Michigan
17-6-4, 14-4-3CCHA
Notre Dame
15-7-3, 12-6-2CCHA
Michigan Falls to Notre Dame on Late Power-Play Goal
1/30/1999 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Michigan played all but six minutes and five seconds of the game behind by at least one goal as the Irish opened the scoring just 1:58 into the game when Ben Simon beat Jay Vancik (West Bloomfield, Mich.) down the right side and shoveled a shot over the pads of Blackburn.
Notre Dame (15-7-3, 12-6-2 CCHA) added to its lead with another goal at the 11:04 mark of the same period during a four-on-four situation. Benoit Cotnoir was wide open on the right side to shoot the puck over Blackburn's glove after all four Michigan players were caught on the left side of the ice.
After a scoreless second period, Michigan cut the lead to one with a goal by Mike Comrie (Edmonton, Alberta) during another four-on-four situation at the 6:27 mark of the third period. Mike Van Ryn (London, Ontario) took a pass from Bobby Hayes (Westland, Mich.) and directed it up the ice to Comrie. Comrie carried the puck down the right side from the red line, forcing a shot past Forrest Karr for his team-leading 14th goal of the season.
Notre Dame almost regained a two-goal lead just 10 seconds later when Andy Jurkowski fired a shot from the point through Blackburn's legs. However, the shot hit the goal post and slid across the goal line to the other post, never completely crossing the line for a score.
With the lead cut in half, Michigan was able to tie the game on Hayes' second point of the night. In a scrum behind the net, Notre Dame's Ben Simon, who had lost his stick just minutes earlier, tried to kick the puck to Karr. Karr then directed the puck through his own legs and it slid to the top of the crease where Hayes was standing. Hayes tapped the puck into the net for his first goal since Oct. 16 against Niagara, a span of 23 games.
However, the lead did not last long, as Dhadphale netted his 14th goal of the season at the 15:18 mark of the final period.
The Wolverines did have an opportunity to come back when Notre Dame's Jay Kopischke took a tripping penalty with 3:34 remaining, but U-M could not get a shot off during the man advantage. Michigan then finished the game short-handed when Dave Huntzicker (Ann Arbor, Mich.) took a hooking penalty with 1:40 remaining while trying to stop a Notre Dame one-on-one rush.
Blackburn stopped 21 shots in the loss as his record fell to 17-5-4. Karr made 26 saves in the win.
The Wolverines return to action on Friday (Feb. 5) when they host Lake Superior State at Yost Ice Arena. The following evening (Feb. 6), Michigan plays host the Ohio State. Both game times are 7 p.m.
GAME SUMMARY
| Goals By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Notre Dame | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
1st period
1, NOTR, Ben Simon 13 (Joe Dusbabek, Andy Jurkowski) 01:58.
2, NOTR, Benoit Cotnoir 4 (Ryan Dolder) 11:04.
3rd period
3, MICH, Mike Comrie 14 (Bobby Hayes, Mike Van Ryn) 06:27.
4, MICH, Bobby Hayes 2 (unassisted) 08:49.
5, NOTR, Aniket Dhadphale 14 (Dan Carlson, Ben Simon) 15:18 (pp).
Shots on goal: MICH 28; NOTR 24.
Power plays: MICH 0 of 8; NOTR 1 of 6.
Penalties: MICH 9 (18 min); NOTR 11 (22 min).
Goalies: Josh Blackburn 17-5-4 (59:35 minutes, 24 shots-21 saves), Team (00:25, 0-0); NOTR, Forrest Karr (60:00, 28-26).
Referee: Jim Sotiros
Linesmen: Brian Troester, Tony Molina
Attendance: 2,667
Time: 2:38
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
