Saturday, December 12, 2008
Lawson Arena, Kalamazoo, Michigan

The recipe was the same as the previous night, solid goal tending, solid defense, and an opportunistic offense as the Wolverines put together their second straight win over the hosting Broncos from Western Michigan. Along the way to their five to one victory Chad Kolarik scored four times to lead the Wolverine attack.

Michigan gets things started quickly, scoring in the first minute of the game to take an early lead. The Wolverines had a couple of chances at the goal, but all were blocked. Finally, off a blocked shot, Michigan got the puck to Kolarik in the right circle. From there he fired off a one timer that beat the goalie for the score. Porter and Summers each picked up assists on the goal.

With nine and half minutes to play the Bronco's were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Michigan had the puck in the Bronco zone, getting it to Porter at the point. From there he got off a shot that was blocked, however, the puck was not covered and Kolarik was right there to chip it in for his second goal of the game. This time it was Porter and Naurato with the assists.

With just over four minutes to play Michigan was whistled for two penalties at the same time give the Broncos a five on three power play. With the clock just under three minutes, forty-five seconds left in the two man advantage, the Broncos were whistled for a penalty cutting their advantage to one man. With just over two minutes to play the Broncos got off a slap shot from the right circle that beat Sauer high over his shoulder for a Western power play goal.

Because of the prior penalty Michigan moved to the power play following the Western goal and with the clock still showing a little over two minutes to play the Wolverines had regained their three goal lead. Michigan had the puck low and left of the goal when they made a quick pass over to the right circle. From their Quick got off a one timer that beat the goalie for a Wolverine power play goal. Turnbull and Lebler each picked up assists on the goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a three to one lead. The Broncos out shot the Wolverines thirteen to eleven in the period.

With the clock just under the seventeen minute mark there was a face off in the Western zone to the left of the goalie. Kolarik won the draw, stepped through a couple of Western players, snapping off a shot that beat the Western goalie for the score. Kolarik with his hat trick goal, scored as unassisted.

The second period came to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of four to one. Michigan out shot the Broncos twelve to nine in this period giving Michigan a twenty-three to twenty-two advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just over seven minutes left in the game Michigan would strike for the final time in this game. Porter would dig the puck out of the left corner, feed it to Naurato who was right next to the goal. Naurato made a quick pass over to Kolarik on the right side of the goal and Kolarik made the easy chip in for his fourth goal of the night. Naurato and Porter both had assists on the goal.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of five to one. Michigan out shot the Broncos fifteen to ten in the final period to end the game with a thirty-eight to thirty-two advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan got the second half start that they needed, two wins to get the second half campaign off to a great start. They picked up right where they left off in the first half as they welcomed their team mates back from the World Junior Championships. Next weekend is their first test against one of the CCHA's other top teams when they play a pair against Notre Dame.