Saturday, March 21, 2009
Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

After basically controlling the game for two periods of play, going into the third period with a two to one lead, the Wolverines put together their worst period of hockey this season, giving up four goals as the Irish routed the Wolverines five to two to claim the CCHA tournament title.

With just five and half minutes to play in the opening period the Wolverines scored the games first goal off a rebound. The original shot was blocked, with the rebound landing between the circles. Glendening got to the puck, shooting it back to the net. The puck hopped up into the air, arched up and over the Notre Dame goalie, landing behind him, crossing the goal line for the score. Glendening with the score while Naurato and Kampfer each picked up assists.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan leading by a score of one to nothing. Notre Dame out shot the Wolverines eleven to nine in the period.

With the clock just under the eighteen minute mark the Wolverines would score their second goal of the game when Wohlberg broke clean into the Irish zone, ending the rush with a score. The play started in the Michigan zone when an Irish shot was blocked. Michigan was able to pass the puck up the ice, hitting Wohlberg as he broke into the Irish zone. Wohlberg walks in, closes on the goal, and buries the puck for the score. Miller got the lone assist.

The Irish would cut the Michigan lead to one while both teams were skating with four players each. The Irish got off a shot from the point that just kind of floated toward the goal. With Hogan in position to stop the puck an Irish player was able to get his stick on the puck, redirecting it past Hogan.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines holding a two to one lead. The Wolverines out shot the Irish thirteen to eleven in the period leaving the Irish with a twenty-two to twenty-one advantage in shots on goal.

With just over eighteen minutes to play the Irish would tie the game, once again using a shot from the point. Following the same pattern as the first Irish goal this shot was redirected at the last second, beating Hogan five hole for the score.

Twenty seconds later with the clock just under eighteen minutes the Irish scored their second goal of the game. The Irish came into the zone, skated around the Michigan zone, closed on the goal, stuffing the puck home for the score.

With just under nine minutes to play the Irish would all but eliminate any hope Michigan had of coming back in this game when they would score their third goal of the game, opening up a two goal lead. The Irish worked the puck up the left boards before getting off a shot. The rebound was not covered, however, the Irish got to the puck first, putting the rebound back in the net for the score.

With just over three minutes to play the Irish would drive the nail in the lid of the coffin scoring their fourth goal of the period, their fifth straight goal of the game. The Irish, after moving quickly into the Irish zone, got into the slot, as they got between the circles the Irish player got off a rocket of a shot that was behind Hogan before he knew what had happened.

The game would come to an end with the Irish winning five to two. Notre Dame out shot Michigan twelve to eight in the period to end the game with a thirty-four to thirty advantage in shots on goal.

Playing perhaps their worst period of hockey for the entire season the Wolverines simply disappeared in the third period of the biggest game of the year. After rising to each occasion, steadily building momentum into the playoffs this was a terrible loss to take. After stumbling so badly in their last game prior to the NCAA tournament the Wolverines now need to regroup, getting ready for the most intense hockey of the season. From this point forward whenever a team looses their season ends, there are no more second chances.