Wolverines Corral Mavericks

Friday, November 10, 2006
Yost Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Michigan didn't seem to play a terrible game last night, but they had a few times during the game when they seemed to lose focus, getting sloppy with the puck, and every time they lost their focus the Mavericks were right there to make them pay. Through the ups and downs that this night would bring the Wolverines continued to work hard, getting to the end of sixty minutes with a hard fought six to four win.

Both teams had spent the first half of the opening period pushing the puck up and down the ice, with each team getting a couple of shots off, but neither team really mounting much of a scoring threat. That would all change with just over nine minutes to play when the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty, putting Nebraska on the power play. With the clock just under eight minutes, just thirty-eight seconds left on the power play, a Maverick player would take the puck end to end, dance around the Michigan defense, and power the puck into the Michigan net for the games first score.

Just over a minute later, with roughly six and half minutes to play in the first period, the Mavericks tightened the screws a little tighter as they got off a shot from between the circles that flew through a gap left between the Michigan goal tender and the pipe. In a little over a minute the Wolverines were down by two goals and it looked like the night might unravel for Michigan.

Michigan would close that gap and breath some life into their game with just over four minutes to go when Hensick made a great defensive play in the Michigan end to take control of the puck and break out of the zone, flying up the right side boards. Hensick continued down the ice, into the Maverick zone, and toward the Maverick goal, making a last second pass over to Porter as they got in close. Porter wasted no time in banging the puck into the back of the net for the first of his three goals. Hensick got the lone assist on the goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Mavericks holding a two to one lead. The Mavericks also held a slim eight to seven advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan had been whistled for a penalty with just over one minute to play in the opening period so the Mavericks started the second period with forty-one seconds of power play time. Michigan killed that off, but the player coming out of the box looped around the ice, zoomed into the Nebraska goal and was whistled for charging the goal tender, returning immediately to the penalty box. Michigan managed to kill that penalty off, but with just over sixteen minutes left in the second period the Wolverines were whistled for their third straight penalty, giving the Mavericks yet another power play opportunity. It would take just twenty-four seconds of this third straight power play before Nebraska would put another one behind Sauer to once again take a two goal lead.

With exactly eleven minutes left to play Michigan and Porter would score their second goal of the night to once again get within one. Michigan won a face off to the Nebraska goalies right and tried to work it out of the corner. After several failed attempts to get the puck into a shooting position they got off a quick pass to Porter who was positioned between the circles. Just as the puck got to him he unleashed a one timer that beat the Maverick net minder for the score. Assists went to Rohlfs and Hensick.

With the clock just under four minutes Michigan would get the game tying goal when Cogliano used his great speed to get behind the Maverick defense. Cogliano had gathered up the puck just outside the Nebraska blue line and was immediately challenged by a Nebraska player. However, Cogliano put on a burst of speed that got him around that player and allowed him to get into the Maverick zone and close on the goal. As he got closer to the goal he got better control of the puck and came blazing in from the right goalies right side. The goalie committed to the stop, sprawling out on the ice trying to poke the puck away. Cogliano made a nice little move to get around the prone goalie, sliding the puck into the wide open back side of the net for the score. Both Miller and Kolarik picked up assists on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with the game all tied up at three goals each. Michigan out shot the Mavericks eleven to eight in the second period to end forty minutes of play with an eighteen to sixteen advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock just under the fifteen minute mark of the third period Michigan would take their first lead of the night on a sleeper of a goal. Michigan had gotten off a couple of shots at the Nebraska net, but all of them had been blocked and the puck was off to the Maverick goalies right. It almost looked like most of the Nebraska players thought the puck was going to be whistled dead as they seemed to relax just slightly, when Lebler lifted a nice soft shot up into the air, over the Maverick goal tenders shoulder, and into the net. Mitera and Cook each picked up an assist on the goal.

Barely two minutes later, with just over twelve minutes to play the Mavericks would once again tie the game. A Nebraska player flew up the left side boards, crossing into the Michigan zone, but staying along the boards. It didn't look like he was trying to do anything, but get off a pass when he suddenly rifled a shot from the far side of the left circle, catching Sauer sleeping, finding the back of the Michigan net to tie the game.

With just over six minutes to play Michigan would take the lead for good when Porter finished his hat trick. The puck was along the boards in the Maverick zone and looked like it was going to locked up there, forcing a face off. There was a sudden break in the bodies fighting for the puck, giving Hensick just enough room to get off a quick pass out front to Porter who once again one timed it, getting the puck behind the Nebraska goal tender for the score. Hensick and Rohlfs each picked up an assist on the goal.

With roughly a minute and a half left to play in the third period Michigan would get a little breathing room when they scored their sixth goal of the game to open a two goal lead. It was some great hustle by Turnbull that got this scoring drive started as he worked for the puck and got it deep into the Maverick zone. He got a pass off to Johnson, who had closed on the Maverick net, and Johnson got off a shot that was blocked. However, the rebound was not covered allowing Johnson to scoop it up and circle back around the net. As he popped out on the other side he wrapped the puck around the pipe and behind the net minder for the score. Turnbull picked up the lone assist on the score.

The Mavericks called time out immediately following Michigan's sixth goal with 1:24 left to play. When the returned to the ice the goal tender also returned, but with 1:17 to play he headed to the bench. Michigan would get a couple of mediocre chances at the open net, but they focused mainly on keeping the puck out of their own net. In the end the game would come to a close with Michigan holding on for a six to four victory. The Wolverines out shot the Mavericks nine to five in the period to end the game with a twenty-seven to twenty-one advantage in shots on goal.

The Mavericks are a hard working team that gave Michigan all they could have bargained for, putting the Wolverines in a hole early. They hadn't really been playing badly, but a slight loss of focus led to the Mavericks quick two goals. That was followed up by those three straight penalties to finish the first and start the second period and you just don't give Nebraska that many power play chances without it hurting you (they are converting on the power play at over thirty percent right now). I'm sure Sauer wishes he could have that fourth goal back as he was unscreened and had to have seen the puck the entire way. It seemed whenever Michigan had the slightest mental lapse Nebraska recognized it, jumped on it, and would come away with a score. Even with those lapses the Wolverines didn't lose their composure or their overall focus as they methodically picked up their intensity, finally tying the game, and then slowly taking the upper hand in the third period.

These two games are important in the CCHA as the Wolverines play Nebraska just twice this year. The Mavericks came into tonights contest ahead of Michigan in the standings and with this win Michigan moved ahead of them, but the Wolverines still sit in sixth place. They do have games in hand against almost everyone ahead of them, but the importance of winning tomorrow nights game can't be overstated. With these two games being the only two between these two teams this year Michigan can get a permanent edge on Nebraska by getting their first weekend sweep of the season over the same team tomorrow night at Yost.