Wolverines Get Win In Big Rapids

Friday, November 17, 2006
FSU Ice Arena, Big Rapids, Michigan

Michigan got what has become a rare event last night, a win in Big Rapids against the hosting Ferris State Bulldogs. The last win for the Wolverines in Big Rapids came way back on November 30, 2001, and it was past time for another Michigan victory. The Wolverines had to work the entire game as even an under manned Ferris team gave them all they could handle for sixty minutes, with Michigan coming away with a three to two victory.

Michigan seemed to be carrying the play in the early going in this game, but it was the Bulldogs who would notch the games first score off a strange sequence of events. The puck had bounced off the boards behind the Michigan goal. As the puck caromed out front of the net Sauer misplayed it, giving a Bulldog player a shot at a wide open net which he did not waste scoring the games first goal while on the power play with just over ten minutes left to play in the opening stanza.

While things looked gray following that score the Wolverines answered quickly and with authority barely thirty seconds later with the clock now just under ten minutes. Off the ensuing face off Hensick and Porter led the charge into the Bulldog zone, finally getting the puck in close to the net Hensick slid a pass to Rohlfs who punched it home for the score. Hensick and Porter each picked up an assist on the Rohlfs goal.

Another thirty seconds later, with the clock showing just over nine minutes the Wolverines would score for the second time in the game. Michigan deflected a pass in the neutral zone that ended up right on Kolariks stick. Kolarik broke into the Bulldog zone all alone, closed on the net, and fired home Michigans second goal of the game. Cogliano got an assist for deflected the pass to Kolarik.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan holding the two to one lead. The Wolverines held a fifteen to six advantage in shots on goal.

Both teams would push the puck up and down the ice during the second period, but neither team would be able to score. After forty minutes of play the score was still two to one in favor of Michigan. The Wolverines out shot the Bulldogs eleven to nine in the second period to finish forty minutes with a twenty-six to fifteen advantage in shots on goal.

With just over fifteen minutes to play in the final period the Bulldogs were whistled for a penalty giving Michigan yet another power play opportunity. About one minutes later, with just over fourteen minutes to play the Bulldogs sent a second player to the sin bin to give Michigan a two man advantage. Michigan got the puck into the Bulldog zone, getting it to Johnson in the right circle. As the defense drifted to Johnson he sent a pass to Porter, who quickly fired a pass down to Kolarik who was positioned at the back door on the left side. Kolarik picked up his second goal of the game, this time on the power play, to give Michigan a two goal lead. Porter and Johnson got the assists on the goal.

Even though Ferris put tremendous pressure on the Michigan net in the final half of the third period Michigan and Sauer were able to hold them at bay until there were roughly twenty seconds left to play when Ferris was on the power play. The Wolverines found themselves down two men with just over a minute to play. With the extra attacker in the zone the Bulldogs were finally able to get one past Sauer to draw within one. While they continued to attack and came close in the closing second Sauer turned away any remaining chances for the Bulldogs to preserve the win.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a three to two score. The Bulldogs out shot Michigan twenty to eleven in the final period, but Michigan ended the game with a thirty-seven to thirty-five advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines got the win, however, their special teams play is well below where it needs to be. Michigan went just one for nine on the power play and gave up two power play goals in just five tries for the Bulldogs. As the old saying goes a win, is a win, is a win, and the Wolverines will take this one and tuck it away. Both teams will do it all again Saturday night starting at 7:05 PM.