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Irish Defeat Wolverines For First CCHA Title
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan
It used to be that if Michigan made it to a championship game, they would usually
win it. Over the last eight or nine years that has not been the case. Once again
a mediocre effort led to a single goal defeat, this time at the hands of the
Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, on St. Patricks Day no less.
The first period was all but over when the Wolverines struck with just five
seconds left on the clock to go into the first intermission with a one goal lead.
Hensick got things going when he passed the puck from the end boards out to Johnson
at the left circle. Johnson got off a rocket of a shot that was blocked, but the
rebound came right up the slot to Porter who fired off a one timer that beat the
Irish net minder top shelf for the score.
The first period would end with Michigan holding the slim one to nothing lead. The
Wolverines also held a slim eleven to nine advantage in shots on goal.
The Wolverines seemed to spend at least half the second period on the penalty kill
as the Irish really carried the play in this period. That effort paid off when they
were able to tie the game with just over four minutes left in the period. It looked
like an Irish player tried to bank the puck into the net off Sauer from behind the
net or he was trying to pass the puck out front, but whatever the attempt the puck
ended up on the ice just inside the crease. Another Irish player was right there,
quickly poking the puck into the net to tie the game.
The second period would come to an end with the game all tied at one goal each.
The Irish out shot the Wolverines fifteen to seven in the second to give them a
twenty-four to eighteen advantage in shots on goal.
The death blow was dealt with just over eleven minutes left to play in the regulation
time when a seemingly harmless shot was fired from the point. That shot was blocked, but
the rebound went right to an Irish player who banged it home to five Notre Dame the
lead.
Even though they spent almost the entire final two minutes on the power play, pulling
the goalie to get a two man advantage, the Wolverines were unable to tie the game to
force an overtime period. The game came to an end with Notre Dame winning by a score
of two to one. Michigan out shot the Irish fourteen to thirteen in the period, but
Notre Dame ended the game with a thirty-seven to thirty-two advantage in shots on goal.
Once again those same problems cropped up in the Michigan game and once again the
out come of the game was greatly affected. After a basically solid first period who's
only real downside was the failure of Michigan to score a couple of goals into wide
open nets, the Wolverines mailed it in for the rest of the game. Sloppy and at times
down right inept defensive play allowed the Irish to keep the heat turned up offensively
while Michigan never seemed to find their stride. While they should be a lock for the
NCAA tournament, we are once again left wondering just what Michigan team will show
up for as long as their season continues.
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