Michigan
7-1-0
Niagara
2-3-0
Pair of Two-Goal Runs Boost Wolverines Over Niagara
11/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 3 University of Michigan hockey team recorded its sixth straight victory as it defeated Niagara University 6-2 Saturday night (Nov. 1) at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines scored goals within 45 seconds of each other on two occasions to seal the win.
Michigan was led in scoring by three sophomores who notched two points on the night. Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) and Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.) had a goal and an assist each, while Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) added two assists.
Junior David Moss (Dearborn, Mich.) put the Wolverines on top 1-0 at 11:39 of the first period when he netted his second goal of the year on a Michigan power play. Moss, who was skating out in front of the Niagara net, pounced on a rebound from a Tambellini slap shot and slid the puck past Niagara goaltender Jeff VanNynatten.
Less than a minute later, freshman David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) notched his third marker of the year to extend the Wolverine lead to 2-0. Rohlfs took a cross-crease pass from junior Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) just outside the left side of the crease and slid the puck into an open Purple Eagle net as VanNynatten was caught out of position. Junior Michael Woodford Jr. (Westford, Mass.) also picked up an assist on the play.
With just over a minute to play in the first period the Wolverines appeared to extend their lead to three goals, when Ebbett tipped in a shot from freshman Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.). The goal was disallowed, however, as the referee ruled that Ebbett had touched the puck with a high stick.
Only 25 seconds into the second period, Tambellini notched his second point of the night to officially put the Wolverines up 3-0 when he punched home his own rebound. Tambellini's initial shot from just outside the right circle was saved by VanNynatten, but the Niagara goaltender was unable to control the rebound. Tambellini quickly controlled the rebound and flicked a one-time wrist shot past VanNynatten for his team-leading sixth goal of the year.
At 6:58 of the second period, freshman Mike Brown (Northbrook, Ill.) recorded his first goal in the Maize and Blue to give the Wolverines a four-goal cushion. Ebbett initiated the play when he stripped a Niagara forward at mid-ice, skated down the left side and hit Brown with a hard, cross-ice pass. Brown calmly knocked home a one-time shot past VanNynatten for the goal.
The Purple Eagles got on the board at 16:10 of the second period and brought the score to 4-1 when sophomore forward Andrew Nahirniak snuck a shot past Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) through the five hole. Montoya seemingly lost track of the puck as it slowly trickled through his legs and across the goal line.
Niagara added a second goal and lessened their deficit to 4-2 with only 46 seconds left in the second period when Niagara forward Chris Welch netted his first goal of the year. Welch received a pass from defender Dave Hominuk on the right side of Michigan's blue line and broke in alone on Montoya. Welch quickly deked to the left and slid a backhand shot past an outstretched Montoya.
Niagara continued to push the issue early in the third period and nearly scored a third consecutive goal, but Montoya got just enough of a Purple Eagles shot to keep it out of the net. Montoya managed to get his glove on the Niagara shot from just inside the right circle but he was unable to control the puck as it caromed off the right post and out in front of the Michigan net. A Michigan defender quickly gathered the puck and cleared it out of the crease to preserve the Wolverines' two-goal lead.
The Wolverines regained the momentum at 9:45 of the third period when Ebbett notched a power-play goal to give the Wolverines a 5-2 lead. Kaleniecki fired the initial shot, which was saved by VanNynatten, but Ebbett swooped in on the left side and one-timed the rebound past the Niagara goaltender for his fourth goal of the season.
Junior Charlie Henderson (East Lansing, Mich.) stretched the Michigan lead to 6-2 only 26 seconds later when he stripped a Niagara defender in the slot and fired a shot past VanNynatten through the five hole.
With just over seven minutes remaining in the game sophomore Noah Ruden (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) relieved Montoya in net. Montoya finished the night with 19 saves and two goals allowed. He also picked up his seventh win on the season and stretched his unbeaten streak to six games (6-0-0).
The Wolverines (7-1-0, 3-1-0 CCHA) resume conference play when they travel to Ferris State next Friday (Nov. 7). The two teams will return to Ann Arbor the next night (Saturday, Nov. 8) for the second game of the weekend series. Both contests are slated for a 7:35 p.m. start.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
