Friday, March 21, 2008
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

It wasn't the best game the Wolverines have played this year and it was certainly a tough night in goal for Sauer, but in the end they were able to find a way to score one more goal than the pesky Wildcats to advance to the CCHA final game. The Wildcats gave Michigan all they had, playing a physical brand of hockey and proving once again why they were in the semi-final game to begin with. This win sets up a rematch with the Redhawks from Miami, a game that should be a fast paced, wide open contest between the countries two top offenses.

With the clock just under the thirteen minute mark the Wolverines would strike for the games first goal and seemed to be off to a good start. Michigan got the puck to Kolarik who skated through the left circle, wrapping around the goal, and chipping a shot into the net off a Wildcat players skate. Miller and Llewellyn each picked up assists on the goal.

The Wolverines held that one goal lead until the clock had moved under the five minute mark. The Wildcats forced a turnover in their zone, moving up the ice into the Wolverine zone on an odd man rush. As one of the Wildcat players crashed to the net he dropped a pass back to his teammate in the slot. From there a quick shot beat Sauer for the score to tie the game.

With just over four minutes to play in the period the Wildcats would be called for a five minute major penalty to give the Wolverines an extended power play opportunity. The Wolverines would be unable to take advantage of that lengthy power play as the first period came to an end with the score all tied at one. The Wolverines led a twelve to two advantage in shots on goal.

With just over ten minutes to play in the second period the Wolverines would once again take the lead, this time off the stick of Turnbull. Caporusso carried the puck up the left boards, then tried to pass to his right. However, the puck hit a Northern player and redirected away from the goal, ending up on Turnbull's stick. Turnbull wasted no time banging the puck into the net for the score. Caporusso and Mitera each picked up assists on the goal.

Michigan would again hold that one goal lead until the final five minutes of the period when the Wildcats would score the first of two quick goals to take the lead. The first goal came with just over five minutes to play when a Wildcat player dragged Porter to the ice, taking the puck, skating through the crease, finally depositing the puck in the net to tie the game.

With just over three minutes to play the Wildcats had the puck deep in the Michigan zone, working it around the zone looking for an opening. That opening would eventually come and a cannon of a shot beat Sauer top shelf for the score, giving the Wildcats the lead late in the second period.

The second period would come to an end with the Wildcats leading by a score of three to two. Michigan out shot Northern fifteen to six in the period to end forty minutes of play with a twenty-seven to eight advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock barely under the nineteen minute mark of the final period Michigan broke out of their zone on an odd man rush, gaining the zone and quickly driving deep toward the Wildcat net. Miller tried to pass the puck from the left circle into the slot, but the puck hit a Northern players skate, redirecting into the goal for a score. Langlais picked up the lone assist on the goal.

With just over fifteen minutes to play the Wildcats were whistled for a penalty to put Michigan on the power play. With about thirteen and half minutes to play Mitera would get off a shot from the right point. The puck made its way through a crowd of players in front of the net, eventually ending up within reach of Turnbull. Turnbull redirected the puck past the goalie for the score to once again give Michigan the lead. Mitera and Kampfer each picked up assists on the score.

With just over seven minutes to play the Wildcats would force a turnover deep in the Michigan zone. They would waste little time as they quickly got into position and punched the puck past Sauer to once again tie the game.

With exactly four minutes to play Kolarik was working the puck along the right boards when he suddenly spun and threw the puck to the net. Miller was positioned in front of the net and as the puck slid toward the crease Miller redirected it into the goal. Kolarik picked up the lone assist.

With roughly one minute to play the Wildcats would get their goalie pulled to put an extra attacker on the ice. They would come close a couple of times, but with just eleven seconds to play Winnett would loft the puck from right in front of the Michigan goal, out of the zone and toward the Wildcat net. The puck would slide down the ice just barely going over the goal line for the empty net goal.

This game was about as tough as it was expected to be. The Wolverines didn't play all that poorly, but the Wildcats are playing a defensive minded, hard hitting brand of hockey that has been frustrating teams for most of the seasons second half. It doesn't hurt that they have a goalie that stops a lot of shots. To their credit the Wolverines didn't let the frustration get to them, as they continued to battle for the entire game. Michigan will now play Miami tomorrow night for the CCHA tournament title. A win in that game would not only give them the CCHA tournament title, but would pretty much wrap up the top seeding in the NCAA tournament. With it looking more and more likely that Wisconsin will not make the NCAA tournament Michigan would be a good bet for the Midwest regional in Wisconsin.