Saturday, January 17, 2009
BGSU Ice Arena, Bowling Green, Ohio

In tonights game the Wolverines showed some signs of life as they smothered the Falcon offense, limited their own mistakes in route to a hard fought one to nothing victory over Bowling Green. It wasn't a pretty win, as the game got more an more physical as time went by, but in the end it was a Michigan win and that is what matters.

Neither team was able to score in the first period, leaving the game all tied up a zero after twenty minutes of play. Michigan did hold a commanding fourteen to four advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock showing just under ten minutes to play the Wolverines would score the games one and only goal on a long shot from the left point, that tucked into the corner of the net. Fardig got a pass out to Langlais at the point who fired off the shot. With the goal tender nicely screened by Ciraulo he was unable to react as the puck went by him finding the right corner of the net. Langlais got credit for the goal while Fardig picked up the lone assist.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding that slim one to nothing lead. Michigan out shot the Falcons seventeen to six in the second period to hold a thirty-one to ten advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

The Falcons would pull out all the stops, including their goalie with about one and a half minutes to play in the final period, but again neither team would score, leaving Michigan with a one to nothing victory. Michigan out shot Bowling Green nine to eight in the final period to end the game with a thirty-nine to nineteen advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan managed to salvage something out of this weekend after last nights seriously depressing loss. While the win was certainly good, it did not come easy. The Bowling Green net minder had an outstanding weekend turning away all but the one shot and I fear that had more to do with the screen than the goal tenders ability. As it is the weekend will end up hurting the Wolverines chances in the CCHA race, but they avoided disaster by pulling out the win. Next weekend the Wolverines will face rival Michigan State for the final two regular season meetings of this year. Friday's game is at Joe Louis, while Saturday's game is at Yost Arena.