Friday, October 26, 2007
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines got off to a slow start spending most of the first period stopping Terrier shots as visiting Boston University carried the play through the first twenty minutes of play. However, the Wolverines started to assert themselves in the second period, finally picking up a couple of goals to take the lead after forty minutes. The final period was a back and forth affair, but in the end it was the Wolverines who would prevail by a score of four to two.

Neither team was able to score in the first period, leaving the score all tied at zero after twenty minutes. The Terriers did carry most of the play leaving them with a fifteen to six advantage in shots on goal following the opening stanza.

With the clock just under the eight minute mark the Terriers turned the puck over between the circles at our end of the ice. Michigan was able to control the puck and break out of their zone, skating straight down the middle of the ice, into the Terrier zone, and to the goal. As he closed on the goal Rust was able to slip the puck between the left post and the goal tender for the score. Miller picked up the lone assist.

Barely a minute later, with just under seven minutes to play, the Wolverines would strike again to open up a two goal lead. Michigan dug the puck out of the corner to the goalies right, quickly getting the puck into the slot right between the circles. From there it was a quick shot top shelf for the score and the two goal lead. Palushaj picked up his first career goal, while Naurato and Porter each picked up an assist.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of two to nothing. Michigan would out shoot the Terriers thirteen to twelve in the period, but that still left Boston University with a twenty-seven to nineteen advantage in shots on goal.

With about eighteen and half minutes yet to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Terriers on the power play. With the clock showing just over seventeen minutes to play and just thirty-seven seconds left in the man advantage Boston University was able to score, sliding a back hand shot through the five hole from the bottom of the right circle.

With thirteen and half minutes to play it was the Terriers who found themselves in the penalty box and this time it would be the Wolverines finding the back of the net with the extra man. Michigan won a face off to the Boston University goalies right, dropping the puck back for a quick shot. With just thirty-one seconds left in the power play the Wolverines would score to regain their two goal lead. Rust was credited with the goal while Mitera picked up an assist.

With eight and half minutes to play the Terriers would once again cut the lead to one. They kept working the puck up the ice, little by little, finally chipping it into the Michigan end. As they got the left circle they fired off a shot that beat Sauer glove side for the score.

With just over six minutes to play the Wolverines would once again regain their two goal lead when Porter fought his way through the Terrier defense, before finally scoring the goal. Michigan got the puck at their own blue line, quickly getting it up the ice to Porter. Porter carrier the puck into the Terrier zone and closed on the goal. Even though he was tripped as he neared the goal he got the puck over to Pacioretty who got off a shot that was blocked. Even though he was on the ice Porter somehow managed to get enough stick on the rebound to punch the puck home for the score. Porter with the goal and Pacioretty picking up the lone assist.

With 2:07 to play Boston University pulled their goalie to get an extra attacker in the Wolverine zone. With 1:45 to play it looked like Porter had picked up his second goal of the night with an empty netter, but it was waved off with the officials saying he was off side. The goalie would be back and forth one more time before the game was over, but in the end there was no further scoring.

The Wolverines ended the game, winning by a score of four to two. The Wolverines out shot the Terriers eleven to five in the final period, leaving Boston University with a thirty-two to thirty advantage in shots on goal for the game.

It looked like the Terriers were going to be the team to beat early in the game as they carried the play and the Wolverines spent their time scrambling to keep up. However, in the end Michigan got their game going, ending the night with a victory. The Wolverines finally broke the game scoring drought by jumping out to a two goal lead midway through the second period. While Boston University would fight their way back into the game, cutting the lead to one goal on two different occasions, the Wolverines answered the bell each time, scoring another goal shortly after the Terriers scored to push their lead back out to two goals. The final margin of victory was two goals.

This win was a great way to start the weekend as it sets the Wolverines up for a possible sweep of the visiting Terriers. I'm sure Boston University will have something to say about that, but if the Wolverines can find a way to win on Saturday night they would finish the month of October with a five and one record. Given the relative youth of this team and the competition they have faced, that would be an incredible accomplishment. Tomorrow night should be a heck of a game. If you don't yet have a ticket, I would do what I could to find one.