Saturday, February 23, 2008
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

After yet another third period meltdown the night before led to a bruising loss to the Spartans, the Wolverines put together one of their most complete games of hockey in the seasons second half to earn a split, downing the Spartans by the same five to two score that the Spartans posted the previous night.

With the clock just under the fifteen minute mark the Wolverines would draw first blood when Miller got to a rebound and buried it top shelf for the score. Summers got things going by carrying the puck from the Wolverine end of the ice, into the Spartan zone, getting off a point blank shot that was blocked. The Spartan net minder didn't cover the puck allowing it to drop to the ice in front of the goal. Miller was right there to put the puck home for the score. Summers picked up the lone assist.

With just over nine minutes to play Michigan would strike again to extend their lead to two goals. This time it was Hagelin who got things started, stealing the puck from a MSU defender behind the MSU net. He slid the puck out front where Palushaj got his stick on it, chipping it past the Spartan goalie for the score. The goal was scored as unassisted.

With just over one minute to play the Spartans were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. With just 19.8 seconds left in the period Mitera got off a shot from the point that was blocked, but once again the rebound was not covered. This time it was Naurato who was right on the door step of the goal, lifting the puck up and over the Spartan net minder to score the power play goal. Mitera and Winnett each picked up assists on the goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of three to nothing. The Wolverines once again held a commanding seventeen to eight advantage in shots on goal.

With just over eleven minutes to play the Spartans won a face off just inside the blue line of the Michigan zone. They moved to the left just a bit, quickly passing the puck down into the slot where a Spartan player got off a back hand shot that beat Sauer for the score.

With about eight and half minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty to put the Spartans on the power play. With the clock just under the eight minute mark the Spartans walked the puck right down the ice, getting off a shot from the bottom of the left circle that hit Sauer right in the mask. The puck took a big bounce right out in front of the goal into the slot where a Spartan player got off a one timer that was in the net before Sauer could recover and get in position for a block.

With just thirty-five seconds remaining in the second period Porter would get things going on a sequence of events that would lead to Michigan's fourth goal of the game. Porter held the puck as long as he could down low next to the goal. As the Spartan defense started to close on him he passed the puck out to the point to Mitera who got off a shot. Pacioretty was positioned in the slot in front of the goal. From there he redirected the puck past the Spartan net minder to move Michigan back in front by two goals. Mitera and Porter each picked up assists on the goal.

The second period came to an end with the Wolverines holding a four to two lead. The Wolverines out shot the Spartans fourteen to thirteen in this period to hold a thirty-one to twenty-one advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

Both teams battled up and down the ice in the final period, each getting and missing on scoring changes. With about fifty-two seconds left in regulation time the Spartans called time out, bringing their goalie to the bench. As the players returned to the ice the Spartan goalie remained on the bench. With just thirty-two seconds left there was a battle for the puck right at the Spartan blue line. Michigan was finally able to gain control with Miller eventually ending up with the puck. Miller took aim and fired the puck at and into the empty net, scoring the Wolverines final goal of the night to seal the win. Porter picked up the lone assist on the goal.

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

The Wolverines had two solid periods of hockey tonight, the first and third periods, carrying much of the play in both, but it was especially important in the third as they held their lead and limited the Spartans ability to generate any offense. While the second period wasn't bad, things got a little rough through the middle of the period as Michigan lapsed into the same mistake prone hockey that had throttled them the night before. Once they shook off those mistakes they once again took control of the game and were never really threatened from that point forward.

This loss eliminates the Spartans from contention for the regular season CCHA title. It also leaves Michigan in first place by three points, needing just two points next weekend to clinch the regular season title. It would be a story book end to what has been a terrific regular season of hockey for this team to win the title on home ice in the seasons final regular season game which also just happens to be Senior night. There are only three Seniors on this years team, two of whom play on a regular basis and those two have meant so much to this team it's difficult to put into words. Just know that it would be a fitting end to a great season if the team could deliver the CCHA title on Senior night. It won't be easy as Ferris is one of the hottest teams in college hockey right now, but if Michigan puts together another game like the one they played tonight they should be raising a trophy over their heads sometime around 10 PM on Friday evening.