Saturday, February 7, 2009
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

While the Wolverines swept the weekend series, the Lakers made them work for the second win, never giving Michigan any breathing room. In the end the Wolverines held on, holding the Lakers score less for over half the game on their way to an important two to one victory.

It looked like the first period would end in a score less tie, however, with just forty-six seconds left on the clock the Lakers would get the puck past Hogan to take the first lead of the game. The Lakers got off a shot from the left of the goal that was blocked, but Hogan did not cover up the rebound, deflecting the puck to his right. A Laker skater, left all alone by the Michigan defense was in the perfect position to make the easy tap in for the games opening score.

Not to be out done the Wolverines responded with a goal of their own with just twenty-eight seconds to play in the period. After the face off that followed the Laker zone Michigan quickly got the puck into the Laker zone and began working it around the zone. Eventually they ended up with the puck in the slot, right between the circles. From there Hagelin blasted a shot past the Laker net minder for the score. Rust and Palushaj each picked up assists on the score.

The first period would come to an end with the score all tied at one goal each. In fitting fashion the shots on goal after the first period were also even at thirteen each.

With roughly thirteen and half minutes to play in the second period the Wolverines would strike for their second goal of the game, the goal that would end up being the game winner. In a sequence of events that looked very similar to the Lakers first period goal, Michigan got off a shot from the left circle that was blocked, but instead of covering the rebound it was deflected to the right. Lebler just happened to be to the right of the goal. The puck came right to him and he made the easy tap in goal for the score. Palushaj and Czarnik each picked up assists on the goal.

The second period would come to an end with Michigan holding onto that two to one lead. Michigan out shot the Lakers eleven to nine in the period to end forty minutes of play with a twenty-four to twenty-two advantage in shots on goal.

Neither team would be able to score in the final period leaving the score at two to one in favor of the Wolverines when the final horn sounded. Michigan out shot the Lakers seven to five in the final twenty minutes of play to end the game with a thirty-one to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

The Lakers made this a much more difficult game tonight, making the Wolverines fight for everything they got. In the end the win is what matters and the win is what Michigan got. Both Miami and Alaska were either idle or playing out of conference this weekend so the four points Michigan picked up have moved them into third place, just two back of the Redhawks and just two ahead of the Nanooks. Sitting just outside the top four are Ohio State and Nebraska, each with twenty-six points. Nebraska comes to Yost next weekend and could move into the top four of the conference with a sweep over the hosting Wolverines. Needless to say next weekends games are very important, but then every game this time of year is very important.