Michigan
8-2-0, 4-2-0
Ferris State
3-7-0, 2-6-0
Michigan Uses Power Play to Gain Split with Ferris State
11/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 4 University of Michigan hockey team defeated Ferris State by a final score of 3-2 on Saturday (Nov. 8) at Yost Ice Arena, rebounding from a heartbreaking 6-5 overtime loss in Big Rapids, Mich., the night before. Sophomore Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) netted his third game-winning goal of the season in the third period, while junior Brandon Rogers (Rochester, N.H.) chipped in with a goal and an assist to extend his point streak to a career-long four games.
| | Brandon Rogers' goal and assist give him seven points in his last four contests. |
Sophomore goaltender Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) led the way for the Michigan defense as he picked up his eighth win of the season with a 21-save effort. Montoya made a number of crucial saves in the third period to preserve the win for the Wolverines, who were without senior defenseman Andy Burnes (Battle Creek, Mich.) due to injury.
Junior Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) notched his second goal of the year and put the Wolverines on top 1-0 with a power-play goal at 5:27 of the first period. Gajic, who was stationed just inside the left circle, received a pass from junior Nick Martens (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and fired a one-time slap shot past Ferris goaltender Mike Brown. Martens' assist was his first point of the season.
The Bulldogs evened the score at one with a power-play goal of their own only 33 seconds later when sophomore forward Greg Rallo deflected a shot past Montoya. Rallo found an opening in the Michigan defense just outside the left side of the crease and redirected a shot from forward Jeff Legue past Montoya on the glove side.
With just under six minutes remaining in the first period, Tambellini nearly gave the Wolverines a 2-1 lead when he fired a wrist shot from the slot off the right post. Tambellini received a pass from freshman T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) just outside the left circle, deked a Ferris defender to the right and skated into the slot. His quick wrist shot beat the Ferris goaltender to the glove side but caromed off the post.
The Wolverines outshot the Bulldogs 11-6 in the first period but were unable to pull away from the visitors. Michigan failed to convert on two of their three power-play opportunities in the period, while the Bulldogs turned their only man advantage into a goal.
Early in the second period, Montoya kept the score even at 1-1 when he denied Rallo of his second marker of the night with an acrobatic glove save. Rallo received the puck as he skated across the slot and flicked a backhand shot on the Michigan net. Montoya, who was on his heels, made a quick recovery and snatched the puck out of the air to preserve the 1-1 tie.
Rogers picked up his first goal of the year and the second Wolverine power-play goal of the night at 5:20 in the second period to give Michigan a 2-1 lead. Rogers, who was set up at the point, received a pass from Hensick and fired a wrist shot low to the glove side past Brown. Brown never appeared to see the shot, as he was screened by a traffic in front of the net.
The Bulldogs evened the score at two at 14:18 of the second period when Bulldog forward Carter Thomson stuffed home a rebound for his second goal of the year. The initial shot from Mike Kinnie was saved but Montoya was unable to control the rebound as it trickled out to Thomson in the slot. Thomson flicked a wrist shot off the goalie's right pad and into the upper right corner of the Michigan net. The Bulldog goal was the only even-strength marker of the night for either team.
At 1:34 of the third period, Tambellini netted his team-leading ninth goal of the season and put the Wolverines back on top 3-2 with Michigan's third power-play goal of the night. Tambellini received a pass from Rogers at the right faceoff spot and slid a wrist shot through traffic and into the Bulldogs net. The goal pushed Tambellini's consecutive goal streak to four games.
With just over four minutes remaining in the game Brown kept the Bulldogs within a goal with a flurry of acrobatic saves. Sophomore Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) initiated the action with a point-blank wrist shot from the slot. Brown stuffed Kaleniecki with a blocker save and proceeded to deny three rebound attempts from the Wolverines. The play ended in a pileup just outside the Bulldog net.
With just over one minute remaining in the game the Bulldogs pulled their goaltender in a final attempt to tie the game. The final minute saw a flurry of action in front of the Michigan net but the Wolverines staved off the Ferris attack and held on for a 3-2 win as Montoya came up with numerous huge saves.
Michigan (8-2-0, 4-2-0 CCHA) will take on Ohio State next Friday and Saturday (Nov. 14-15) when it travels to Value City Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Both contests are slated to start at 8:05 p.m., with Friday night's (Nov. 14) game aired on CSTV.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
