Saturday, October 27, 2007
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

After losing the night before in a hard fought contest that was even through the first thirty minutes of play you would have expected the Terriers to hit the ice with a higher sense of urgency for tonights contest. Most people would have thought that, but they would have been wrong. Instead it was the Wolverines who hit the ice, flying scoring a goal twenty-six seconds into the contest. That goal was waved off because of an early whistle, however, the Wolverines scored again less than twenty seconds later, and again barely two minutes further into the contest on their way to a convincing six to two victory and their second straight weekend sweep.

Michigan hit the ice flying scoring what appeared to be a goal just twenty-six seconds into this contest, however, that goal was waved off with the officials saying a whistle had blown the play dead prior to the puck crossing the goal line.

The waved off goal proved to be a minor inconvenience as Michigan scored again just sixteen seconds later. Following the face off the puck was sliding along the left wall where the Wolverines battled hard to regain possession. Michigan won that battle, getting the puck in close to the net on the left side. A quick pass over to the right, followed by a back hand shot, and the Wolverines were officially on the board with the games first score. Winnett got credit for the goal, with Miller and Rust each picking up assists.

With just over eighteen minutes to play the Terriers found themselves down a man, putting the Wolverines on the power play. With the puck in the Terrier zone Michigan used some great tic-tac-toe passing to quickly work the puck around the zone, finally getting it to Pacioretty in the slot between the circles. He wasted no time banging the puck home for the second goal of the game. Palushaj and Langlais each picked up an assist on the power play goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a solid two to nothing lead. Michigan also held a thirteen to seven advantage in shots on goal.

The Terriers started the second period with 1:42 of power play time, and with just four seconds left in the man advantage and a huge gift from the Wolverines the Terriers had scored their first goal. Sauer had stepped behind the net in an attempt to clear the puck, however, he mishandled the puck and then fell down, leaving the Terriers with an easy shot into a wide open net. The power play goal cut the Wolverine lead to one.

With the clock barely under the sixteen minute mark the Terriers were once again in the penalty box and once again the Wolverines made them pay the price. Hagelin got behind the Terrier defense and Mitera got a long pass up the ice to him at the Boston blue line. Hagelin drove into the Terrier zone, closed on the goal, and slid the puck through the five hole for the score. Mitera and Sauer each picked up assists on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a three to one lead. Michigan out shot the Terriers twelve to eight in the period to hold a twenty-five to fifteen edge in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just over thirteen minutes left to play in regulation the Wolverines would start to pad their lead. With the puck in the Terrier zone Hagelin would get a pass over to Quick who would fire a shot to the goal. As the puck approached the goal it was redirected by Caparusso for the score. Quick and Hagelin both picked up assists on the play.

With the clock just under ten minutes Turnbull would get control of the puck at center ice. He put on a burst of speed to get ahead of the Terrier defense, closed on their goal, moving from right to left in front. As he passed by the goal he slid a back hand shot behind the goalie for the score. Caparusso would pick up the lone assist on the goal.

With the clock just under six minutes the Wolverines would score their final goal of the game out of scramble in front of the goal. With seemingly every player on the ice in front of the Boston goal, there were sticks slapping at the puck from every direction. The Wolverines were able to get the stick on the puck that counted chipping it past the Terrier goalie for the score. Kolarik got credit for the goal, while Porter and Pacioretty each picked up assists.

With just 6.5 seconds left on the clock the Terriers would pick up a late goal to cut the Wolverine margin of victory from five to four. In much the same way that Michigan scored their final goal. There was a scramble in front of the net in the Michigan zone and this time out of the chaos it would be a Terrier stick that would get to the puck, pushing it past Sauer for the score.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines picking up a victory by a score of six to two. The Wolverines would end the game with a thirty-two to twenty-four advantage in shots on goal.

The Wolverines enjoyed a great weekend of hockey coming up away with two wins over the visiting Terriers from Boston University. Once again they did it by playing solid defense, allowing that defensive play to open up the offense. If anyone had told me that the Wolverines would be 5-1 after the month of October, with the schedule they played, and the makeup of this team I would have called them crazy. Luckily the Wolverines don't have to worry about what I think and have put together a solid opening month to this season. The next three weeks see Michigan playing three different CCHA foes, with four games being on the road. Next week its back on the bus for a trip to Nebraska to take on the Mavericks. Hopefully they will keep this run going and pick up some very important CCHA points.