Saturday, November 22, 2008
Steve Cady Arena, Oxford, Ohio

The season where nothing seems to go their way just got worse as the #7 Redhawks swept the visiting Wolverines to take control of the CCHA race. Michigan never was able to get into any kind of consistent offensive flow tonight or for the weekend for that matter getting following last nights shut out with a two to one loss.

Michigan was hit with a five minute major penalty with about six and half minutes to play, giving Miami 1:02 of five on three hockey followed by the extended power play chance. Michigan killed off the power play, but just as that Miami power play was ending the Wolverines turned the puck over in their own zone and the Redhawks took advantage, getting the puck past Hogan for the games first score. Miami got the puck near the left side boards, quickly passed into the slot, where the puck was redirected past Hogan before he could react.

The first period would come to an end with the Redhawks holding a one to nothing lead. The Redhawks out shot the Wolverines thirteen to four in the first period.

With just over seventeen minutes to play in the second period, Miami would score what would prove to be the game winning goal when they forced a turnover just inside the Michigan blue line. The Redhawks quickly passed it down to the left circle, getting off a quick rocket of a shot that beat Hogan for the score.

With the clock just under the six minute mark the Redhawks were whistled for a penalty, giving Michigan another power play chance. Michigan worked the puck into the Redhawk zone, finally getting on the scoreboard with just over five minutes to play on a Summers blast from the point. There wasn't anything pretty about this one, just a pass from the right point to the left point and from there Summers unloaded on it, rifling the shot past the goal tender who was screened by Turnbull. Pateryn and Naurato each picked up assists on the power play goal.

The second period would come to an end with the Redhawks leading by a score of two to one. Michigan out shot Miami nine to eight, leaving Miami with a twenty-one to thirteen advantage in shots on goal.

Neither team was able to score in the final twenty minutes of play, giving the Redhawks the win with a final score of two to one. Each team managed thirteen shots on goal in the final period, leaving Miami with a solid thirty-four to twenty-six advantage in shots on goal.

This road sweep by Miami will almost certainly drop Michigan out of the top ten in the national polls and it gives Miami solid control of the CCHA. This weekends losses dropped Michigan from second place in the CCHA to sixth a full nine points behind Miami (although Michigan does have two games in hand). Given the way this team is playing I see no reason to believe they will be able to make up the five point differential (if you assume Michigan wins their two games in hand). While there is still time to turn things around, this year is looking more and more like it is going to be the year we thought we would have last year. A young team, a rebuilding year, and a year in which Michigan misses the NCAA tournament for the first time in almost two decades.