Huskies Nip Wolverines

Saturday, October 28, 2006
Yost Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Continuing their early season pattern of splitting weekends, a pattern that is unfortunately similar to all of last season, the Wolverines dropped their Saturday night game to the visiting Huskies by a three to two score. It was just another night of un-called for penalties, poor defensive play, and an inability to put the puck in the net that has become the trademark of Wolverine hockey.

The first period was probably the best for the Wolverines in this game and it was in this period that they notched the games first goal. Michigan had been having no success getting the puck behind the Huskie net minder through the first eight minutes of the game, but with just over twelve minutes to play that would change. Hensick would carry the puck into the Huskie zone, dropping it off just inside the blue line to a trailing Johnson. Johnson scooped it up, skated a couple of steps deeper into the zone, finally firing off a shot that was blocked, but the rebound was not covered. Johnson, who had continued to follow the puck toward the goal, gathered in his own rebound and stuffed it into the net for the score. Hensick and Hunwick each picked up an assist on the goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a one to nothing lead. Michigan out shot the Huskies eleven to four.

With the clock just under fifteen minutes in the second period the beginning of the end started for the Wolverines. Michigan attempted to clear the puck, but in usual fashion failed to do so. The Huskies stopped the puck at the blue line and jumped back toward the Wolverine net while most Wolverines had already started to skate toward the Huskie net. The Huskies got off a quick shot, which was blocked, but again the rebound was left on the ice and a Huskie was right there to stuff it in the goal to tie the game.

Twenty seconds later Michigan was whistled for a penalty putting the Huskies on the power play. With the extra energy that a goal can give a team the Huskies buzzed the Michigan net quickly and often in this power play. Northeastern moved the puck well in the Michigan zone, applying all kinds of pressure that finally paid off with just three seconds of power play time left. With twelve and a half minutes of time left in the second period the Huskies had the lead, a lead they would never surrender.

The second period would come to an end with Northeastern leading by a score of two to one. Michigan out shot the Huskies twenty to eleven in the period to hold a substantial thirty-one to fifteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just over nine minutes to play in the final period the Huskies would score the game winning goal. As the Huskies crossed the Michigan blue line they shifted just slightly to the left of center of the goal. It seemed the entire Michigan defense shifted to the right at the same time, leaving a lane to the goal. The Huskie player wound up and fired off a blast that sailed between Sauer and the pipe for the goal.

Michigan picked up the speed and tempo in the closing minutes of the game and would get to within one goal with the clock just under four minutes. Michigan had gotten off a couple of shots in a row, with the second one generating another big rebound. This time Michigan was able to put the rebound into the open net, something they had failed to do on numerous occasions throughout the game. Porter would get credit for the goal, while Dest and Hensick each picked up an assist.

Michigan would try to get the game tied in the final minutes, but would put themselves a man down when they were whistled for yet another penalty with just over a minute to play. With fifty-six seconds left in the game Michigan pulled Sauer to get back to even strength. With twenty-eight seconds left in the game and a face off coming in the Huskie zone Michigan called time out. With sixteen seconds left Northeastern called time out. Through it all the Wolverines could not put the puck in the net.

The game would come to an end with the visiting Huskies taking the three to two decision. Once again Michigan out shot the Huskies sixteen to five to end the game with a lop sided forty-seven to twenty advantage in shots on goal.

With a very tough stretch coming in the schedule he Wolverine season seems to be teetering on the brink, something that hasn't been said of a Michigan hockey team in well over a decade. The month of November could either make or break this Wolverine hockey teams season. Right now today, given the way that Michigan is playing, the month of November may well seem like an eternity for Wolverine hockey.