Saturday, October 4, 2008
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Perhaps it's better that Michigan play that team of scrappy youngsters from across town early in the season like this game, rather than in mid-season. The last couple of years Michigan has played the US team in January, and the youngsters have given Michigan all they could handle in both games. Tonight, with it being the first game of the season and the Wolverines looking for a good start, survived a slow start on their way to a four to one victory over the cross town rivals.

The US team hit the ice flying in this game and Michigan struggled to get their skates under themselves in the first few minutes of this game. That would all change with just over fifteen minutes left on the clock when Michigan drew first blood, scoring the games first goal. Michigan had worked the puck into the US zone when Winnett got off a bit of shot from the high slot that didn't look to dangerous at all. However, there was a considerable amount of traffic in front of the net, making the shot hard to follow. Somehow the puck made it through a forest of legs, finding the back of the net for the games first score. Winnett was credited with the score, unassisted.

Barely thirty seconds later the US team was whistled for a penalty to put Michigan on the power play. Barely thirty seconds from the start of the power play, with just over fourteen minutes left in the period, Michigan scored their second goal of the game, taking control of the game. It all started with a big shot from out near the blue line that went wide of the net, hitting the back boards so hard that it bounced back out in front of the net. As it hit the ice in front of the net, Rust got his stick on it punching it back toward and into the goal. Rust got credit for this power play goal, while Langlais and Palushaj each picked up an assist.

The first period would come to an end with Michigan holding onto its two to nothing lead. The Wolverines also held a nine to six edge in shots on goal.

The US team was whistled for a penalty just seconds before the first period ended, that penalty has left Michigan with 1:58 of power play time to start the second period. Just thirty-eight seconds into the second period the Wolverines would score their second power play goal of the game, when Rust got his stick on a rebounding puck, flipping it back into the net for the score. Following the periods opening face off, Michigan quickly worked the puck into the US zone. The Wolverines were passing the puck well when they got off a big shot from the right point. While that shot was blocked, the rebound was not covered and Rust took care of the rest. Assists on the power play goal went to Langlais and Palushaj.

With just over nine minutes left to play in the second period the Wolverines would score their second goal of the period, fourth of the goal when Hagelin slid a great pass to Czarnik who punched it home for the score. Hagelin carried the puck deep into the US zone, skating around the net making his pass to the slot as he came out from behind the net. Czarnik quickly got off the shot that would beat the US goal tender for what turned out to be Michigan's final goal. Hagelin got the only assist on the Rust goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Wolverines hold a four to nothing lead. The Wolverines out shot the US team eleven to seven in the second, leaving them with a twenty to thirteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just over three minutes left in the game the shut out would disappear when the US team got their lone goal of the night. With the puck in the Michigan zone they passed to Fowler at the top of the left face off circle. From there Fowler banged it home over the glove for the score.

The game would come to an end with the score Michigan four, US NTDP one. The Wolverines out shot the US team ten to two in the final period to end the game with a thirty to fifteen advantage in shots on goal for the game.

Not a bad start to the year, a little sluggish and rusty to start, but they quickly started to find their legs, steadily picking up the pace as the game progressed. I think these buys are better off playing the US team real early like this rather than later in the year as they have the last couple of years. They seem to take them a bit more seriously being their first game rather than their 20th. Anyway, one final tune up exhibition tomorrow against Waterloo and then next weekend this team begins their quest to return to the Frozen Four. Should be an interesting year, but expectations will certainly be higher this year than last.