Friday, November 21, 2008
Steve Cady Arena, Oxford, Ohio

Another Friday night, another loss by the Wolverine hockey team, this time to the hosting Miami Redhawks. Michigan really took it to them for about five whole minutes and then they just burrowed into the ground and never really threatened the rest of the night as the Redhawks rolled to a two to nothing victory.

Each team had three power play tries, including a 1:49 five on three for Miami, but neither team was able to score a goal, seeing the first period end with the score all tied up a zero. Miami ended the period with a twelve to ten advantage in shots on goal.

With just over thirteen minutes to play the Redhawks would draw first blood with a wrap around goal. There was a lot of traffic around the Michigan goal, with several little chip shots being taken, but all had been turned around. A Miami player took the puck and started to move around the back of the net, however, Sauer looked to his right and committed to making that move before the Miami player was fully committed to the move. Seeing the movement by Sauer the Miami player came back to the left of the goal and made an easy wrap around shot for the score.

The second period comes to an end with the Redhawks leading by a score of one to nothing. Both teams had four shots on goal in the second period, leaving Miami with a sixteen to fourteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With just over eighteen minutes top play the Redhawks got a soft shot off from the right circle that sailed toward the goal and eventually past Sauer for the second Miami goal of the game. It might have been slightly redirected, but the shot should have been handled.

With twenty-five seconds to play it seemed that Michigan had finally scored a goal, when they made a couple of nice passes, got off a shot, that was blocked, but managed to punch the rebound into the goal. However, the goal was reviewed and waved off with the official saying there was a player in the crease. There was a Michigan player in the crease, but it appeared he was pushed there and not allowed to get out by the Miami defense. A typical call for the way this entire game went.

The game came to an end with the Redhawks winning by a score of two to nothing. Miami out shot Michigan eleven to six in the final period to end the game with a twenty-seven to twenty advantage in shots on goal.

Just another terrible night of Friday hockey by the Wolverines in a game they really needed to win. Nobody played a particularly good game. I thought both goals given up were soft and could have been turned away. After the first five minutes or so of the game the Michigan offense was non-existent. Whatever the problem is with Friday nights and this team, they had better get it figured out soon or this season will be over before it's even started.