Michigan
9-5-0
Minnesota
6-7-1
Swept Away: Michigan Loses to Minnesota in Showcase
11/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The fifth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team lost a 4-2 decision to the University of Minnesota tonight (Saturday, Nov. 29) at Yost Ice Arena. Despite a 28-save performance from sophomore goaltender Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.), the Wolverines could not avoid being swept for the first time in the 11-year history of the College Hockey Showcase.
| | Rogers collected his first even-strength point of the season with his backhanded marker in the first period. |
Minnesota gained an early advantage eight minutes into the first period, capitalizing on a Wolverine turnover. Keith Ballard stole a Michigan pass at center ice and fired the puck to Troy Riddle, who led a two-on-one just inside the blue line. Riddle moved the puck down the ice and found Gino Guyer just left of the net for the goal and a 1-0 Gopher lead.
Michigan evened the count on the Wolverines' first shorthanded goal of the season at 13:47. Kaleniecki corralled a loose puck at the blue line and fired a shot at the net. The puck floated over the left shoulder of freshman goalkeeper Kellen Briggs, who was screened on the play by sophomore Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.) and a Minnesota defender.
Rogers' unassisted tally at the 17:19 mark secured a 2-1 lead going into the first intermission. After a heavy Wolverine forecheck, Rogers anticipated the Minnesota break-out pass and stole the puck to the right side of the net. After skating across the front of the net, he sent a backhanded shot across his body and over the glove of Briggs.
After a tightly contested second period in which the teams combined for only 13 shots, Minnesota tied the game with only 50 seconds left on shorthanded goal by Riddle. Riddle received the pass up the ice from Guyer and beat his man to the inside. He then fired the puck to the short side of the net, beating Montoya for the equalizer.
Shortly after the Gopher goal, Minnesota's Keith Ballard was whistled for checking junior Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) from behind. Ballard received a game misconduct, giving Michigan a five-on-three advantage for the remainder of the period. The Wolverines, however, were not able to get anything going on offense and the period ended in a 2-2 tie with 52 seconds remaining in U-M's two-man advantage.
Despite starting the third period with a two-man advantage for 52 seconds and remaining on the power play until the 4:13 mark of the period, Michigan was unable to break the tie. Immediately following U-M's power play the Gophers went on a power play of their own. Michigan's defense was up to the task, holding Minnesota scoreless and preserving the 2-2 tie. The penalty kill was highlighted by a pair of rebound saves by Montoya.
Minnesota reclaimed the lead with a four-on-four goal at 13:24 that made the score 3-2. Tallackson won a faceoff for the Gophers in the Michigan zone and sent the puck back to Chris Harrington. Harrington then passed the puck across the crease to Sertich, who shot it to the left side of the Michigan net for the goal.
Minnesota closed out the game with an empty-net goal by Barry Tallackson at 19:56.
U-M will play a home-and-home series with CCHA rival Michigan State next weekend. The Wolverines next take the ice Friday, Dec. 5, at Yost Ice Arena. That game will be broadcast by Fox Sports Detroit, with the opening faceofff set for 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
