Friday, January 23, 2009
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

With some switched up lines and far better focus than last Friday night the Wolverines won their fifth straight game (going back to last years CCHA tournament) over the Michigan State Spartans with a convincing six to two victory.

Michigan got things rolling in the first period with just under fifteen minutes to play in the opening period off a shot from just inside the Spartan blue line. Rust was positioned about six feet in front of the net, slightly to the right. As the puck got to him he redirected it to the wide side of the net where it snuck into the corner before Lerg could reposition himself. Rust got credit for the goal, while Palushaj and Hagelin each picked up assists.

The first period came to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of one to nothing. Each team had nine shots on goal through twenty minutes of play.

The Spartans got the puck into the Michigan zone following the opening face off of the second period. Michigan failed on several attempts to clear the puck, allowing the Spartans to get off a number of shots. Eventually all those chances led to a goal when the puck bounced away from the net right down the slot. A Spartan skater was in perfect position to blast a shot right back down the slot past a very well screened Hogan for the score with exactly nineteen minutes left on the clock.

With the clock just under seventeen minutes the Wolverines would answer back to regain the lead. Michigan got off a shot that was blocked, but the puck slid off to the right of the goal. Ciraulo got to the puck, slid it through the slot toward the left side of the goal where Fardig was able to lift it up and over Lerg for the score. Ciraulo and Summers each picked up assists on the goal.

With just over fourteen minutes to play the Wolverines would open up a two goal lead off a goal by Hagelin. Hagelin stole the puck in the Spartan zone, circling back toward the slot. As he turned toward the net he skated to his right into the left circle. From there he got off a back hand shot that beat the Spartan net minder to the wide side giving Michigan the two goal lead. The goal was scored as unassisted.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan holding a three to one lead. Each team registered ten shots on goal in the second period leaving each team with nineteen shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just over eighteen minutes to play the Wolverines would score goal number four with a little help from the Spartans themselves. Caporusso had the puck in the Spartan zone and was drifting left of the goal, toward the goal line. He got off a centering pass that hit a Spartan defenseman's skate, deflecting into the net for the score. Turnbull and Langlais each picked up assists on the goal.

With just over six minutes to play the Spartans got loose on a break away, skating right down the slot straight for the Michigan goal. The Spartan player got off a somewhat weak shot that was blocked, but the puck came right back to him. On his second try he was able to stuff the puck behind Hogan for the score, cutting Michigans lead to two goals.

Less than thirty seconds later, with the clock just under the six minute mark, the Wolverines would answer back to regain their three goal lead. While it started out a bit different it was a breakaway for Michigan that led to this goal. Michigan got a long pass up the ice to Wohlberg, getting him the puck right at the Spartan blue line. With all of the Spartan defenders behind him, Wohlberg flew down the slot, putting a back hand shot behind Lerg as he passed in front of the net. Caporusso and Turnbull each picked up assists on the goal.

Michigan would close out the scoring with just over three minutes left to play in regulation time. Wohlberg again had the puck, this time skating it down the right side of the slot. About the time he got to the top of the circles he slid a back hand pass over to Caporusso. Caporusso continued on toward the net, finishing off the drive by burying the puck for the score. Wohlberg and Turnbull each picked up assists on the goal.

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

That was a much needed win last night as Michigan is playing the two games they have in hand against Notre Dame this weekend. If Michigan can complete the sweep this weekend they will be within eight points of the Irish and first place with a home and home series against those same Irish next weekend. Even if Michigan were to sweep that series, and there are certainly go guarantees that they will be able to do that, they will still need help from other teams as they would still trail the Irish by four points. The most likely scenario is that Michigan could play themselves into second place before the end of the season, but to do that they really need to finish off the sweep over the Spartans this weekend. If they don't take care of business this weekend first, even second place may be out of reach. Saturday nights game will be at Yost and it will be a maize out night. Parking will be difficult with a swim meet and a basketball game all going on at the same time. Come down and support the team in this, their final regular season game against the Spartans.