Wolverines Double Up Redhawks

Thursday, October 19, 2006
Yost Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michigan got off to a bit of a slow start, but came on strong in the second and third periods to pick up a hard fought six to three win over the visiting Miami Redhawks in CCHA play.

It looked like the only action in the first period was going to be a flurry of penalties by both teams over an eight minutes stretch early in the period, but that all changed when the Redhawks found a way to get the puck into the Michigan net with just over three minutes left to play in the period. Michigan hadn't been playing terribly, however, they seemed to be losing many of the small battles over the course of the first period and that trend finally caught up to them. It started out innocently enough as Miami came up the boards, carrying the puck into the Wolverine zone. The Miami player looked as though he were looking to pass the puck as he reached the face off circle to Sauers right, but just as he hit the dot he got off a shot that beat Sauer to the wide side, squeezing into the top corner of the net over Sauers glove.

The first period would come to an end with Miami holding a slim one to nothing lead. The Redhawks held a nine to five advantage in shots on goal.

With just over fourteen minutes to play in the second period Michigan finally got things going when Hensick made a great pass to setup the Wolverines first goal of the night. Hensick had carried the puck up the right side boards, much as the Miami player had in the first period. Rather than take a shot Hensick did see an opening for a pass, which he made, sliding the puck across the ice to Rohlfs at the left face off circle. Rohlfs got off a shot that was partially blocked, but he had enough strength behind the shot that it bounced off the goalies glove and trickled over the goal line for the score. Hensick and Porter each picked up an assist on the goal.

With the clock just under the fourteen minute mark, less than thirty seconds after scoring their first goal, the Wolverines found themselves skating a man down as they were whistled for a penalty. With just over twelve minutes to play, twenty-three seconds left in the Michigan penalty, The Wolverines would take the lead for the first time on a short handed goal. Cogliano had the puck and was coming through center ice, but he had a Miami player all over him. That would change just as they neared the Miami blue line when the Miami player tripped on a stick laying on the ice, falling down. Cogliano continued into the Miami zone uncontested, closed on the goal, making a nice move to setup a beautiful little backhand shot that went in over the Miami goalies shoulder. Cogliano had the short handed goal, unassisted.

With just over one minute to play in the period Miami would score their second goal of the game in eerily similar fashion to their first, this time coming from the left face off circle, rather than the right. The Redhawks had carried the puck into the Michigan zone and once again seemed to be looking for a pass. Suddenly as the player got near the left face off dot he fired off a shot that beat Sauer to the wide side of the net, scoring the game tying goal.

Just twenty-seven seconds later, still with 1:10 to play in the period, Michigan would once again take the lead, a lead they would never surrender. It looked like Michigan was making a centering pass from left to right in front of the goal. There were a lot of players in front of the net and the puck hit one of them, dropping to the ice right in front of the goal. The Miami goalie was shifted a little to his left, leaving the right side of the net wide open. Seeing the opportunity Porter pounced on the puck before anyone else really knew what was going on and stuffed it into the open net for the score. Rohlfs and Kampfer each picked up an assist on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan holding a three to two lead. The Wolverines out shot Miami nine to seven in the period, but Miami still held a sixteen to fourteen advantage in shots on goal.

The score would remain unchanged through the first ten minutes of the final period when Kolarik took over the game and put the contest out of reach for Miami. With just over nine minutes to play Kolarik stole the puck at the Miami blue line and flew into the Redhawk zone all by himself. As he closed on the goal he made a nifty little move that froze the goal tender, allowing him to flip the puck into the net for the score. The goal was scored as unassisted.

With about five and half minutes to play Kolarik forced another turnover, this time at the Michigan blue line, and once again skated into the Redhawk zone with the puck. This time Cogliano was trailing on his right side. Kolarik held the puck, acting like he was waiting for the chance to pass over to Cogliano. The Miami defenders paid to much attention to Cogliano, eventually giving Kolarik a small opening through which he fired the puck, getting it past the Miami goalie for this second straight unassisted goal of the period.

With just four and a half minutes left to play Michigan would be whistled for a penalty and the Redhawks allowing the Redhawks a small window of opportunity. From the ensuing face off, just nine seconds into the power play, the Redhawks walked right through the Michigan zone, got down close to the goal, getting off a shot that beat Sauer, cutting the Michigan lead to two goals.

With just over one minute to play and the action moving into the Michigan zone the Miami goalie skated to the bench, allowing the Redhawks to bring on an extra attacker. Seven seconds later, with the Miami goalie barely getting on the bench, Kolarik forced yet another turnover just inside our blue line. He skated a couple of steps, reaching the red line, when he fired a shot the length of the ice and into the empty net. It was his third straight unassisted goal of the period. Kolariks three unassisted third period goals were the final difference in the score.

The final score was Michigan six, Miami three. Miami out shot the Wolverines nine to six in the period to end the game with a twenty-five to twenty advantage in shots on goal.

This game was pretty much what you would expect, with two of the CCHA's top teams going at it tooth and nail. It was a very close game until Kolarik pulled off the three unassisted goals in the third period for his second straight hat trick. This was a huge game for Michigan as it gets them off to a great start in the CCHA race. If they can complete the sweep tomorrow night, they would have a distinct advantage over the Redhawks in this years conference race. Michigan can pull off the sweep, but they will have to play with a bit more energy and focus right out of the gate tomorrow if they want to keep the momentum going.

Tomorrow nights game will start at 8:00 PM as it is the CSTV Friday night game of the week.