Friday, February 15, 2008
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

It wasn't pretty, but it was effective as the Wolverines scrapped and fought their way to a four to two victory over the visiting Lakers. The Lakers would score first in this game, but the Wolverines would score last. This win, coupled with Miami's loss earlier in the evening to Ferris gives Michigan a three point lead in the CCHA with just five regular season games left.

With the clock just under the eighteen minute mark the Lakers notched the games first goal, getting off a shot from just inside the Michigan blue line. The puck slid through traffic in front of the net, took a strange little hop, slipping past Sauer who couldn't quite find the handle on the bouncing puck.

With just over three minutes to play the Lakers were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. With just over two minutes left in the opening period Michigan would score to tie the game at one. Michigan pushed the puck up the ice from their end into the Laker zone. They quickly moved the puck around the zone getting off a shot that was blocked, but in blocking the shot the goalie ended up on the ice to one side of the goal. Luckily the puck fell to the ice on the other side of the goal and Kolarik was right there to chip the puck in for the score. Palushaj and Mitera each picked up assists on the power play goal.

The first period would come to an end with the game all tied at one. The Lakers held an eleven to nine advantage in shots on goal.

The second period was down to its last four minutes before either team would score again and it was Michigan who would do the scoring. For the second straight play Porter showed some great hustle forcing a turnover near the Michigan blue line and breaking up the ice into the Laker zone. This time he drove the puck down low left of the goal, taking the Laker defenseman with him. As he got near the goal line he quickly fed a pass back to the slot where Kolarik had taken up position. As soon as he had the puck Kolarik fired off a blazing shot that was partially blocked, but he had enough on it that it slid through the five hole for the score. Porter and Kampfer each picked up assists on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a two to one lead. The Lakers out shot the Wolverines eight to five in the period, giving them a nineteen to fourteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just over sixteen minutes to play in the third period the Lakers were whistled for two separate penalties giving the Wolverines a full two minutes skating five on three. While Michigan was unable to score while on the power play they found the back of the net for the third time just seconds after the penalties expired. With the clock just under the fourteen minute mark Michigan was buzzing all around the Laker net, getting off a couple of shots that were all blocked, but the puck was kept in play. Finally Kolarik would bank the puck into the net off the back of the goalies leg for his hat trick, giving Michigan a two goal lead. Porter and Palushaj each picked up assists on the goal.

With the clock showing just over five minutes to play the Lakers would score their second goal of the game, cutting the Michigan lead back down to one. The Lakers moved the puck quickly into the Michigan zone, somehow finding a way around any Wolverine player that tried to stop the rush. The moved relentlessly to the goal, finally chipping the puck up and over Sauer for the score.

With the clock just under two minutes the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Lakers on the power play for the remainder of the game. Michigan was doing a good job of killing the penalty, with the Lakers finally pulling their goalie with roughly fifty-two seconds left to play. A stoppage in play gave them the chance to call time out with just forty-nine seconds left in the game. With just thirty-seven seconds left to play Porter forced a turn over at the Michigan blue line, chipping the puck to Kolarik who took off down the ice, driving toward the empty Laker goal. Making sure to get close enough not to miss Kolarik hung onto the puck until he got to the face off circle before firing it into the empty net for the short handed goal. Porter picked up the lone assist on the goal.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of four to two. The Wolverines out shot the Lakers twenty to eight in the final period to end the game with a thirty-four to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan may have been a little sluggish after playing in last weekends big show down between number one and number two, but they kept working hard until they finally found their legs in the third period. Unlike the last four or five games that saw Michigan struggle in the third period, tonight the third period was their strongest. Although they only scored two goals in the period, one of them into an empty net, the Wolverines dominated the final period in pretty much every way.

The Lakers will no doubt come out strong in tomorrows night rematch of these two teams. As they try for the split Michigan will try for the sweep to maintain their now three point lead over Miami in the CCHA.