Friday, December 7, 2007
BGSU Ice Arena, Bowling Green, Ohio

In what has become a normal turn of events the Bowling Green Falcons and Michigan Wolverines played a tight, back and forth game in the Bowling Green Ice Arena tonight with the Wolverines eventually coming out on top with a four to two win. It wasn't easy and was closer than the final two goal differential would indicate with Michigan winning for the first time in three tries down at Bowling Green.

With just thirty-six seconds left on the clock the Wolverines scored a goal to take the lead in this tightly contested game. Bowling Green had to ice the puck to relieve some pressure and Michigan was able to keep the puck in the Falcon zone following the face off. After gaining control of the puck they got it to Porter who banged it home top shelf for the score. Porter got credit for the goal, while Pacioretty and Kolarik each picked up assists.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a one to nothing lead. The Falcons held a twelve to eight advantage in shots on goal after the first twenty minutes of play.

With just over seven minutes to play and the Wolverines in the penalty box the Falcons would get their first goal of the game to tie the score. The Falcons got off a shot that was blocked, however, the rebound was not covered landing on the ice in front of the goal. Before any Michigan player, including Sauer could react a Falcon skater punched the puck into the goal for the score.

With the clock just under the four minute mark the Falcons would score their second goal of the period to take the lead in the game. The Falcons pushed the puck to the net with an innocent looking shot, however, a Falcon player was left alone right in front of the net. As the puck reached the goal it hit the other Falcons stick redirecting through the five hole for the go ahead score.

The second period would come to an end with the Falcons leading by a score of two to one. Michigan out shot Bowling Green thirteen to eight in the period to take a twenty-one to twenty advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just over four minutes left to play in regulation Michigan won a face off in their own zone, speeding down the left wing with the puck. As they got down into the Falcon zone they tossed the puck in front of the goal where Rust was able to get to it and punch it home for the game tying score. Rust got credit for the goal, while Palushaj and Hagelin each picked up assists.

It was starting to look like an overtime game when Michigan would score what would prove to be the game winning goal with just 1:23 left in regulation play. Turnbull was down in front of the goal with the puck, getting off a shot that was blocked. The rebound came down to the ice away from both Turnbull and the goalie, but Summers was right reaching out with his stick to tap it home for the score. Turnbull and Miller each picked up assists on the goal.

With 1:03 to play and a face off coming in Michigan's zone the Falcons called time out, keeping their goalie on the bench when they returned to the ice. The Falcons would come close a time or two, but Michigan would wrap the game up when Kolarik scored an empty net goal, unassisted, with just seven seconds left in the game.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a four to two score. Michigan out shot Bowling Green nine to eight in the period to end the game with a thirty to twenty-eight advantage in shots on goal.

As these things often go when Michigan is playing down in Bowling Green the game was close and tightly contested the entire way. The Wolverines took a one goal lead into the locker room after twenty minutes, went to the locker room trailing by a goal after forty minutes, and score three unanswered goals in the final 4:21 of regulation time to pull out a two goal victory (the final goal being an empty net goal). The Falcons always seem to play Michigan tough down in their building at least, and this year they are a much improved team, making it all the more difficult for Michigan to pull out this win. Tomorrow night the teams come to Ann Arbor to finish off the weekend series and the seasons first half, in what promises to be another tight, hard fought contest. Earlier today tickets to this game were still available through the Michigan ticket office. If your looking for something to do on a Saturday night, why not check out the Michigan hockey team.