Wolverines Defenseless Against Sioux

Saturday, March 24, 2007
Pepsi Arena, Denver, Colorado

In a game that had to resemble Custer's last stand the Wolverines held their own for a short time, but were eventually proved to be under manned as they were overpowered and eventually over come by a more persistent and slightly more disciplined North Dakota team. In a game where a solid defensive performance could have proved the difference, Michigan once again proved they didn't know the meaning of the word giving up five power play goals on their way to yet another embarrassing season ending loss.

Michigan got off to a fast start scoring the games first goal just twenty-six seconds into the game when Porter banged a one timer from the slot for the score. Hensick got the puck down in the corner, quickly finding Porter between the circles. Porter wasted no time in powering a shot into the net for the score. Hensick and Johnson each picked up assists on the goal.

With just over nineteen minutes yet to play the Wolverines took a two point lead when an up ice pass found Cogliano breaking into the Sioux zone all alone. He closed on the goal, getting off a shot that was blocked, but the puck was left on the ice and the goal tender couldn't find it quick enough. Following up and crashing to the net Summers got his stick on the puck, getting it behind the goalie before he could cover. Summers with the goal, while the lone assist when to Cogliano.

With just over seventeen minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Sioux on the power play. North Dakota needed just eighteen seconds of that power play to put the puck behind Sauer and cut the lead to one. Sauer was able to stop the initial shot, but the puck dropped to the ice just inside the crease and a North Dakota player got their first to poke it home with the clock barely under the seventeen minute mark.

With just over fifteen minutes to play Hensick would score his first goal of the game to push Michigan back into a two goal lead. T.J. stole the puck away in the corner, then skated toward the slot, moving from the goalies right to his left. As Hensick passed through the slot he fired off a shot that got past the net minder for the score. Assists on the goal went to Rohlfs and Johnson.

With roughly five and half minutes to play Michigan was whistled for another penalty giving North Dakota another power play. North Dakota controlled the face off in the Michigan zone getting the puck out to the point. From there they got off a shot that squeezed between Sauer and the post for score. This power play lasted all of six seconds.

With about three and half minutes to play the puck, once again in the Michigan zone, was just being passed around behind the net when a North Dakota player stepped in, got control, took one step out along the side of the goal, finally firing a shot that went to the wide side of the net, between Sauers arm and his body for the game tying score.

With two and a half minutes left to play Michigan would once again put the Sioux on the power play, not only giving them a man advantage, but giving them a two man advantage just twenty-two seconds later. With just over one minute to play in the period the Sioux, working the puck well, found a man at the wide open back door for an easy tap in goal to take the lead with their third unanswered goal.

The first period would come to an end with North Dakota leading by a score of four to three. North Dakota also held a fourteen to seven advantage in shots on goal.

North Dakota was whistled for a penalty right at the end of the first period putting Michigan on the power play to start the second period. Just fourteen seconds into the second period Michigan scored a power play goal to tie the game. Once again it was Hensick setting the tone as he carried the puck into the Sioux zone down the right side boards. He cut through the circle, getting around a couple of North Dakota defenders, finally firing it past the Sioux net minder for the score. Porter and Hunwick each picked up assists on the goal.

With just over nineteen minutes to play the North Dakota goalie went to the right corner to play the puck. His defense didn't come back quick enough and he ended up holding the puck in the corner too long. He finally tried to pass it behind the net, but Cogliano got to the puck, wrapped around the goal, punching it into the net before the goalie could get back into position. Michigan retook the lead on an unassisted goal.

With the clock just under seventeen minutes the Wolverines were once again in the penalty box and once again the Sioux made them pay in short order. Taking just five seconds the Sioux quickly got the puck to the point, blasting a rocket of a shot past Sauer to once again tie the game.

With just over fifteen minutes to play the Sioux took the lead for good when Sauer got beat by a clean shot from the slot. North Dakota made a quick pass into the slot and Sauer didn't get far enough over, leaving a huge opening between himself and the post. The North Dakota player wasted no time firing the puck through that opening for the score.

With just over twelve minutes to play Michigan would once again trudge to the penalty box and once again they would pay. North Dakota had the puck deep in the Michigan zone basically at or perhaps slightly behind the goal line. From there a North Dakota player fired the puck to the net where it bounced off the side, hit Sauer in the skate, ending up in the goal. This time the Sioux needed just twenty-three seconds of power play time to finish off another set of three unanswered goals.

The second period would come to an end with North Dakota leading by a score of seven to five. Michigan out shot North Dakota thirteen to nine in the period, leaving North Dakota with a twenty-three to twenty advantage in shots on goal.

With just over two minutes to play and a face off in the North Dakota zone Michigan called their time out. When they returned to the ice Sauer was on the bench leaving the net open. Michigan failed to control the puck and with just over two minutes to play the Sioux put the puck in the open net to take an eight to five lead and seal the win.

The game came to an end with North Dakota winning by a score of eight to five. Michigan out shot the Sioux fourteen to four in the final period to end the game with a thirty-four to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

In a game that Michigan could have just as easily won, they were once again run off the ice by a North Dakota team that simply took advantage of the numerous mistakes committed by the Wolverines. Taking a number of stupid penalties Michigan gave a potent power play far to many opportunities. When North Dakota had those chances they took full advantage of them rarely needing more than a twenty seconds to get the puck through Michigan's suspect penalty kill. Add to that a goalie that had probably his worst game of the second half. Add all of those things together and you have a sure recipe for disaster and once again Michigan's season ends in just that - disaster.

There has been something missing from Michigan for several years now and they show no signs of figuring out what that thing is and correcting it. They used to have an excellent penalty kill, now you hold your breath every time the penalty kill is on the ice. They used to play solid defense, now you never know what is going to happen, but you expect a mistake. Either a turn over in our zone, failure to keep the puck in the opponents zone, bad goal tending, or any one of a number of other problems that have plagued this team, not just this year, but for several years. Until the Wolverines find that something that they have lost mediocrity will be the word used to best describe Michigan hockey. Until next year and another round of will they, won't they, c-ya!