Friday, January 18, 2008
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines spotted the visiting Irish two goals in the first period before shutting down the Irish offense and slowly clawing their way back into the game. The game was all tied up going into the third period and overtime was looming on the horizon until the Wolverines scored the game winner in dramatic style with just twenty seconds left on the clock.

The Irish got on the board early in the game, scoring with sixteen and half minutes left to play in period one. Notre Dame had the puck in the Michigan zone, getting off an innocent looking shot from the right circle. The puck hit Miteras stick, deflecting past Sauer to his right side, dropping into the goal for the score.

About two minutes later, with just over fourteen minutes left to play in the first period the Irish would score for the second time in the period to jump out to a big lead in this contest of top ten teams. The Irish just sort of chipped the puck up the ice, gaining the Wolverine zone where they got behind the defense. As they passed the right circle they pushed it more toward the slot pulling Sauer to his left. The Irish then got to the puck and back handed it past Sauer on his left.

The first period would come to an end with the Irish holding a two to nothing lead. The Irish also held an eleven to nine advantage in shots on goal after twenty minutes.

The second period started with Michigan on the power play, skating four on three. The Wolverines wouldn't waste this chance, scoring a power play goal just twenty-one seconds into the game. The Wolverines got control of the puck following the periods face off. They moved it into the Irish zone, passed it back and forth along the blue line a couple of times, then got it to Porter at the left circle. From there Porter fired off a one timer that beat the Irish net minder for the score. Langlais and Palushaj picked up assists on the goal.

With the clock just under eight minutes the Wolverines would strike for the second time in this period, knotting the score at two. Michigan moved the puck out of their zone quickly, sending a pass all the way up the ice into the neutral zone. Rust quickly carried the puck into the Irish zone, got to the top of the right circle and blasted a slap shot that slid between the goalie and the post for the score. Palushaj picked up the lone assist on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with the game all tied at two goals each. Michigan out shot the Irish eleven to eight in the period to end forty minutes of play with a twenty to nineteen edge in shots on goal.

The game was winding down, just twenty seconds between both teams and overtime, when the Wolverines chipped in a rebound for the game winning goal. Michigan had the puck deep in the Irish zone, getting a couple of chances at the goal. Finally, Caporusso got to the puck at the left corner of the goal and was able to chip it past the goal tender for the score. Naurato and Turnbull each picked up assists on the goal.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning by a score of three to two. The Wolverines out shot the Irish eight to seven in the period to finish the game with a twenty-eight to twenty-six advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan didn't get off to the best of starts in this game, giving up a couple of goals that I'm sure they all wish they had a second chance at stopping. On the other side of the coin the also didn't quit or fold after giving up those early goals. They kept playing and fighting, eventually turning the game in their favor, winning in thrilling fashion with just twenty seconds left on the clock. They will need to get off to a better start tomorrow night if they want any chance at sweeping the series. They don't want to tempt fate to much by spotting the Irish another early lead, you don't always recover from those early deficits. It should be an exciting finish to the series between these two top ten teams.