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Wolverines Go Down With A Whimper
Friday, December 8, 2006
Yost Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
In their final home game of this seasons first half the Wolverines had a chance
to make a statement going into the mid-season break as they hosted the third place
and nationally ranked Fighting Irish to Yost Arena. They could strengthen their
grip on second place in the CCHA and make a case for their ranking in the national
standings. Instead they all but capitulated the game right from the opening face
off with lackadaisical play and an utter lack of heart, grit, and determination that have
become the hallmarks of this team.
As the clock moved under the nineteen minute mark the Irish notched their first goal
of the night when a simple shot down the slot beat Sauer for the score. Right then you
got the feeling it would be a long night as a defenseman who hadn't scored a goal all
year got a goal that never should have been scored; and a long night it was.
With just over two minutes to play in the opening period the Wolverines were whistled
for a penalty giving Notre Dame a late power play opportunity. Michigan managed to hang
on until there were just thirty-three seconds left in the period, but then the Irish
scored their second goal of the game, this time on the power play. The Irish got the
puck down in front close to the goal and got off a shot that was blocked. However, the
rebound wasn't covered and a second Irish player was unmolested in front of the net
and made it look easy as he chipped the puck up and over Sauer.
The second period would come to an end with the Irish holding a two to nothing
lead. The Wolverine held a nine to five edge in shots on goal.
With just eleven seconds ticked off the clock in the second stanza the Wolverines
drove to the net and flipped a back hand shot past the Irish net minder to cut the
Irish lead to one goal. Hunwick, with the lone assist, got the puck to Cogliano
who finished things off with the nice back hand shot.
With just over eighteen minutes to play a player from each team was sent to the
penalty box. Twenty seconds later the Wolverines were whistled for a second penalty
to put Notre Dame on the power play. Barely fifteen seconds later the Irish once
again had the puck deep in the Michigan zone and made it look easy, scoring their second
power play goal of the night. There didn't seem to be any defensive effort to stop
the shot, block the shot, or harass the Irish player. They were simply able to walk
the puck into the zone, line up the shot, and blast it home.
With just under eight minutes to play the Irish were whistled for a penalty to
put Michigan on the power play. The Wolverines won the ensuing face off, which
was in the Irish zone, made a quick couple of passes and got off a shot that was
block, but the rebound was not covered. Michigan had a player in position to get to
the rebound and was able to chip it home for the score. Just seven seconds into the
man advantage Naurato had a goal, while Turnbull and Mitera each had assists.
Barely a minute later the Irish would once again extend their lead to two goals
when the Wolverines failed on several clearing attempts, finally turning the puck over,
leading the Irish score. Once they got control of the puck the Irish got off a shot
that was going to be blocked, but it was redirected right in front of the goal and
instead of blocking it, it was in the net.
The Irish onslaught continued when they rushed into the Michigan zone with numbers
in their favor with just over one minute left to play in the second period. An Irish
player carried the puck into the zone and was getting set to take a shot, when a
Michigan defender got in the way. Instead of taking the shot, he slid a pass to a
trailing team mate who continued toward the goal and just muscled the puck past Sauer
for the score.
The second period would come to an end with Notre Dame leading by a score of five
to two. The Wolverines out shot the Irish thirteen to eleven in the period to end
forty minutes of play with a twenty-two to sixteen advantage in shots on goal.
After giving up five goals on sixteen shots Sauer was replaced by Jakiel in goal
for Michigan, but by then the damage was done. A cold goal tender and a hot Irish
team was not a good combination
With the clock just under the thirteen minute mark the Irish were able to extend
their lead to four goals. The Irish passed up the ice, getting the puck to another
of their players just inside the Michigan blue line. They moved a bit farther into
the Michigan zone before taking a shot that seemed certain to be blocked, but another
Irish player was once again left alone in front of the Michigan net and he was able to
get his stick on the puck at the last second, redirecting it through the five hole
for the score.
With just over six minutes to play Michigan would get their third and final goal of
the night, courtesy of their junior class. Porter had the puck in close to the Irish
goal on the right. He flipped a pass to Kolarik on the left who fired off a rocket
that was behind the Irish net minder before he could react. Porter had the lone assist
on the Kolarik goal.
As was the case all night long the Irish quickly answered the Michigan goal with a
goal of their own to reclaim their four goal lead. The Irish used quick, crisp passes
to quickly get the puck up the ice and into the Michigan zone. From inside the blue line
they got a pass up to a player going down the slot. That player walked in on the
Michigan goal all alone, deked Jakiel and slid a back hand shot into the wide open net
for the score.
The game would come to an end with the Irish winning by a score of seven to three. The
Wolverines out shot the Irish seven to six in the period to end the game with a twenty-nine
to twenty-two advantage in shots on goal.
This team clearly seems to have reverted back to their ways of October, completely undoing
in just two short weeks, all the good things they managed to do in the month of November.
Where they go from here is anybodies guess, because right now I don't think they have a clue
what to do. They have no goal tending, although at this point in time they might want to
consider going with Jakiel. If he's given some extended ice time maybe he'll settle into
the role and give the Wolverines a fighting chance down the stretch. As much as everyone
wants him to do well, Sauer simply seems to have turned invisible between the pipes giving
up buckets of goals on a regular basis. While it would have been nice to see a bit more out
of Hensick, Porter, and Cogliano in this game Michigan did score three goals and against one
of the countries top defensive teams that should have been enough, but then we get to the
defense. Like goal tending, the defense might has become all but non-existent. They continue
to give up odd man rushes, they continue to fail when trying to clear the puck, they continue
to leave opposing players all alone in front of the Michigan net, all of which continue to
lead to goals against; lots of goals against. Instead of finishing off the first half with
a bang, they seem to have tucked their collective tails between their legs and are whimpering
for mercy as this season appears to be in the opening phases of spiraling out of control.
They get one last chance before the Christmas break to get a win and salvage something from
this weekend, but given the way this team is playing right now its going to be another
long Sunday afternoon for the Wolverines.
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