Saturday, March 1, 2008
Ewigleben Ice Arena, Big Rapids, Michigan

In their final regular season game the Michigan Wolverines came up one goal short in an overtime game at Ferris State University. After fighting back from an early two goal deficit and taking a lead into the third period, the Wolverines couldn't come back one final time after the Bulldogs tied the game early in the third period. While the game had no practical meaning in the CCHA race a sweep to finish the season would have been preferable. As it is the Wolverines now get a first round bye in the CCHA tournament and won't know their next opponent until after next weekends first round games are finished.

With the clock just under the seventeen minute mark the Wolverines made their first trip to the penalty box putting the Bulldogs on the power play early in the game. Barely thirty seconds into the power play, with the clock still showing over sixteen minutes to play the puck was in the net putting the Bulldogs on the board. The initial shot was blocked, but the rebound landed on the ice just outside the crease where a Bulldog player made an easy chip shot into a wide open net.

With the clock just under sixteen minutes the Wolverines made their next trip to the penalty box and once again the outcome would favor the Bulldogs. With the clock just under the fifteen minute mark the Bulldogs got off a shot from the slot that beat the Michigan goalie for the score.

With about eleven and a half minutes to play the Wolverines would cut into the Bulldog lead when Hagelin scooped up a loose puck, skated into the Bulldog zone, and buried the puck high over the goalies stick. The Bulldogs had actually broken up a Michigan pass along the blue line, but the puck went right to Hagelin who jumped on the puck and drove in for the score. Mitera and Miller each got assists on the goal.

With just under four minutes to play in the period the Wolverines would tie the score off a goal by the Captain. Langlais sent a pass from behind his net out to center ice where Palushaj picked up the puck and carried it into the Bulldog zone. As he closed on the goal he slid the puck across the ice to Porter who was just left of the crease. Porter had an easy chip shot for the score. Palushaj and Langlais picked up the two assists on this goal.

The first period would come to an end with the score all tied up at two goals each. The Bulldogs held a fifteen to ten advantage in shots on goal.

With barely six minutes left in the second period Michigan would score their third and final goal of the game when Pacioretty scored on a back hand shot from the slot. Pacioretty carried the puck down the left wing and was unable to pass so he reversed his direction cutting through the slot where he got off the shot that would squeeze between the post and the goalie. Rust picked up the lone assist on the score.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a slim three to two lead. Michigan out shot Ferris ten to six in the period leaving the Bulldogs with a twenty-one to twenty advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes.

With just over sixteen minutes to play in the final period the Bulldogs would tie the game up, once again off a rebound that wasn't covered. The Bulldogs got off a shot from the left boards that was blocked, but the rebound landed right in the slot where another Bulldog was able to punch it home for the score.

The third period would come to an end with the game all tied at three goals each. Ferris out shot the Wolverines fifteen to ten in the period to end regulation play with a thirty-six to thirty advantage in shots on goal.

With just a minute and half left in the overtime period the Bulldogs got the puck in the corner following a face off. A quick pass into the slot was redirected by a Bulldog with just enough on the redirect to get it across the goal line for the game winning score.

The game would come to an end with the Bulldogs winning by a score of four to three. The Bulldogs out shot the Wolverines five to two in the overtime period to end the game with a forty-one to thirty-two advantage in shots on goal.

It wasn't exactly the way Michigan would have like to end the season, but with the CCHA titled locked up the previous night there was little to play for and it seemed to show in thier play. They took far to many penalties and for the second night in a row the penalty was less than effective. The worst thing about this loss is that they now have to think about it for two weeks as they have a first round bye in the CCHA playoffs.