU Ice Arena

You knew it was in there, you didn't want to think about, but you've been waiting for weeks for that return of that lackadaisical Michigan hockey team that we've all seen far to much this year. Well, last night against the worst team in the CCHA, a team that had won just five games all year before Michigan came to town, we were treated to another in a long list of poor performances as the Wolverines blew a one goal lead in the third to lose three to two.

There was a mixed start to this game as a great breakaway in the opening minute was stopped before it could get started when Michigan was whistled for what can only be called a stupid penalty behind the play, ending what looked like a great scoring chance and putting the Falcons on the power play. With just over a minute played Kolarik forced a turnover at center ice, quickly passing the puck to Miller at the Falcon blue line. Miller carried the puck into the Falcon zone, waited just long enough, before sliding the puck back to Kolarik for a one timer that beat the Falcon net minder to score a short handed goal. Miller got the lone assist.

With the clock just under the twelve minute mark the Falcons would even the score off a rebound. The Falcons were in close and got off a shot that was blocked, but the rebound came back out to the original Falcon shooter. With no defensive help to either clear the puck or ride the Falcon player out of range and Sauer now out of position after making the save, it was an easy put back for the Falcons to tie the game.

The first period came to an end with the game all tied at one goal each. The Falcons out shot the Wolverines eight to five.

With thirteen and half minutes to play the Wolverines regained the lead,using a couple of nice passes to quickly move the puck deep into the Falcon zone ending with the score. The Falcons attempted to clear the puck, but it was intercepted at the Michigan blue line. A quick pass up ice to Porter got it through center ice and a quick touch pass by Porter got the puck to Hensick who broke into the zone with on else close except Rohlfs. Hensick pushed hard to the net, slipping a pass over to Rohlfs at the last minute, who blasted it into the back of the net. Hensick and Porter each got assists on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines clinging to a two to one lead. The Falcons out shot the Wolverines eighteen to ten to end forty minutes of play with a twenty-six to fifteen advantage in shots on goal.

With just six and half minutes to pay the Falcons tied the game, taking advantage of a failed clearing attempt by the Wolverines. Intercepting the puck along the right boards the Falcons passed it quickly to the right circle, then over to the left circle where a lone Falcon was positioned. Again with no defensive pressure he had all the time he needed to get off a shot that beat Sauer top shelf for the score.

It looked like the game would go to overtime, but with just 1:08 left on the clock the Wolverines would make their costliest mistake of the game when they were whistled for a bench minor - to many men on the ice. With just thirty-five seconds left in the game the Falcons would punch the puck past Sauer for the game winning power play goal.

The game would come to an end withe Falcons winning by a score of three to two. The Wolverines out shot the Falcons sixteen to nine in the period, but the Falcons ended the game with a thirty-five to thirty-one advantage in shots on goal.

Whether they were looking past Bowling Green to Saturday nights game against Michigan State or whether they didn't take the Falcons seriously enough, the end result was the same. A devastating loss to a team that had barely a handful of wins on the entire year. Just like that the wins over the last three or four weeks were wiped away with one devastating loss. If they loss had been to a better team it wouldn't have hurt so much, but because the lost to such a poor team (statistically speaking) they are now down to number twelve in the Pairwise, dangerously close to the bubble. Going into the weekend they were looking like a solid two seed in the NCAA tournament and were being projected to play close to home in Grand Rapids. With this loss they look more like a weak three seed, who will no doubt travel farther from home, and who is one more slip away from not making the tournament at all.

For the last couple of weeks Michigan fans have been trying to convince themselves that this team had finally turned the corner. That they had finally learned from all the first half mistakes, that they had learned what it would take to make a solid push to the end of the season and into the playoffs. Last night we found out that they really haven't learned a thing. They should be embarrassed and ashamed at this loss, it simply should not have happened. This isn't taking anything away from the Falcons, this isn't about them, this is about Michigan. Once again they didn't come to play. Once again they lost a game to a team they should be able to beat in their sleep. Tomorrow night they have to play Michigan State at Joe Louis Arena. A venue where they haven't beaten the Spartans in six tries over the course of the last two or three years. I know the Spartans will come to play this game, I have no idea if Michigan will even show up.