Saturday, November 8, 2008
Carlson Center, Fairbanks, Alaska

A power out age at the Arena almost forced this game to be rescheduled, probably at a neutral site later in the year, but power was fairly quickly restored and the game got under way just thirty minutes late. The game itself wasn't easy and it wasn't always pretty, but Michigan held off a determined Nanook team tonight to take a three to two decision and split the weekend with Alaska.

Just four and half minutes into the game it would be Wohlberg getting the Wolverines on the board first (just like last night), this time passing the puck around like it was in a pin ball machine. Michigan got off a shot from the point that was blocked with the rebound directed away into the corner. Michigan got to the puck, dug it out of the corner, and got it to another Wolverine in the slot. From there a quick pass over to Wohlberg for the quick shot and score from the side of the net. Rust and Turnbull each picked up assists on the goal.

With just over eight minutes to play in the opening period Michigan was whistled for their first penalty of the weekend putting the Nanooks on the power play. The Nanooks made the most of the opportunity, scoring a power play goal barely forty seconds into the man advantage. Alaska had the puck in the Michigan zone, closing on the net. From the bottom of the left circle one Nanook passed over to a teammate who skated through the defense, avoided a Hogan poke check, and slipped the puck into the net for the power play goal.

The first period would come to an end with the game all tied at one goal each. Michigan held a thirteen to eight advantage in shots on goal after twenty minutes of play.

The second period was kind of choppy and disorganized as neither team seemed able to establish much offensive flow. That being said the Wolverines managed to take the lead on a great effort by Caporusso with just over six minutes left to play in the period. Palushaj passed the puck to Caporusso just as he neared the Alaska blue line. From there Caporusso skated into the Nanook zone, using a burst of speed to get around the Alaska defense. He proceeded to sweep toward the goal, pulling the goalie to his left, then just at the last minute Caporusso made a little move to get to the right of the net where he made the easy shot into the wide open net. Palushaj and Summers each picked up assists on the goal.

The Nanooks would be whistled for a penalty late in the period, however, Michigan could not score again before time ran out. The second period would end with the Wolverines leading by a score of two to one. Michigan out shot Alaska ten to six in the period to hold a twenty-three to fourteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

Michigan started the final period of regulation time with 1:01 of power play time and with exactly nineteen minutes left to play, one second left in the power play, the Wolverines would score what would prove to be the game winning goal. The Wolverines were passing the puck around the Nanook zone looking for some sort of opening, finally getting the puck down low to Palushaj to the right of the goal. From there Palushaj passed the puck into the slot area where Lebler was positioned just outside the crease. While surrounded by three Nanook defenders Lebler scrambled for the puck, finally getting his stick on it and basically getting off a no look back hand shot that beat the Alaska goalie for the power play goal. Lebler got the goal, while Palushaj and Hagelin each picked up assists.

With the clock showing just over eleven minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for another penalty, putting the Nanooks back on the power play. Once again this would prove to be detrimental to the Wolverines. The Nanooks took longer this time, but with the clock just under the midway point they would get off a shot from the high slot that would beat Hogan top shelf for the score. Hogan was screened somewhat and expecting a low shot he had dropped down to stop the puck from coming in low, however, it was up high making the power play goal look easy.

The Nanooks got whistled for a penalty with just 2:45 left to play in the game, which limited their ability to attack the Michigan goal late in the game. Michigan wasn't overly aggressive with the puck either, opting to basically burn clock rather than mount any serious attack on the Nanook goal. When the penalty ended Michigan had the puck in the Alaska zone deep so they had to keep their goal tender in the game even longer than they wanted to, but with thirty seconds to play they had the puck and their goal tender was on the bench. In those final thirty seconds of play Alaska forced two face offs in the Michigan zone, Michigan missed a chance to put the puck into the open net which would have sealed the win, and eventually time would run out with Alaska still looking for the game tying goal.

The game would end with Michigan clinging to their three to two victory and their weekend split. Alaska out shot Michigan eleven to nine in the period, but Michigan ended the game with a thirty-two to twenty-five advantage in shots on goal.

The most recent coaching change for Alaska seems to have reinvigorated the program as the Nanooks have been giving everybody they play this year all they can handle, including the Wolverines. A difficult weekend ended with Michigan picking up a much needed win to salvage a weekend split, but there was nothing easy about this win or the game last night for that matter (as last nights score would indicate). Alaska doesn't over power you with speed and skill so much as they stifle you with defense. The Nanooks are already in position to host a first round CCHA play off game and if they continue to play this kind of defense all year and figure out a way to score some goals, they might find a way to earn themselves a first round bye in the CCHA tournament. Still a long way to go in the season, but the Nanooks are a team that you might want to keep you eye on as the season progresses.

Next weekend the Wolverines have a home and home series against the Western Michigan Bronco's who sit in eleventh place in the CCHA. That being said the Bronco's always seem to find a way to play Michigan tough. Michigan really needs to find a way to sweep the Bronco's to maintain their fourth place position in the CCHA standings. Michigan has eight points along with four other teams, with Miami sitting all alone in first with eleven points. Speaking of Miami the Redhawks are on the schedule following the Bronco's making this sweep even more important. When Michigan makes the trip down to Oxford they don't want to be any farther behind the Redhawks than they are right now. They could be closer, with Miami visiting MSU this coming weekend, but they don't want to be farther behind. Let's just assume that Miami hangs onto their first place position following next weekend. A Miami sweep over Michigan would give Miami a solid grip on first place and put Michigan in a pretty deep hole, even though Michigan has two games in hand against Miami. If the teams split they end the weekend basically how they started it. If Michigan could get a sweep they cold take over sole possession of first place (depending on how some other teams do). The point is that next weekend Michigan needs a sweep to hold their position in the CCHA, the following weekend, just before they go play in the Showcase they could be playing for first place in the conference just as the first half begins to wind down.