Saturday, December 6, 2008
Munn Ice Arena, East Lansing, Michigan

It wasn't always pretty as both teams had their stretches where they struggled, while the other team would carry play, but in the end Michigan was able to do a couple of things they have not done recently. First, and most important, they swept the weekend for the first time in a month, beating Michigan State by a score of five to three. Second, they won in Munn for the first time since 2004, also the first time the Seniors have ever beaten Michigan State on their home ice. All in all, a fine way to finish off the first half heading into the mid season break.

Both teams had some opportunities in the first period of play, but just like last night neither team was able to get one past the other teams goalies, leaving the score all knotted at zero after twenty minutes of play. The Wolverines ended the period with a sixteen to nine advantage in shots on goal.

Things started to heat up when the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty with the clock just under the eleven minute mark of the second period. Just fourteen seconds into the power play the Spartans got off a shot from the high slot that beat Hogan, just squeezing between his arm and body, barely rolling over the goal line for the score. No matter how it happened the Spartans had the one to nothing lead.

With just over six minutes to play the Spartans were whistled for a penalty to put Michigan on the power play. With the clock just under five minutes the Spartans were whistled for a second penalty giving Michigan forty seconds of a two man advantage. Unlike Friday night, when Michigan failed to convert on two extended two man advantages, the Wolverines took all of six seconds to score, netting a power play goal with 4:44 still on the clock. A shot from above the left circle went wide of the net, hit the back boards, and bounced right out in front of the right of the net. Turnbull was right there to scoop the puck into the goal before Lerg could react. Pateryn and Wohlberg each picked up assists on the power play goal.

Because the first power play goal was scored while skating with a two man advantage the Wolverine power play continued and with the clock just under the four minute mark they would score their second straight power play goal. Wohlberg had the puck in corner to the right of the goal when he just flipped it toward the net, it hit Lerg and dropped to the ice, but before Lerg could cover Turnbull was right there to chip it between Lerg and the post for his second goal of the night. Wohlberg and Czarnik each picked up assists on this power play goal.

The period would come to an end with Michigan holding a two to one lead. Michigan out shot the Spartans eleven to six in the period to hold a twenty-seven to fifteen advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

The Spartans started the third with a flurry of activity, tying the game with just under nineteen minutes to play. Michigan State carried the puck out of their zone, pushing it up ice into the Wolverine zone and closing on the net. As they closed Hogan came out to challenge the skater and poke the puck away. However, he didn't seem to realize just how quickly the Spartan players were closing with him and he didn't go after the puck with any real urgency. The end result was that he and the Spartans got to the puck at about the same time, Hogan was unable to push it aside as his stick got caught up with some Spartan sticks. Hogan ended up down on the ice, leaving the net wide open for an easy score.

About thirty seconds later, still with just over eighteen minutes to play in the period, the Spartans would strike for the second time to take the lead. This time they broke out of their own zone with a three on one man advantage. They worked the numbers beautifully, finally forcing the lone defenseman and Hogan to commit one way, passing over to the opposite side at the last minute, which led to another easy open net goal.

It was starting to look like Michigan was going to let another game against a team at the bottom of the conference (although this one is a bit different given the rivalry) when things suddenly took a decided turn towards the Wolverines.

With roughly two and a half minutes left to play in regulation time Michigan intercepted a pass, tipping the puck away from the Michigan zone and toward the Michigan State zone. Burlon got to the puck just before a Spartan skater, tipping it up the ice and then used a burst of speed to catch up to the puck and crash toward the net. Just at the last moment he slid a pass to the left of the goal where Hagelin had just arrived. Hagelin had the puck in the net before the Spartan net minder knew what had happened. Burlon got the lone assist on the game tying goal.

A little less than one minute later, with 1:37 left to play in regulation, a couple of great passes and some heads up play would lead to the game winning goal. Palushaj got the fought off a Spartan defender to get control of the puck in the high slot. He passed the puck down low to Wohlberg who was to the right of the goal. Lerg blocked any kind of shot for Wohlberg, however, he found Caporusso to the left of the goal with a great pass through the crease. Caporusso made an easy chip in shot to give Michigan the lead in the game. Wohlberg and Palushaj each picked up assists on the goal.

The Spartans called time out with 1:04 left to play to determine their course of action. The face off was just outside the Spartan zone with the Spartans gaining initial control of the puck. They quickly headed toward the Michigan zone allowing the Spartans to get their goalie pulled just as the clock moved under the one minute mark.

With the extra attacker Michigan State tried to generate enough pressure to get the game back to even and force overtime, but with just 17.0 seconds left to play Turnbull would score his first career hat trick, finding the back of the empty net. The puck was near center ice with both teams getting players to the puck at about the same time. A battle for the puck was waged, with Turnbull finally coming out of the group of players with the puck. He didn't waste much time, taking aim and firing off a shot from just outside the blue line that slid down the ice and into the net. The goal was scored as unassisted.

The game would come to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of five to three. Michigan outshot the Spartans in the final period thirteen to twelve, leaving Michigan with a forty to twenty-seven advantage in shots on goal for the game.

It wasn't always pretty and it wasn't always easy, but somehow tonight the Wolverines managed to score five goals after scoring six the night before. It seems that all fall long it's been one game with a large number of points, followed by a game with a small number of points (if any). This weekend they scored well on both nights, this was also the first weekend this year when Michigan played the same goalie both nights of the weekend. They went with Hogan this weekend because that's where the wins have been accumulating. For whatever reason the team just seems to play better in front of Hogan, so Hogan got both nights in goal this weekend. We'll have to wait and see if they stick with a single goalie the rest of the way or if they go back to the rotation once the season resumes.

Finally, what a great way to end the first half of the season. Not only do the Wolverines get the sweep over their arch rival, but Turnbull gets his first career hat trick in the process. Burlon gets his first career goal on Friday night. Michigan gets its first win at Munn since 2004. The Seniors get their one and only win at Munn for their careers unless some strange set of circumstances would send Michigan to Michigan State in the CCHA payoff's. Michigan also gets to go into this long three week break thinking about the two wins to finish the first half, not about a game or two games that got away when they shouldn't have. That should make the break much more enjoyable for, for the Wolverines at least. Hopefully these two wins, along with this break, are just what this team needs to re-energize and come back with a renewed sense of purpose and focus. They have a lot of work to do to get where they want to get this year and the first half has not helped that cause. However, there are still enough big games to play in the second half to correct all of Michigans problems and get on a roll going into the playoffs. Have a good holiday and we'll see how things look when the Wolverines get back on the ice at this years Great Lakes Invitational.