Friday, February 13, 2009
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

While the final score was eight to three the game itself was much closer than that score would indicate. Early in the third period it was a one goal game following a Nebraska goal barely two minutes into the final stanza. That finally seemed to get the Wolverines attention as they reeled off four unanswered goals to win going away.

Just a minute and half into the game Nebraska was whistled for the games first penalty giving Michigan an early power play opportunity. With the clock just under eighteen minutes, the Wolverines would score the games first goal when a shot was fired from the left circle. The puck was headed wide of the goal, but hit Czarnik in the chest, deflecting into the goal for the score. Czarnik got credit for the power play goal while Summers and Palushaj each picked up assists.

With just under seventeen minutes to play the Wolverines would strike again following a failed clearing attempt by the Nebraska goal tender. The goalie went behind the net to sweep the puck around the boards and out of the zone. Michigan was able to get to the puck at the mid boards, quickly firing it to the net before the goalie could really get back into solid position. As it got to the net Hagelin deflected it past the goalie for the score. Palushaj got the lone assist on the goal.

The first period came to an end with the Wolverines holding a two to nothing lead. Michigan also held a fifteen to six advantage in shots on goal after twenty minutes.

With just under seventeen minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty to put Nebraska on the power play. Just over thirty seconds into the power play, with the clock showing just over sixteen minutes to play, the Wolverines would score a short handed goal to extend their lead to three goals. Michigan scooped up the puck just outside the Nebraska blue line, breaking into the zone with a two on one advantage. Skating down the right side of the slot with the puck, Burlon made a nice pass to the left where Winnett was waiting. Winnett got the puck, did a little stick handling, then stuffed the puck in the net for the score. Winnett with the short handed goal and Burlon with the lone assist.

With just under twelve minutes to play the Wolverines were once again in the penalty box, drawing a second penalty with just over ten minutes to play, giving the Mavericks a thirty-seven second two man advantage. While the Mavericks did not score with the two man advantage, they did finally get the puck past Hogan with just under ten minutes to play. The initial shot was blocked, but the rebound went right up the slot where a Maverick got to it and fired it right back to and into the net.

With six and half minutes to play the Mavericks were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. Just eleven seconds into the power play the Wolverines had the puck behind the Nebraska goalie to regain a three goal lead. Things once again got started by a shot from the point that was actually going wide of the goal. This time Wohlberg was able to intercept the puck on its way past the goal, bringing it back around and chipping it into the goal for the score. Wohlberg got the power play goal, while Kampfer and Caporusso got assists.

The three goal lead didn't hold up very long as the Mavericks scored barely twenty seconds later to once again cut the lead to two goals. Following the face off after the last Michigan goal the Mavericks got the puck quickly into the Michigan zone. From there it was a quick wrist shot from the right circle that beat Hogan for the score.

The second period ended with the Wolverines leading by a score of four to two. The Wolverines out shot the Mavericks ten to six in the period to hold a twenty-five to twelve advantage in shots on goal.

With roughly seventeen and half minutes left to play in the third period the Mavericks got within one when the Mavericks got the puck in the net out of a scramble in front. Michigan had failed on several clearing attempts, allowing Nebraska to stay in the zone and keep pressure on the goal. Finally, after a rebound was left on the ice, the Mavericks got the score out of the ensuing scramble in front of the net.

With just under sixteen minutes to play and trailing by just that one goal the Mavericks called a time out to plan some strategy. I didn't work out so good for them as the Wolverines would end up scoring the next four goals.

With the clock just under fourteen minutes to play the Wolverines would score the first of those four goals. Michigan got off a shot from the right point that was blocked, with the rebound go left of the goal. With the goalie to the right side of his goal, Glendening was right there to pop the puck into the open net for the score. Vaughan got the lone assist on the goal.

Barely twenty seconds later Michigan got their second goal of the period off a play that was almost identical to the previous. This time instead of the shot coming from the right point, it came the right side mid boards and the rebound came more up the slot than to the left, but the end result was the same. Michigan had a goal and suddenly they had a three goal lead. Palushaj got credit for the goal while Hagelin and Vaughan each picked up assists.

With just over twelve minutes top lay the Mavericks were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. With the clock under eleven minutes and time running out on the power play Michigan had the puck deep in the Maverick zone. As he approached the goal line Lebler got off a shot that was almost straight along the goal line. However, it hit the wide side goal post, deflecting into the net for the score. Palushaj and Czarnik each picked up assists on the goal.

With the clock just one second under the nine minute mark the Mavericks were hit with a five minute major penalty giving Michigan an extended power play opportunity. The Wolverines wasted little time, scoring just over thirty seconds into the extended power play. Burlon was left all alone between the circles and Michigan got the puck to him. From there he fired off a rocket of a shot that beat the goal tender for the power play goal. Lebler and Palushaj each picked up assists on the goal.

The game ended with Michigan winning by a score of eight to three. The Wolverines out shot the Mavericks seventeen to six in the period to end the game with a forty-two to eighteen advantage in shots on goal.

After playing a very solid first period of hockey the Wolverines seemed to go into a coma for much of the second period and part of the third and the Mavericks took full advantage of the Wolverines lethargy. With the Mavericks fighting for playoff position that was not a wise thing for the Wolverines. In the third Michigan scored four goals, but to be honest there was a certain degree of luck involved in a couple of those. The bounces and the game went to Michigan, but once again the lack of playing a full sixty minutes of hockey caused problems for the Wolverines. While this problem has plagued this team all year, it is something they must find a way to put behind them if they want to make a deep push into the playoffs.