Friday, January 25, 2008
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines hosted cross state rival Michigan State Friday in the first of four meetings over the next four weeks. The Spartans managed to score a power play goal in the first period and then rode that goal to victory as the Wolverines tried in vain to score for the remainder of the game.

With eleven and half minutes left to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty giving the Spartans the games first power play. A minute later, with the puck in front of the Michigan net and a host of players from both teams scrambling for control, the Spartans were able to chip the puck up and over a sprawled Sauer for the score.

The first period would come to an end with the Spartans clinging to their slim one to nothing lead. The Spartans held an eleven to eight edge in shots on goal.

While both teams had chances neither team would be able to score in the second period leaving the score one to nothing after forty minutes. The Spartans out shot the Wolverines eleven to ten in the second period for a twenty-two to eighteen advantage in shots on goal after forty minutes of play.

Michigan had a couple of great scoring chances in the final period, but failed to convert on any of them, giving the Spartans a one to nothing victory. Michigan out shot the Spartans eight to six in the period, leaving the Spartans with a twenty-eight to twenty-six advantage in shots on goal at the end of the game.

The Wolverines didn't play their best game of the year and the Spartans played just well enough to hold onto that one goal lead for two full periods playing their typical, mind numbing, clutch, grab, trap, and slow it down brand of hockey that they always seem to play. Add to that a Michigan team that couldn't make a clean pass to save themselves and you have a recipe for disaster. The Wolverines were simply out of sync all night long doing as much to contribute to their lack of offense as the Spartans did. Hopefully on Saturday a sharper, more focused Wolverine squad shows up as the Wolverines try to salvage the weekend with a split, while on the road.