Friday, February 1, 2008
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines second half slump continued as they skated to their second straight tie, this time against the visiting Wildcats from Northern Michigan. Michigan fell behind in the first, regaining the lead once in the second, and once in the third, but in each case they were unable to sustain those leads, finally settling for the three to three tie.

With the clock showing just under ten minutes to play in the opening period Mitera turned the puck over deep in the Michigan zone. The Wildcats quickly gained control of the puck, passing from left of the goal to the right side quickly. With the Wolverines all up ice in anticipation of clearing the zone there wasn't much help for Sauer, allowing the Wildcats to get off a couple of shots before finally knocking a rebound back into the net over Sauer.

The first period would come to an end with the Wildcats leading by a score of one to nothing. The Wolverines held a fourteen to nine edge in shots on goal.

Michigan would finally get on the board with just over ten minutes to play in the second period when the Wildcats turned the puck over just outside their own zone. Michigan quickly scooped up the puck using a couple of quick passes to get the puck to Turnbull in the high slot. Turnbull fired off a shot that beat the goalie to give the Wolverines their first goal of the game. Caparusso and Kampfer each picked up assists on the goal.

With about five and half minutes to play the Wildcats were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. With the clock just under four minutes to play and the puck in the Wildcat zone, the Wolverines got the puck to Porter at the top of the left circle. From there he fired off a shot that was blocked, but the rebound was not covered, allowing Michigan several chances at scoring the go ahead goal. The Wolverines finally chipped the puck into the net to take the lead for the first time in this game. Pacioretty received credit for the goal, while Porter and Langlais each picked up assists.

With just over two minutes to play the Wildcats were once again in the sin bin, but one again, with the clock still showing just over two minutes to play, the Wolverine defense once again turned the puck over, this time right at the Wildcat blue line. A Wildcat player quickly got control of the puck and broke clean into the Michigan zone. He skated right down the slot, firing off a shot as he closed on the goal that beat Sauer top shelf to once again tie up the game.

The Wildcats were whistled for a second penalty with just fifty seconds to play (thirty-two seconds left in the initial Wildcat penalty, giving Michigan a two man advantage. The Wildcats held leaving the score all tied at two goals each at the end of the second period. Michigan out shot the Wildcats fourteen to four in the second period to hold a twenty-eight to thirteen advantage in shots on goal after forty minutes of play.

With the clock under the fourteen minute mark a penalty fest ensued, led by the Wolverines who sent a player to the sin bin at this time. With the clock almost down to thirteen minutes, 1:37 left in the first penalty, the Wildcats were whistled for a penalty to put the teams at even strength, four on four. With the clock now under the thirteen minute mark the Wildcats were whistled for a penalty putting the Wolverines on the power play. Michigan got the puck into the Wildcat zone and after making a couple of passes they got the puck to Porter just inside the blue line. From there he got off a rocket of a shot that beat the Northern goalie before he could react. Kolarik and Pacioretty each picked up assist on the Porter power play goal.

With the clock under ten minutes Michigan was whistled for a penalty putting Northern on the power play. Eighteen seconds later the Wolverines were whistled for a second penalty giving the Wildcats and extended two man advantage. With just over eight minutes to play, twenty-three seconds from Michigan cutting the Northern power play down to a one man advantage, the Wildcats got an open look right down the slot to the goal. From between the circles the Wildcats fired a shot that beats Sauer through the five hole to tie the game at three goals each.

The third period would come to an end with the score all tied at three goals each. The Wolverines out shot the Wildcats thirteen to ten in the period to hold a forty-one to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal at the end of regulation time.

A five minute over time period was played, but neither team was able to score, ending the game with the score still tied at three goals each. Michigan out shot the Wildcats three to one in the over time to end the game with a forty-four to twenty-four advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines struggles continue as they skate to their second straight tie. They are struggling in pretty much every phase of the game right now. The defense has been sloppy with the puck with two of Northerns goals tonight coming directly off turn overs by said defense. Special teams also struggle giving up a short handed goal and a power play goal in tonights game. That leaves the offense and sadly that also continues to struggle. They did score three goals tonight, beating all of last weekends output by one goal, but they also missed a number of shots at open nets that could have given them a comfortable lead in this game. The Wolverines need to get things back on track Saturday night to try and build some momentum as they get ready to play the Miami Redhawks next weekend in a pair of games that will most likely decide who wins the CCHA championship.