Friday, February 29, 2008
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines clinched the regular season CCHA title with a five to three victory over the visiting Bulldogs from Ferris State. The game remained close after two periods, but the Wolverines blew it open with two quick third period goals to open up a three goal lead. The Bulldogs would cut the lead to two and come close to scoring additional goals on several occasions, but they could get no closer.

The first period would end the way it started with the score all tied at zero. Both teams had chances, but neither team was able to convert. Ferris would end the period with an eleven to six advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock just under seventeen minutes the Wolverines would finally get on the board when Naurato pounded the puck past the Bulldog net minder for the score. The shot would come from the top of the left circle and it looked to be blocked, but it had so much force on it that it rolled up and over the goalies stick, ending up in the net for the score. Mitera and Winnett each picked up assists on the goal.

With thirteen and half minutes to play the Wolverines were in the penalty box, putting Ferris on the power play. With the clock still showing over thirteen minutes to play the Bulldogs had the puck in the net, scoring a power play goal to tie the game at one. The Bulldog shot came from the point, hitting the cross bar, deflecting down and into the net, rather than up and over.

Barely twenty seconds later, with the clock now just under thirteen minutes, Michigan forced a turn over deep in the Ferris zone. Lebler got off a shot from the bottom of the left circle that was blocked, but the rebound went into the slot. Lebler followed up his shot, got his own rebound, and buried the puck to once again give the Wolverines the lead.

With just over ten minutes to play the Wolverines were again in the penalty box. Almost exactly two minutes later, with just one second left in the power play, the Bulldogs had the puck in the net to once again tie the game.

With about three and half minutes to play in the period it was the Bulldogs who would make a trip the penalty box and this time the Wolverines would make them pay. Michigan had the puck behind the Ferris net when Palushaj made a great pass out front to the slot near the left face off circle. As soon as the puck hit his stick Porter fired off a shot that beat the goal tender, putting Michigan back in front for good. Palushaj and Turnbull each picked up assists on the power play goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of three to two. The Wolverines out shot the Bulldogs eleven to six in the period to leave both teams with seventeen shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

Michigan won control of the puck following the opening face off of the final period. The Wolverines would get the puck to Pacioretty who would carry the puck deep into the Ferris zone, down the right side. As he passed through the face off circle he got of a shot to the wide side that beat the goal tender for the score. Porter and Mitera each picked up assists on the goal.

With about seventeen and half minutes to play the Bulldogs were in the penalty box putting Michigan on the power play two seconds later when a penalty against them expired. Less than thirty seconds later, with just over seventeen minutes still on the clock Caporusso would score the Wolverines second of the period, fifth of the game. The initial shot came from Kampfer in the left circle, but as it passed through the slot, Caporusso redirected it into the net to score the power play goal. Kampfer and Mitera each picked up assists on the goal.

Following the Wolverines fifth goal the Bulldogs would call time out. When they returned to the ice they had replaced their goal tender.

With just over sixteen minutes to play the Wolverines were once again in the penalty box and once again the Bulldogs would take advantage of the extra attacker. With the clock twenty seconds under the fifteen minute mark the Bulldogs moved the puck through the slot, right to left, before punching it home through the five hole to cut the Michigan lead to two.

With just over two minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for another penalty to put Ferris on the power play for almost the remainder of the game. With 1:18 to play the Bulldogs pulled their net minder to make it six on four. Ferris clanged one shot off the post, but that was as close as they would come to scoring.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of five to three. The Bulldogs out shot the Wolverines fourteen to nine in the final period to end the game with a thirty-one to twenty-six advantage in shots on goal.

You couldn't ask for a much better send off for this years Seniors, all three of them. Not only did they get a win in their final regular season home game, but that win clinched the CCHA regular season title, something Michigan hasn't won since 2004-2005, when these Seniors were freshmen.

While Chris Fragner didn't play often he made the best of his chances when they came. Of course the other two Seniors, Chad Kolarik and Kevin Porter, have been regulars in the Michigan line up since their freshman years. This year has probably been their best as they have provided great leadership to a large Freshman class, setting the tone of the season early and guiding their team through the good and bad, getting to the end of February and the CCHA championship. There have been many Senior classes that we as fans have wanted to see win these championships, but I don't remember a class, small though it may be, more deserving of a win and a championship. They have meant so much to the success of this years team that it is just a pleasure to see them rewarded in this way. A fitting end to long and difficult season.

With the regular season championship won, the hard work now begins. They have one final regular season game, on the road at Ferris. While the game has no bearing on the CCHA race, it would be good for team confidence and ending the season with a sweep would be a good jump start into the CCHA tournament. The Wolverines have a bye in the first round of the CCHA tournament, resuming play in two weeks when they will host a best of three quarter final match. If they win that they advance to Joe Louis Arena for the conference semi-finals and perhaps finals. The winner of the CCHA tournament gets an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Should the Wolverines fail to get that autobid it is all but certain that they would receive an at large bid to the tournament. Its time to strap on the helmets ladies and gentlemen, the second season is about to begin.