Friday, February 27, 2009
Ewigleben Ice Arena, Big Rapids, Michigan

Scoring three in the first, two in the second, and one in the third, the Wolverines cruised to their twenty fifth win of the season with a six to one victory over the hosting Bulldogs from Ferris State.

The Wolverines got things rolling early when they scored the games first goal with just over nineteen minutes still showing on the clock. After working the puck out of their own zone, the Wolverines quickly drove into the Bulldog zone down the left side of the ice. As players crashed to the new Caporusso sent a centering pass to Miller who banged it home for the score. Miller got credit for the goal, while Caporusso and Wohlberg each picked up assists.

That lead was short lived as the Bulldogs scored their lone goal of the game with the clock just under the seventeen minute mark. Michigan was fighting for the puck behind their own net when the Bulldogs suddenly gained control, sending a quick pass out front. From there a quick shot was past Hogan before he could get in position to make the stop, tying the game.

With about thirteen and half minutes to play the Bulldogs were whistled for a penalty putting Michigan on the power play. With just over twelve minutes to play the Wolverines would strike, scoring a power play goal, retaking the lead for good. Kampfer carried the puck into the Ferris zone, down the right side, eventually feeding the puck to Caporusso in the slot. The Ferris goalie went to make a play, ending up on the ice, leaving Caporusso to lift the puck up and over the goalie for the score. Caporusso with the power play goal, while Kampfer and Turnbull each picked up assists.

With roughly three and half minutes left in the opening period the Wolverines would score their third goal of the period when the Bulldogs turned the puck over in the circle to the left of their goalie. Getting the puck quickly to Hagelin he got off an equally quick shot that beat the goalie for the score. Langlais picked up the lone assist on the Hagelin goal.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a three to one lead. The Wolverines also held an eleven to five advantage in shots on goal.

With the clock showing just eleven minutes to play in the second period the Wolverines would score their fourth goal of the game when Rust would connect off a sudden two on one rush by Michigan. Michigan got into the zone with the odd man rush, quickly closing on the Ferris net. It looked like the Bulldogs might escape without Michigan scoring with the play looking like it was going to move past the net. Just as it seemed it was over a quick pass over to the opposite side of the net allowed Rust to chip the puck into a wide open back door for the score. Hagelin and Palushaj each picked up assists on the goal.

Michigan would score their second goal of the period with just over nine minutes to play when Kampfer got off a shot from the left point, just inside the Ferris blue line. As the puck neared the net Lebler redirected it, putting it past the goalie for the score. Kampfer and Czarnik each picked up assists on the goal. A minute later, with the clock just under eight minutes, the Bulldogs would call time out to regroup, also replacing their goalie.

The second period would end with the Wolverines holding a five to one lead. Michigan out shot the Bulldogs fourteen to eleven in the period to hold a twenty-five to sixteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just over five minutes to play in the game Michigan would strike for their lone marker of the third period to reach their final total of six goals. Michigan gained control of the puck along the left side boards, quickly passing it to Lebler who was in the slot, between the circles. Lebler quickly fired off a shot that beat the goalie through the five hole for the score. Turnbull and Hagelin each picked up assists on the goal.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of six to one. The Wolverines out shot the Bulldogs eighteen to seven in the final period to end the game with a forty-three to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal.

This was just what Michigan needed to start this weekend, a win in a hostile arena over a team that they should beat. Ferris has had a knack for giving Michigan problems, especially on their home ice, but tonight the Wolverines seemed a step faster than the Bulldogs at each turn. This win, coupled with a loss by Miami has once again given the Wolverines the inside track to the number two seed in the CCHA tournament. If they finish off the weekend with a win against Ferris, this time at Yost for Senior night, they will earn that number two seed.