Friday, November 23, 2007
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Wolverines built up a three to nothing lead, carrying that score late into the third period. With regulation time under the three minute mark the Badgers scored goals in the span of eighteen seconds to get within one goal with plenty of time on the clock. However, the Wolverines quickly refocused and turned away every Badger drive from that point on to end the first night of the College Hockey Showcase with a three to two victory.

With thirteen and half minutes to play in the opening stanza the Wolverines were whistled for a five minute major penalty giving the Badgers a golden opportunity to take control of this game early. The Wolverine penalty kill was up to the challenge harassing the Badgers at every turn. Finally, with eight and half minutes to play, just seven seconds left in the major penalty, the Wolverines scored a short handed goal to take a one goal lead. Kampfer got control of the puck along the right side boards in the Michigan, clearing the zone by lifting it high in the air and dropping it between the blue lines. Kolarik jumped on the puck, skating hard into the Badger zone. As he closed on the goal he fired off a laser of a shot that beat the goalie to the wide side for the goal. Kampfer picked up the lone assist on the short handed goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding that slim one to nothing lead. Michigan held an equally slim nine to eight edge in shots on goal.

The second period was terribly choppy with multiple penalties being called against each team. With eight and half minutes to play the Badgers were whistled for one of their penalties, putting Michigan on the power play. With roughly seven and a half minutes to play the Wolverines would score with the man advantage to take a two goal lead. The Wolverines used some quick tic-tac-toe passing to move the puck from the blue line, down low to the right. Then quickly behind the goal to the left, followed by a quick pass to a waiting Porter at the left of the crease. As the puck hit his stick Porter blasted it into the net for the score. Assists on the power play goal went to Kolarik and Palushaj.

Barely a minute later, with roughly six and a half minutes to play, the Badgers were once again in the sin bin. With roughly four and half minutes to play, just one second remaining on the power play, the Wolverines would score their second power play goal of the period. Michigan had gotten off a shot from the top of the left circle that was blocked, but the rebound was left on the ice. With several Wolverines around the goal Michigan was able to get a couple more chances at putting the puck in the net, with Pacioretty finally punching the puck past the net minder for the goal. Kolarik and Porter each picked up assists on the power play goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines sitting on a three to nothing lead. The Wolverines out shot the Badgers fourteen to eight in the period to end forty minutes of play with a twenty-six to sixteen advantage in shots on goal.

With three and half minutes to play in regulation time the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Badgers on the power play. With the clock just under the three minute mark and over half the power play left the Badgers got in close to the goal with the puck, pulling Sauer to the left. As he moved left the Badgers quickly passed to the left, making the easy tap in shot for the goal. Michigan's lead was down to two.

Just eighteen seconds later, with roughly two and a half minutes to play, Michigan turned the puck over at their blue line. The Badgers quickly jumped on the loose puck breaking clean into the Wolverine zone. The Badger player closed on the goal firing off a shot top shelf that beat Sauer for the score. Michigan's lead was down to one.

With 36.3 seconds to play there was a delay in play as a player was attended to following a thundering hit at center ice that left a Badger player woozy and in need of assistance. As play got ready to resume the Badgers called time out. Coming out of the time out period the Badger goalie was on the bench giving Wisconsin six attackers as they tried to tie up the game. The Wolverines were able to turn away each Badger attack, holding on to their lead.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of three to two. Michigan out shot the Badgers eleven to ten in the final period to end the game with a thirty-four to twenty-six advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan controlled the play through most of this game, battling through a flurry of penalties that made it next to impossible for either team to establish any kind of flow in the game. The Wolverines got a little complacent late in the game, giving up two quick goals, but they quickly shook that off, getting refocused and back on track. The end was a solid win over a solid team that gives a little more substance to the Wolverines lofty national ranking. Tomorrow night comes test number two as the Gophers from Minnesota come in for night two of the College Hockey Showcase. It has been several years since Michigan was last able to beat Minnesota, we'll soon see if this is the year where they finally take one from the Gophers.