Saturday, October 31, 2009
Taffy Abel Arena, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

The Wolverines completed their first weekend sweep of the season with a six to three victory over the hosting Lakers. While the score makes it look like Michigan ran away with this game it was actually much closer than the score would indicate. The teams traded goals and leads for most of the first period before, before Michigan finally took the lead for good with just a minute and a half to play in the first period. The game remained a one goal game until the final six minutes of the game when a flurry of penalties and goals resulted in the final score.

The Lakers got the scoring started in this game with the clock showing just over eighteen minutes to play in the opening period. The play started with a shot from the blue line, that was blocked, but the rebound game out to the left of the Michigan goal. Hogan swung around to face any shots, instead a quick pass to the right side of the goal allowed a Laker skater to score the easy goal into a wide open net.

Michigan would answer twenty seconds later, with the clock now just under eighteen minutes to play when Michigan connected on a long up ice pass to Winnett who finished off the play. The pass came from deep in the Michigan zone, finding Winnett already skating toward the Laker zone. The puck made it to him just outside the Laker blue line, from there he continued into the zone, finishing off the play beating the goalie with a nice shot. Lebler picked up the lone assist on the goal.

With just over fourteen minutes to play the Lakers regained the lead off a seemingly harmless shot from the left circle. The shot looked like it was going to be easily turned away, however, as it neared the goal it was deflected down toward the ice, allowing it to slide through the five hole for the score, putting the Lakers back on top two to one.

With just over six minutes to play the Wolverines would once again tie the game when Brown slid a shot through the Laker goalies five hole. Caporusso got control of the puck in the Michigan zone, breaking through center ice with Brown. Carrying the puck into the Laker zone Caporusso drew some defensive attention, passing the puck to Brown who finished off the play with the score. Caporusso picked up the lone assist on the goal.

With roughly three and half minutes to play the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty to put the Lakers on the power play. Michigan was on the verge of killing off the penalty when they blocked a pass and broke out of the Michigan zone with the puck. The Wolverines crossed the Laker blue line with a two on one advantage, finally getting the puck to Rust who buried it just as the Laker power play expired. Wohlberg and Langlais each picked up assists on the goal that gave Michigan its first lead of the game with just 1:28 left in the period.

The first period would come to an end with the Wolverines leading by a score of three to two. The Lakers, who controlled a lot of this period, held a twenty to ten advantage in shots on goal after twenty minutes of play.

Michigan had some scoring chances in the second period, while at the same time giving the Lakers very few looks at the goal, let alone scoring chances. With that being said, nobody was able to actually put the puck in the net through the second period leaving the score at three to two in Michigan's favor after forty minutes of play. The Wolverines out shot the Lakers fifteen to three in the period, giving them a twenty-five to twenty-three advantage in shots on goal through forty minutes of play.

With the clock just under the eight minute mark the Lakers were whistled for a penalty to put Michigan on the power play. It would take most of the power play, but eventually, with just over six minutes left to play, the Wolverines would score a key power play goal to take a two goal lead. Michigan was moving the puck from point to point, when a quick pass to the left circle, led to a shot by Brown for the score. Hagelin and Caporusso each picked up assists on the power play goal.

With roughly two and a half minutes to play the Lakers pulled thier goaltender to put an extra attacker on the ice. That didn't work out so well as the Wolverines put the puck in the empty net with just over two minutes left on the clock. After gaining control of the puck Llewellyn guided the puck into the net, with Vaughan picking up an assist.

Just as the clock moved under the two minute mark the Lakers were whistled for a penalty to put Michigan on the power play. That lasted about twenty seconds when the Wolverines were whistled for a penalty, leaving both teams skating four to a side. Just as the clock reached the one minute mark the Wolverines turned the puck over near the blue line, leading to a Laker break away. The Lakers gained the Wolverine zone, blasting a shot from the high slot that beat Hogan, once again cutting the Michigan lead to two.

With both teams still skating four on four and 1:01 to play the Lakers once again pulled their goalie to put an extra attacker on the ice. Michigan continued to work the puck, gaining the Laker zone. With less than twenty seconds to play the Lakers were whistled for a penalty giving Michigan a man advantage. Eventually Winnett would receive the puck down in the corner, walking in toward the goal. As he closed on the goal he gave the goalie a little fake, finishing off the play by jamming the puck through the five hole. Winnett gets credit for the power play goal while Summers and Rust each picked up assists.

The game came to an end with the Wolverines winning by a score of six to three. The Lakers out shot the Wolverines fifteen to eleven in the period, giving them a thirty-eight to thirty-six advantage in shots on goal for the game.

A road sweep was just what the Wolverines needed to get on some solid footing as the first month of this season comes to a close. With a number of long road trips through out the month, some non-standard game nights, and an open weekend, the Wolverines hadn't really gotten into any kind of rhythm leading into this weekend. These two wins were a great way to finish off what was a strange month from a schedule and travel point of view. It was also a great way for Michigan to open their CCHA schedule.

Michigan will now return home with six of the eight games they play in November, being played in Yost Arena. That all gets underway with two huge games next weekend against Miami. Both teams are ranked high nationally and both teams are expected to contend for the CCHA title. If either team should come away with a sweep next weekend, that team will have a definite advantage over the other in the battle for the CCHA. That pair of games is followed the next weekend with the first pair of games against Rival Michigan State, a team that seems to have made a complete turn around following last years less than stellar campaign. The last two weekends of the month see a pair of games against Bowling Green, followed by the 17th Annual College Hockey Showcase when Michigan will take on Minnesota and Wisconsin in two key games against WCHA opponents. In December the Wolverines take on CCHA foes Ohio State and Notre Dame. The Wolverines play some stiff competition over the course of the next six weeks and how they fare in those games could go a long way in determining their ability to challenge for the CCHA title. These next six weeks should be tense, but we should see some great hockey.