Friday, November 2, 2007
Qwest Center, Omaha, Nebraska

It wasn't the best game Michigan has played, as the first two periods were rather choppy with lots of penalties, sloppy passing, defensive breakdowns, and just about every other thing you don't want to see your team do. The third period was something all together different as the Wolverines suddenly seemed to wake from their stupor, leaving the Mavericks broken and wondering what just happened as the Wolverines pulled away late on their way to a hard fought six to three victory.

With the clock just under sixteen minutes the Mavericks would be whistled for a penalty giving Michigan an early power play chance. Winning the face off to the goalies right the Wolverines wasted little time, getting the puck deep, then flicking a quick pass out front to Porter who buried it for the score. Kolarik and Palushaj each picked up assists on the power play goal.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of one to nothing. The Wolverines held a slim seven to five edge in shots on goal.

The Mavericks started the second period with 1:26 of power play time, but were unable to take advantage of the extra attacker. However, with the clock just under the thirteen minute mark the Mavericks got the puck past Sauer to tie the game. Out of a crowd of players in front of the Michigan net the puck was chipped toward the net and it appeared that Sauer had gloved the puck. Instead the puck rolled up and over his glove, ending up over the goal line for the score.

With just over six minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty giving Nebraska yet another power play in the second period. Just seven seconds later the Mavericks took the lead, charging into the zone right from the face off, firing a shot at Sauer which was blocked, but the rebound was not covered. Nebraska got to the loose puck first, making the easy shot into an open net.

The second period would come to an end with the Mavericks leading by a score of two to one. Nebraska out shot the Michigan fifteen to seven in the second period to give themselves a twenty to fourteen edge in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

Michigan would start the final stanza with 1:40 of power play time and they took advantage of the fresh ice and extra attacker. Michigan was working the puck around the Maverick zone with some snappy passing until Porter saw an opening and unleashed a rocket from the top of the circle that beat the Maverick goalie glove side for the score. Langlais and Kolarik each picked up assists on the power play goal.

A couple of minutes later, with the clock just seconds under the seventeen mark the Wolverines regained the lead following an out standing end to end rush by Kolarik. Kolarik got the puck in the Michigan zone and headed for the Maverick end, picking up speed as he went. At the Maverick blue line he made a nifty move to step around a Maverick defender without slowing him down. With a head of steam built up Kolarik was in on the goal before the goalie knew what was happening going top shelf for the score. The goal was originally listed as unassisted, but later Kampfer was awarded an assist.

A half minute later the Wolverines were once again sent to the penalty box and a half minute after that, with the clock just under the sixteen minute mark the Mavericks had once again tied the game. A relatively safe shot from the blue was redirected in the slot and scooted past Sauer for the goal.

About three minutes later, with a little over thirteen minutes to play, the Wolverines moved back in front for good, scoring a goal off a shot from an unlikely angle. Michigan had the puck in the Maverick zone getting off a shot from the right of the Maverick net. The shot was blocked, but the rebound went to the left of the net almost on the goal line. Kampfer got to the puck and fired it back toward the net, somehow squeezing the puck between the goalie and the post for the score. Rust and Langlais each picked up assists on the goal.

With jut under seven minutes to play and the teams skating with just four players each Porter would finish off his hat trick, giving Michigan their first two goal lead of the game. Michigan had worked their way through the Maverick defense and into the Maverick zone, quickly driving the puck toward the net. As they closed Porter once again saw an opening and blasted a shot past the goalie for the hat trick. Mitera and Pacioretty each picked up assists on the goal.

With forty-two seconds left in the game the Mavericks would pull their goalie in a last ditch effort to cut into the Michigan lead. Michigan was to basically pin the Mavericks in their own zone, but Nebraska wasn't giving them any looks at the open net. Finally, with just eleven seconds left to play a lane opened and Lebler fired off a cannon of a shot from the blue line that made it into the net for Michigan's sixth and final goal of the night. This goal was scored as unassisted.

The Wolverines ended up winning the game by a score of six to three. Each team ended the third period with eight shots on goal, giving the Mavericks a twenty-eight to twenty-two edge in shots for the game.

As already stated this was not a very good game for Michigan from an execution point of view. They got off to another slow Friday start, taking some bad penalties, missing what should have been easy passes, and generally finding ways to self destruct for the first forty minutes of the game. On the other hand the Mavericks weren't much better allowing the Wolverines to stay in the game. Finally, in the third Michigan seemed to find their groove, lighting the lamp five times, on their way to another road victory. This was simply one of those wins where all you can say is don't rate it, just count it. Both teams go at it again tomorrow night with the Mavericks looking to gain a split, while the Wolverines will be looking for their third straight weekend sweep.