Wolverines Sweep Into Semi-Finals

Saturday, March 10, 2007
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Following much the same formula that carried them through the previous nights game, the Wolverines used a stingy defense and timely scoring on their way to a dominating eight to three victory to sweep the visiting Wildcats and advance to the CCHA semi-finals next weekend.

With the clock just under seventeen minutes the Wolverines would strike for the first time in this game, taking an early lead and never looking back. Using some quick, on target passes Michigan moved the puck from their zone into the Northern zone. As they got down around the net the Wildcats came close to forcing a turn over but the puck went into the air, landing on the ice between the face off circles. Hensick was right there, quickly scooping up the puck and firing it into the net for the games first score. Porter picked up the lone assist on the score.

With about twelve and half minutes left each team sent a player to the penalty box leaving each team skating with four players. With the clock just under twelve minutes Michigan would strike for the second time. Things got started when Sauer came up with a stop on a point blank shot by the Wildcats. Michigan scooped up the rebound and quickly headed up the ice. Cogliano carried the puck down the right side boards, into the Northern zone, holding the puck until the last second when he passed over to Johnson positioned between the circles. Johnson fired off a rocket that beat the net minder for the games second goal. Cogliano and Miller each picked up assists on the goal. Northern took a one minute time out to try and settle themselves down.

With just under eight minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Wildcats on the power play. Just fifteen seconds into the power play Michigan allowed a Wildcat player to get in close to the goal with nobody on the Michigan defense around. With nobody bothering him the Wildcat player was able to place a shot that beat Sauer, cutting the Wolverine lead to one.

With just over six minutes to play the Wolverines got the lead back to two goals when Cogliano scored his first goal of the night. Michigan was cycling the puck down in the corner very well, keeping the puck moving, while not allowing Northern to really set up any kind of defense. Suddenly Cogliano was able to break free, skating through the slot from right to left, lifting a back hand shot up and into the net as he passed by. Kolarik and Johnson each picked up assists on the goal.

With the clock just under two minutes there was a face off to the right of the Northern goal. Hensick took the draw, winning it clean and dropping the puck back to Porter. Porter got off a one timer that beat the Wildcat goalie to score Michigan's fourth goal of the period. Hensick had the lone assist.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of four to one. The Wolverines out shot the Wildcats ten to four in the period.

Just thirty-seven seconds into the second period Michigan was whistled for a penalty to give the Wildcats an early power play chance. With just five seconds left on the man advantage, still seventeen and half minutes to play in the period the Wildcats scored to cut Michigans lead to two. The Northern goalie caught Michigan in a line change, passing the puck up the ice to the Wolverine blue line. From there the Wildcat player was able to walk in and punch the puck home.

With the clock just under twelve minutes there was a face off to the left of the Northern net. Northern ended up controlling the puck and tried to clear, but Hunwick intercepted the pass quickly getting it back down low to Hensick. Hensick fired off a shot that went under the goalie and into the goal for Michigan's fifth of the night. Hunwick had the lone assist and following this goal Northern changed goalies.

Starting with the clock just under seven minutes a series of penalties would lead to Michigan having a forty-six second two man advantage with five and half minutes to play. With just two seconds left in the two man advantage Michigan scored a power play goal to take a four goal lead. Again Michigan was moving the puck well around the zone when a little lane opened up for Cogliano to slide a pass through the crease to Kolarik on the other side of the net. Kolarik immediately put the puck toward and into the net. Cogliano and Johnson each picked up assists on the power play goal.

It looked like that would be the last of the scoring in the period, but with just twenty-two seconds left Michigan was able to tip the puck at their own blue line, allowing them to create a two on one break into the Northern zone. Kolarik carried the puck deep, holding it until the last second when he passed it right to left to Cogliano who buried it for his second of the night. Kolarik and Summers each picked up an assist on the goal.

The second period would end with Michigan holding a seven to two lead. The Wolverines out shot the Wildcats ten to two in the period to hold a twenty to six advantage in shots on goal after forty minutes of play.

With just over eighteen minutes to play in the third Michigan was whistled for a penalty. With just over seventeen minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a second penalty to give Northern a two man advantage. Michigan was able to hold the Wildcats off while down two men, but with the clock just under the sixteen minute mark the Wildcats were able to score their third power play goal of the game to cut the Wolverine lead to four. It was a shot from the point that went through a screen that beat Sauer, ending up in the net before he even saw it coming.

With five and half minutes to play Porter made a great pass up the ice to Rohlfs who blew through center ice and into the Wildcat zone all by himself. Rohlfs got off a shot that was blocked, but the rebound bounced away from him to Hensick who had caught up with the play. Hensick wasted no time putting the puck in the net for his third goal of the night. Rohlfs and Porter each picked up an assist on the goal.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of eight to three. The Wildcats out shot the Wolverines thirteen to seven in the final period, but the Wolverines ended the game with a twenty-seven to nineteen advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan got exactly what they needed tonight, a high energy, defensive oriented workman like game. They matched Northern's intensity from the opening drop off, and in fact exceeded in for most of the night. The defense opened up scoring chances and for a change they took advantage of those chances. Coupled with last nights effort this was probably the best total weekend of hockey for the Wolverines this year and that has to be viewed as a good thing coming at this time of year.

All other CCHA series ended in two games this weekend, meaning the final four in the tournament are set. Miami was the one upset on the weekend, falling to visiting Lake State. That will leave Notre Dame playing the Lakers and the Wolverines playing the Spartans in the semi-finals next Friday. If Michigan can put together two more games like this weekends they stand a good chance of advancing at least to the finals. Much hockey is yet to be played and by this time next week we'll know the out come of the CCHA tournament and be looking to see what the selection committee has decided for the national tournament.