Sunday, October 7, 2007
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines scored an early first period goal and then found themselves in a battle, riding that one goal until the third period, when they used an offensive burst to pull away from visiting Western Ontario. Michigan scored three goals in less than two and a half minutes early in the third, scoring a final goal late in the game to cap off their five to one victory.

With the clock just under the sixteen minute mark when Miller blasted the puck past the Ontario net minder. Rust got the puck up the ice to Miller who was skating right down the slot. With the puck on his stick Miller got off a blast that was initially blocked, but it had so much force on it that it continued to roll toward the goal line, finally crossing it for the score. Miller got the goal, while Rust and Palushaj each picked up assists.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan clinging to their one to nothing lead. Michigan out shot Ontario in the period eight to four.

While Michigan got a couple of great scoring chances in the second period, neither team was able to score, leaving the score at one to nothing after forty minutes. The Wolverines added to their shot advantage, out shooting Ontario eleven to six in the period to hold a nineteen to ten advantage in shots on goal after forty minutes.

At the fifty-five second mark of the third period Ontario was whistled for a penalty giving Michigan an early power play chance. The Wolverines wasted little time, scoring a power play goal less than a minute later. Some quick passing got the puck up the ice quickly to a streaking Hagelin who skated right down the slot, burying a shot between the goalie and the post. Hagelin picked up the goal while Kampfer and Turnbull each picked up assists.

About forty seconds later, with about seventeen and half minutes left to play the Wolverines would strike for their second goal of the period. With the puck near the right face off circle Miller got a pass through traffic to Palushaj who was stationed just outside the crease. As soon as the puck hit his stick he jammed it past the goalie for the score. Palushaj with the goal, Miller and Rust with the assists.

About one minute later Ontario would score their one and only goal of the game, stuffing a loose puck behind Sauer. Ontario had gotten off a shot that Sauer had blocked, but he didn't cover the puck. In the scramble that followed an Ontario player was able to reach the puck with his stick and poke it over the goal line for the score.

Roughly a minute and half later Michigan would score their third goal of the period with 15:14 left on the clock. This time it was some great tic-tac-toe passing by the Wolverines around the Ontario zone that led to the score. Turnbull got the puck to Caparusso, who quickly got it down low to Hagelin, who just as quickly rifled a shot past the net minder for the score, his second of the period and game. Turnbull and Caparusso each picked up assists.

Michigan would wrap up the scoring with just over three minutes left on the clock when Hagelin would bury his third goal of the night, scoring his first career hat trick as a Wolverine. Vaughan got the puck to Hagelin who skated behind the Ontario net, came out the other side, and banked the puck off the net minder and into the goal. Hagelin picked up the goal while Vaughan picked up the lone assist.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of five to one. Michigan out shot Ontario fourteen to seven in the final period to end the game with a thirty-three to seventeen advantage in shots on goal.

One of the closer games Michigan has played against a Canadian team in quite a few years. It took them until the third period to really put the game away, and that may end up being good for this young team. It should help their development having to fight through tough, close games. It will help keep them focused much more than a ten goal blow out would. The Wolverines have one exhibition game left against the US NDTP team, but that won't be played until January. Next up for Michigan is the number two team in the country and last years NCAA Frozen Four runner up, Boston College. This young team is going to go through a trial by fire this year, playing a pretty solid non-conference schedule, followed immediately by some very important CCHA games. It should be an interesting couple of months for Michigan hockey and its fans.