Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan

The Wolverines followed their shaky Friday night game in dominating fashion as they methodically over powered the Irish to complete the weekend sweep. Michigan scored at least a goal in each period on their way to the five to one victory.

With about thirteen and half minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Irish on the power play. Thirteen seconds later, with the clock still showing just over thirteen minutes to play, Michigan would score a short handed goal to take the early lead. Michigan broke out of their zone with a three on two advantage. Kolarik carried the puck into the Irish zone, firing off a shot from about eight feet inside the Irish blue line. The shot looked to be blocked, but it would trickle through the five hole, finally crossing the goal line for the score. Miller had the lone assist.

With just over six minutes to play the Irish looked to have scored a goal out of a scrum in front of the net, however, it was waved off for being kicked into the goal. With just over five minutes to go they would score a goal that was not waved off to tie the game. The Irish got to the puck behind the net, made a quick pass out front where they got off a quick shot that beat Sauer top shelf.

With just over two minutes to play there was a face off to the left of the Irish net minder. Michigan won the draw, pushing the puck low to the end boards. Michigan got to the puck first, getting a pass quickly out front to Porter who was moving to the goal. Porter fired the shot as soon as the puck got to him, beating the Irish net minder for the goal. Rust picked up the lone assist on the goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of two to nothing. The Irish ended the period with an eleven to ten advantage in shots on goal.

With just over fifteen minutes to play in the second period Michigan would extend their lead to two goals, scoring with a rocket of a shot from the point. Michigan won a face off to the left of the goalie, pushing the puck low. From their they passed out to the point where Caporusso fired off the shot that beat the net minder for the score. Quick picked up the lone assist on the goal.

With the clock just under the five minute mark the Irish would turn the puck over in their own zone. The puck rolled out to the right circle with Rust getting to the puck first. As he got his stick on the puck he got off a quick shot that beat the goalie for the score, giving Michigan a three goal lead. Hagelin picked up the lone assist on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of four to one. The Wolverines out shot the Irish fifteen to ten in the period to end forty minutes of play with a twenty-five to twenty-one advantage in shots on goal.

The Irish changed goalies between the second and third periods, allowing the Irish to pretty much shut down the Michigan attack. However, the Irish pulled their goalie early in the game (with about four minutes to play in the game) allowing the Wolverines plenty of time to fire away at an empty net. Finally, with just three minutes left to play Turnbull got the puck just inside the Irish blue line, firing off a shot that slid right down the ice, coming to a stop right in the middle of the back of the goal. Naurato got the lone assist on the Turnbull goal.

The game would come to and end with the Wolverines ahead by a score of five to one after regulation time. Notre Dame out shot the Wolverines twelve to five in the final period to end the game with a thirty-three to thirty advantage in shots on goal.

What a difference a day makes. Last night the Wolverines struggled for everything they got, spotting the Irish the early, then fighting back to tie the game, finally winning it with just twenty seconds left in regulation time. Tonight they simply dominated the Irish. Even though the Irish had more shots it was Michigan who controlled this game. The win gave the Wolverines their best weekend sweep of the season and was a great way to send the message to the rest of the CCHA that this team is for real. Next weekend its a home and home against arch rival Michigan State.