Friday, February 6, 2009
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

It was a slow first period that saw the Lakers take the early lead, but Michigan responded in the final seconds, scoring a short handed goal to tie the game. That goal, however, seemed to energize the Wolverines as they broke the game open by scoring early and often in the second period to win going away, with the final margin of victory being six to two.

With just under fourteen minutes to play in the opening period and Michigan struggling to clear the puck out of their zone the Lakers struck for their first goal of the game. They had the puck in the Michigan zone near the top of the right circle. A quick pass sent the puck to the bottom of the left circle where a Laker player got off a fast one timer that beat Hogan clean.

With just 1:20 left to play in the first period the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty putting the Lakers on the play. With 5.8 seconds left on the clock Rust finished off a great individual effort by scoring a short handed goal to tie the game, giving Michigan a much needed boost. Rust tipped a crossing pass just inside the Michigan blue line. He quickly rushed up the ice, pushing the puck before him, before using a final burst of speed to get fully past the Laker defense. As he then closed on the goal he buried the puck five hole for the score. The short handed goal was scored as unassisted.

The first period came to an end with the score all tied at one goal each. The Wolverines held a slim nine to seven advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock just under nineteen minutes the Wolverines would take the lead for good in this game, again using hard work along the boards to set up the play. Turnbull was fighting for the puck along the back boards, finally gaining control. He sent a quick pass out front to Wohlberg who just as quickly fired off a shot that beat the Laker goalie for the score. Turnbull picked up the lone assist on the Wohlberg goal.

Just over thirty seconds later with the clock still showing just over eighteen minutes to play in the period, the Wolverines would strike for their second goal of the period with a little help from the Lakers themselves. Michigan was buzzing around in front of the Laker net when a Laker player tried to push the puck behind the goal. Unfortunately for him Glendening was positioned next to the goal at the goal line. The puck came right to him leaving him with an easy tap in goal for the score. They scored this goal as unassisted.

With just over twelve minutes to play the Lakers were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Just over half way through the man advantage, with the clock just under the eleven minute mark, Michigan would score goal number four. This looked a lot like the Laker goal in the first period as it all started with a pass from above the right circle to the bottom of the left circle to a waiting Caporusso. As soon as the puck hit his stick Caporusso got off a one timer that beat the goalie before he really knew the puck was coming his way. Langlais and Wohlberg each picked up assists on this power play goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines leading four to one. Michigan out shot the Lakers seventeen to five in the period to hold a twenty-six to twelve advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With the clock just under nineteen minutes each team took penalties within seconds of each other, leaving the teams skating four on four. With just over seventeen minutes still on the clock Michigan got off a shot from the right circle that just squeezed between the right post and the goal tender for the score. Rust got credit for the goal while Hagelin picked up the lone assist.

With just over fourteen minutes to play Michigan was whistled for a penalty, giving the Lakers a power play opportunity. Just under a minute later, with just over thirteen minutes to play the Lakers would strike for the second goal of the game. The Lakers got off a shot from the left circle that beat Hogan to the wide side of the net for the score, cutting the Michigan lead back to three.

With about eight and half minutes to play, just after a Laker goal was waved off, the Wolverines made an end to end rush ending in their sixth goal of the game. Caporusso was in the box from an earlier penalty. Just after the Laker goal was waved off Michigan got control of the puck and headed out of their zone. At the same time Caporusso's penalty was expiring and he came out of the box well behind the Laker defense. Michigan quickly got the puck up the ice to Caporusso who broke into the Laker zone with the puck and nobody between him and a goal except the goalie. Caporusso walked in on the goal and buried it for the final score of the game. Winnett picked up the lone assist on the goal.

The game would come to an end with Michigan winning with a six to two score. Michigan out shot the Lakers fifteen to nine in the final period to end the game with a forty-one to twenty-one advantage in shots on goal.

The first period seemed a little slow, at least for Michigan, but the second period was just the kind of hockey the Wolverines like to play. Up and down the ice, transition hockey at its best. The third period was a little choppy as the penalties started to mount up, but in the end the Wolverines did what they had to do, win the game. Tomorrow night they host the Lakers for the second of this two game weekend series and they once again need to take care of business and send the Lakers home winless if they want to continue pursuing a second place finish in the CCHA.