Friday, October 12, 2007
Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minnesota

The Wolverines got the season off to a rousing start with a solid win over the countries number two team, Boston College. Michigan used a hard working, team oriented brand of hockey to keep the Eagles at bay for most of this game. A couple of rare defensive break downs in the third period led directly to the last two Eagle goals, but an even stranger goal in overtime would prove to be the game winner for the Wolverines.

Michigan struck first in this game, getting the play started by digging it out of the corner and working the puck out front of the Eagle goal. Caparusso got the puck over to Hagelin who got off a back hand shot to score the goal. Caparusso picked up the goals lone assist.

Both teams took later period penalties to end first period play skating four on four. The Eagles came close to scoring right at the buzzer, but Sauer came up with a great save to preserve the Wolverines one to nothing lead. Michigan out shot Boston College eleven to five in the period.

The teams started the second period skating four on four, followed by a short Boston College power play, but no goals would be scored in this stretch of special teams play.

With the clock just short of the ten minute mark the Wolverines would score their second goal of the game, with Turnbull doing the work. Getting control of the puck behind the net Turnbull stepped out in front of the goal, getting off a shot that beat the net minder for the score. The goal was scored as unassisted.

Boston College would cut the lead to one with just over four minutes left on the clock, scoring their first goal of the game. An Eagle player carried the puck up the left side, with a fellow teammate coming down the right. The puck carrier used the trailing teammate as a decoy, driving to the goal and scoring the goal.

The second period would end with the Wolverines leading by a score on two to one. The Eagles out shot Michigan nine to seven in the period, but Michigan held a slim eighteen to fourteen advantage in shots on goal after forty minutes.

With the clock just under the thirteen minute mark the Wolverines scored goal number three to open up a two goal lead. Michigan had the puck over to the right side of the goal to Fardig. Fardig moved to the center of the net, spun around firing a shot that beat the goalie for the score. Fardig gets the goal and Turnbull gets the loan assist.

With the clock moving toward the ten minute mark the Eagles would score their second goal of the game to cut the lead back to one. The Eagles got the puck in the high slot off a rebound. The Boston College player was not covered by the Wolverines, leaving him with a wide open shot at the goal, which he buried for the score.

With just over six minutes to play in the period Boston College would score their second goal of the period, third of the game to knot the score at three goals each. An Eagle beat a Michigan player, who fell down leaving the Eagles with another wide open crack at our net which they took full advantage of.

At the end of regulation time the score all tied at three goals each. The Wolverines would end regulation play with a twenty-four to twenty edge in shots on goal.

With less than two minutes to play in the overtime period Michigan got some pressure on the Eagle goal, eventually getting off a shot that hit the cross bar and dropped right down into the crease. An Eagle player tried to clear the puck, but it hit another Eagles skate, bouncing straight back and into the goal for the Michigan score. Since he was the Wolverine who got off the shot that hit the cross bar Caparusso got credit for the goal, with it being scored as unassisted.

A strange way to win a game, but a win that the Wolverines will take none the less. Even if they had lost this game it would have to be considered a solid game for Michigan. The young team made some mistakes, but played solid team hockey for pretty much the entire game. The defense was very solid, the offense was adequate, and Sauer was solid. Tomorrow Michigan will play the winner of the Minnesota/RPI game being played later tonight.