Friday, November 30, 2007
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

These days it doesn't seem to matter what the sport is, when the Buckeyes play the Wolverines, the Wolverines seem to forget everything they've ever known and the Buckeyes do just enough right to win. Michigan spent the majority of the night getting out skated, out hit, out worked, and out scored by a team that they should have skated circles around. It wasn't just that they were on the wrong end of a three to two score, it was a loss to a team that had won just three games all year, one game in the CCHA. This is a terrible Ohio State team and about as bad a loss as a hockey team can take. Michigan got punked and I'm not sure if they even yet realize it.

With five and half minutes to play in the first period the Buckeyes were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. With four and half minutes to play Michigan misplayed the puck at their own blue line allowing an OSU player to break into the Michigan zone uncontested. He closed on the goal, getting off a shot that Sauer had stopped, but he didn't lock down the puck and it trickled over the goal line for a short handed goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Buckeyes holding a one to nothing lead. Michigan held a slim nine to six edge in shots on goal.

Both teams would get several power play chances in the second period, but neither team was able to score, leaving the score one to nothing after forty minutes of play. The Wolverines barely out shot the Buckeyes six to five in the period to end two periods of play with a fifteen to eleven advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock just under the nineteen minute mark the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty, putting the Buckeyes on the power play. With seventeen and half minutes to play the Buckeyes would score a power play goal to take a two goal lead. The puck was behind Michigan's net and Sauer went back to play. He lost track of the puck and headed back out front of the net, but he was dragging the puck back to the crease with his skates. With the puck now at his feet in the crease an OSU skater went by, tapping the puck into the net for the score.

With the clock showing just under three minutes to play in regulation Michigan dug the puck out of the left corner, chipping it half way to the Buckeye goal. From their they chipped it out in front of the goal to Kolarik, and Kolarik buried it to give Michigan their first goal of the night. Pacioretty and Porter each picked up assists on the goal.

About thirty seconds later, with just over two minutes left to play, the Buckeyes had the puck behind the Michigan goal. The Wolverines left a Buckeye skater all alone at the bottom of the left face off circle, making it easy for the Buckeyes to make a pass out to that player. As soon as the puck hit his stick he fired it top shelf to score the Buckeyes third and final goal of the game.

With just over one minute to play Michigan hit Kolarik right at the Ohio State blue line with a pass. He put on a burst of speed, closed on the goal, drifting to the goalies right. As he got close he fired back to the goalies left for his second straight goal, once again cutting Ohio State's lead to one goal. Summers and Llewellyn each picked up assists on the goal.

With fifty-three seconds left to play Michigan would pull their goalie to put an extra attacker on the ice, but it would do no good. At the final horn it was still Ohio State three, Michigan two. Michigan out shot the Buckeyes fourteen to five in the period to end the game with a twenty-nine to sixteen advantage in shots on goal.

As bad as tonights loss was the Wolverines have to put it quickly behind them. They host Ohio State again tomorrow night and they simply must win that game. Giving up four conference points to this team would be beyond bad. Most people expected some bumps in the road this year with this team, lets hope that was just one of those bumps and that the real Michigan hockey team will once again take the ice tomorrow night.