Friday, March 14, 2008
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

After faltering down the stretch the Wolverines played perhaps their best game of the season as they scored early and often on their way to a ten to one victory over visiting Nebraska-Omaha in the opening game of this best two out of three quarter final match up. It seemed the Wolverines could do no wrong as they stifled the Mavericks when on defense and relentlessly attacked while on offense.

With just over sixteen minutes to play both teams took penalties, but the Mavericks took one more than the Wolverines putting Michigan on the power play. With just over fifteen minutes to play the Wolverines would score the games first goal off a redirect down in front. The initial shot came from the blue line almost straight down the slot. As the puck got close to the goal it was redirected past the net minder for the score. Naurato was given credit for the goal, while Kampfer and Mitera each picked up assists on the power play goal.

With nine and half minutes to play the puck was knocked loose and lay in the Maverick zone. Taking advantage of the situation Kolarik scooped up the loose puck and charged toward the goal. As he crossed in front of the goal he switched from his backhand to his forehand and fired off a shot just as he reached the right circle. The shot beat the goalie and the Wolverines were up by two. The goal was scored as unassisted.

With the clock just under the two minute mark Porter broke into the Maverick zone, gaining a step on the Nebraska defense. He closed with the goal and got off a point blank shot that was blocked, but the rebound was not covered. Kolarik was right behind him, getting to the rebound first and burying the puck for his second goal of the period. Porter and Pacioretty each picked up assists.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a three to nothing lead. The Wolverines also held a twelve to two advantage in shots on goal.

With about ten and half minutes to play in the second period the Wolverines were sent to the sin bin, putting the Mavericks on the power play. With a little over nine minutes to play, forty-five seconds remaining in the Nebraska power play, the Wolverines would score a short handed goal to extend their lead to four goals. Hagelin beat a Maverick player to the puck in the neutral zone, carrying it into the Maverick zone. He went behind the goal, wrapping around from right to left. As he came out from behind the goal on the left side, he spun to his forehand and fired a shot top shelf that beat the net minder for the score. Miller and Llewellyn each picked up assists on the short handed goal. The Mavericks put in a new goalie following this goal.

With just over one minute to play in the period the Wolverines would force a turnover in the neutral zone just outside the Maverick blue line. Caporusso would carry the puck down the left side of the slot, holding the puck until the goalie committed to him. With the goalie now committed to Caporusso he passed to the right to Turnbull who made the easy chip in for the goal. Caporusso and Mitera each picked up assists on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of five to nothing. The Wolverines would out shoot the Mavericks thirteen to five in the period to hold a twenty-five to seven advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

Just thirty seconds into the final period Michigan forced a turnover and broke into the Maverick zone led by Kolarik. Kolarik closed on the goal and fired off a shot that put the puck in the net for his hat trick. Pacioretty picked up the lone assist on the goal.

About one minute later, with eighteen and half minutes to play, Michigan was once again in the Maverick zone with the puck. They got off a shot from the left circle that was blocked, but the rebound was left on the ice. Caporusso was right there to punch the puck into the net for the score. Summers and Palushaj each picked up assists on the goal. The Mavericks called their one minute time out at this time.

With about seventeen and half minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Mavericks on the power play. The Wolverines got a little soft on defense during this power play and with the clock still showing just over seventeen minutes to play the Mavericks got the puck in tight and scored their lone goal of the game.

With approximately fifteen and half minutes to play the Wolverines would get off another relatively soft shot from the point that would somehow make it through traffic and into the net for the score. Mitera was given credit for the score, while Langlais picked up the lone assist.

With just over eight minutes to play the Wolverines would break into the Maverick zone with a three to one advantage in players. Porter led the charge into the zone, dishing the puck to the Palushaj on the left side of the slot. As they closed on the goal Palushaj would slip the puck back over to Porter who would bury it for the score. Palushaj picked up the lone assist on the goal. The Mavericks changed goalies once again following this goal.

With just under six minutes to play the Wolverines would score their tenth and final goal of the game. With the puck behind the Maverick zone a quick pass was made out front of the goal to Fardig. As he was falling to the ice Fardig got enough of his stick on the puck to redirect it behind the goalie for the score. Naurato and Lebler each picked up assists on the goal.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of ten to one. The Wolverines out shot the Mavericks fifteen to eight in the period to end the game with a forty to fifteen advantage in shots on goal.

You couldn't have scripted a better game for the Wolverines to start the playoffs with. While they got Kolarik back, they lost two of the freshmen to injury during the two weeks they were off. To replace the injured Vaughan on defense the Wolverines inserted Eric Elmblad, who saw game action for the first time in his career. Even with all the player issues and the fact that the majority of this team were playing in their first playoff game the Wolverines stormed the ice and never looked back. They seemed to be in all the right places for the entire length of the game. While the Mavericks will no doubt be a different team in Saturday's second game, if the Wolverines can get out to a good start they can quickly remind the Mavericks of the pounding they took in tonights game. That should help the Wolverines who would really like to sweep this series and begin preparation for the semi-final match up next weekend at Joe Louis.