Friday, November 14, 2008
Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan

It was another tough night for the Wolverines as they dominated the visiting Bronco's everywhere except it counted most, on the scoreboard. Taking a one to nothing lead into the third period all the Wolverines had to do was hold Western Michigan score less for twenty more minutes to take the win, instead they gave up two unanswered goals, giving the Bronco's their first conference win of the season.

The first period ended in a score less tie with the Wolverines holding an eleven to three advantage in shots on goal.

With about eight and half minutes left to play in the second period the Bronco's were whistled for a penalty to put Michigan on the power play. With just over eight minutes left to play the Wolverines had finally gotten the puck in the net for their first goal of the game. The Bronco goal tender had stopped a shot, but the puck was on the ice and several players converged trying to get control of it. Somehow Hagelin got his stick on the puck and poked it through the five hole, barely getting it over the goal line for the score. Langlais and Palushaj each picked up assists on the goal.

The second period ended with the Wolverines holding a one to nothing lead. Michigan out shot the Bronco's sixteen to seven to hold a twenty-seven to ten advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

Barely a minute and a half into the final period the Bronco's got back to even when they got off a rocket of a shot from the top of the slot. With the goalie slightly screened the puck beat Sauer top shelf for the game tying score.

The game remained tied until there were just over four minutes left to play, when the Wolverines turned the puck over just inside their blue line, leading the game winning goal. After stripping Michigan of the puck the Bronco defender got off a shot from the blue line that was destined to be blocked. It didn't have much speed on it and it was visible the whole way to the goal. Somehow Sauer didn't see the puck and it was once again in over his shoulder for the score.

The game would end with the Bronco's winning by a score of two to one. Each team managed just seven shots on goal in the final period, leaving Michigan with a thirty-four to seventeen advantage in shots on goal.

This was a truly awful loss for Michigan. The Bronco's were sitting at the bottom of the conference without a conference win. Even though Michigan really dominated this game they were done in by another soft goal given up by their Senior net minder, the guy who should be the difference maker on nights when the offense isn't finding the back of the net. Michigan had a chance to open up some space between themselves and some other teams in the conference as both Northern Michigan and MSU lost their games, but instead they now find themselves in fourth place behind not just Miami, but Ferris State and Lake State as well. This was a loss that never should have been and unless the Wolverines can all get on the same page at the same time, this may become the story of the year. A team that was almost a champion.