Saturday, March 15, 2008
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

It was a much different game than last night, at least in the final two periods, as the Wolverines scored two first period goals, then rode those two goals to their second win of the weekend to sweep the Mavericks and advance to the CCHA semi-finals next weekend at Joe Louis Arena.

With the clock just under seventeen minutes the Wolverines would strike for the games first score, picking up right where they left off the night before. A great outlet pass got the puck up the ice to Naurato, who closed on the net, burying the puck for the score. Lebler and Mitera each picked up assists on the goal.

It would be almost the end of the period before either team would score again and again it was Michigan finding pay dirt with just over one minute to play. Michigan broke through center ice, getting the puck to Hagelin who carried it into the Maverick zone. He deked a defender, closed on the goal, burying a back hand shot as he passed the goal. Turnbull picked up the lone assist on the goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a two to nothing lead. The Wolverines ended the period with a seventeen to seven advantage in shots on goal.

With just over sixteen minutes to play in the second period Michigan was whistled for a penalty. About thirty seconds later, with fifteen and half minutes to play both teams sent a player to the sin bin, leaving the Mavericks on the power play. With about fourteen and a half minutes to play the Mavericks pushed the puck from one end of the ice to the other, punching the puck past Sauer as they closed on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines still leading by a score of two to one. The Mavericks out shot the Wolverines twelve to seven in the period to leave Michigan with a twenty-four to nineteen advantage in shots on goal.

Both teams would see opportunities to score, but neither team was able to find the back of the net, with regulation time coming to an end with the Wolverines still holding that two to one lead. Michigan out shot the Mavericks twelve to eight in the period to end the game with a thirty-six to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

It wasn't as clean a game as it was last night, with a number of penalties called against Michigan, most of which they were able to kill off. However, they lost Pacioretty to a game disqualification after a fight broke out in the second period that saw all players on the ice, except the goalies sent to their respective penalty boxes. Both teams seemed to lose something after that altercation. As the game came to an end the Mavericks tried to get their goalie pulled, but Michigan kept the puck in or near their zone forcing the goalie to stay on the ice. In the end the Wolverines hung on for the win and the right to advance to Joe Louis for the CCHA semi-finals. Michigan won't know who their opponent is until Sunday evening after both Notre Dame and Northern Michigan forced third games in their contests.