Friday, March 27, 2009
Arena At Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Connecticut

The tenure of Michigans run in this years NCAA tournament lasted exactly two hours and thirty-two minutes. That's how long it took for number four seed Air Force to send number one seed Michigan down to defeat by a two to nothing score.

With roughly six and half minutes to play in the opening period the Wolverines were whistled for one of many penalties they took in this game. With the clock just under five minutes Air Force had the puck in the Wolverine zone, working the puck down the left boards. The Air Force player flipped the puck toward the net, looking to make something happen and it did. Hogan pushed tight to the post, leaving a lane into the wide side of the net. The puck found that lane, beating Hogan to his blocker side to tally a power play goal.

The first period would come to an end with Air Force leading by a score of one to nothing. The Wolverines out shot Air Force sixteen to three.

With the clock just under thirteen minutes Air Force broke into the Wolverine zone with a two on one advantage following a Wolverine turn over. With the puck near the bottom of the right circle the Air Force player got off a shot that once again beat Hogan to the wide side, this time beating him glove side.

The second period would come to an end with Air Force holding a two to nothing lead. Michigan out shot Air Force eleven to five in the period to hold a twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal.

Michigan came close on a number of occasions, including hitting a post with around five minutes to play, however, nothing changed. As had happened through out this game the Wolverines simply could not get the puck in the net. The game ended with Air Force winning two to nothing. Michigan out shot Air Force sixteen to five in the final period to end the game with a forty-three to thirteen advantage in shots on goal.

This game was just the final spike in a disappointing end to a promising season. After giving up the third period lead last week in the CCHA finals to this game where absolutely nothing went Michigan's way the Wolverines find their season over, losing two straight games and more than likely leaving a lot of players wondering just what happened. Now the annual waiting game begins as we wait to see if any players leave early or if everyone will be back. Next season could be special with the Frozen Four in Detroit the Wolverines have a lot to work for next year. It would be great to see Michigan get to the Frozen Four next year with it being right in their back yard so to speak. With a small, but talented group coming in next year and a super talented group of players expected in the following year the immediate future for the Michigan hockey team looks bright even if it looks a little cloudy today.