Saturday, January 31, 2009
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Tonight was another one of those frustrating nights of woulda, shoulda, coulda, hockey for Michigan as the Irish got out of Yost with a three to two victory with a little help from the referee's.

With the clock showing just under twelve minutes to play the Irish got the games first goal and the first questionable call by the referee's of the night was made. The Irish had the puck deep in the Michigan zone to the left of the goal. Notre Dame seemed to pass the puck through the crease and it appeared that the puck was well on its way to the corner or at least to the back boards, when an Irish player seemed to change direction, directing the puck back to the net with his skate. With Hogan still over to his left, the puck slowly slid across the goal line. Even after reviewing the goal it was still allowed to stand.

The first period came to an end with the Irish leading by a one to nothing score. Michigan held an eleven to ten advantage in shots on goal.

With just under sixteen minutes to play the Irish would get their second goal of the game and once again it was a controversial goal. An Irish player took the puck through neutral ice and was heading into the Michigan zone with a Michigan defender in hot pursuit. As the player closed on the goal the Michigan defender wrapped his stick around in front of him, taking him down and causing him to miss the goal. The officials ruled that a penalty shot was warranted and the Irish scored on the penalty shot. Now according rule a penalty shot is awarded if the player with the puck is a full stride ahead of the trailing player and the trailing player has to lunge forward or stretch out with their stick, taking the player with the puck down. If the Michigan player was close enough to wrap his arm around the Irish player, by definition he was not far enough behind to warrant a penalty shot. A penalty to be sure, but not a penalty shot. Controversial call number two and the second Notre Dame goal.

With just over seven minutes left in the period the Irish would score their third goal and the only one that there was no question about. An Irish player carried the puck right down the ice, quickly closing on the Michigan goal. As he got in range he fired off a shot that beat Hogan for the score.

The second period came to an end with the Irish leading by a score of three to nothing. The Wolverines out shot the Irish thirteen to nine in the period to hold a twenty-four to nineteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just under sixteen minutes to play the Irish were whistled for a penalty to put Michigan on the power play. Just twenty seconds into the man advantage the Wolverines got their first goal of the game to cut the Irish lead to two. Michigan got off a shot from the point that was blocked, but the rebound came out front of the goal. Palushaj got to the puck, getting of quick wrist shot that beat the Irish net minder for the score. Summers and Czarnik each picked up assists on the goal.

With the clock now under thirteen minutes the Irish were once again whistled for a penalty to put Michigan back on the power play. It took longer this time, but with just over eleven minutes to play the Wolverines scored their second power play goal of the game to get within one. Palushaj received a pass from Czarnik at the right circle. Czarnik moved toward the left post and Palushaj slid the puck over to him and he redirected it into the net before the Irish net minder could react. Palushaj and Summers each picked up assists.

With 1:13 to play and a face off coming in the Irish end the Wolverines called time out. When they returned to the ice Hogan was on the bench giving Michigan an extra attacker. With twenty-six seconds left in the game it appeared that the Wolverines had tied the game setting up a possible overtime battle. However, an early whistle caused the goal to be waved off. The third controversial call involving a goal in the game also went in favor of the Irish leaving the Wolverines on the losing end of the score.

The game would come to an end with the Irish winning by a score of three to two. Michigan out shot the Irish fourteen to three in the final period to end the game with a thirty-eight to twenty-two advantage in shots on goal.

While the officiating in each CCHA game is reviewed its not likely that any statement will be made by the CCHA regarding the questionable calls in last nights game (at least publicly). It's never a good feeling when officials have such a direct impact on the out come of a game, especially such a key game in a conference race. You would hope that the officiating would have been of a better quality. All that being said Michigan coulda won this game, shoulda won this game, and woulda won this game if they had just buried the chances they had. Even with the questionable calls, the Wolverines left the outcome in the hands of the officials and that is never a good idea. The same struggle to score haunted the Wolverines as it has for most of this season. Michigan seems to either play games where they light the lamp all weekend long or they have weekends, like this one, where they struggle to find the back of the net.

With just eight games left Michigan is tied for fourth place with Ohio State, two points behind Alaska, six points behind Miami, and eight back of Notre Dame. Ohio State and Michigan are just one point ahead of Nebraska. Michigan has four games in hand on Alaska and two games in hand on Miami. Two of the teams that Michigan is battling with, Ohio State and Nebraska, are still on the schedule in the month of February. There are also games against Lake State and Ferris State. First place clearly looks out of reach, especially after the loss on Saturday. Second place is still possible, but they still need someone to beat Miami at least one time, preferably twice as I'm not sure who holds the head to head tie breaker between Michigan and Miami. Third place is obviously within reach and would get Michigan that first round bye in the CCHA playoffs and home ice in the second round.