Michigan
14-7-1, 9-4-1
Ohio State
13-10-0, 8-7-0
Helminen's Quartet Gives Michigan Sweep of Ohio State
1/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Junior forward Dwight Helminen (Brighton, Mich.) netted a career-high four goals to lead the No. 8 University of Michigan hockey team to a 7-1 drubbing of CCHA rival and No. 10-ranked Ohio State Saturday (Jan. 10) at Yost Ice Arena. With the win, the Wolverines (14-7-1, 9-4-1 CCHA) completed their first weekend sweep since they took two games from Northern Michigan on Oct. 24-26.
| | With four goals, Helminen notched his second career hat trick, both against OSU. |
Only 56 seconds into the game Helminen got the Wolverines on the board with an even-strength marker. Fresh off a line change, sophomore forward Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) took a pass from Hunwick and streaked across mid-ice. Tambellini cut past an Ohio State defender at the blue line and fed Helminen outside of the left faceoff circle. Helminen carried the puck in on Ohio State senior goaltender Mike Betz, cut across the crease and slipped a backhand shot through Betz's legs.
The Wolverines struck again at 2:44 of the first period when junior forward Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) netted his second marker of the weekend. Hunwick once again got the play started when he found freshman forward T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) in the left corner along the goal line. Hensick calmly gathered the puck and fired a cross-crease pass to Gajic, who was stationed at the back post. Gajic then fired a one-time shot over the glove of Betz to give Michigan an early two-goal advantage.
At 8:42 of the first period the Buckeyes managed to pull within a goal when sophomore Rod Pelley slipped a backhand shot past U-M goalie Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.). Freshman Andrew Schembri initiated the play when he found a streaking Pelley at the left faceoff circle. With a Michigan defender draped all over him, Pelley broke in on Montoya, deked to the right and snuck a backhand shot past the sprawled-out Montoya.
Minutes later, Betz kept the Wolverines from extending their lead when he stuffed junior Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) on the doorstep on a Michigan power-play opportunity. Ryznar received the puck just outside the left side of the crease and fired a one-time shot on the Buckeye net, but Betz quickly slid across the goal and kept the puck out of the net with his right pad.
The Wolverines reclaimed their two-goal advantage at 15:45 of the first period when sophomore forward Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) converted a power-play opportunity. Hensick picked up his second assist of the game as from behind the Buckeye net he found an open Kaleniecki just outside the crease. Kaleniecki took the Hensick pass and slammed a one-time shot past Betz to give the Wolverines a 3-1 lead. Kaleniecki's power-play tally ended the scoring in an action-packed first period.
At 3:20 of the second period Helminen stretched the Michigan lead to 4-1 with his second marker of the night. Helminen, who was floating around the Ohio State blue line, picked up a loose puck after a clearing attempt by a Buckeye defender hit a fellow Ohio State defenseman in the back. Helminen broke in alone on Betz, deked to the right and roofed a backhand shot in the right corner.
With 15 minutes remaining in the second period, Kaleniecki helped out his goaltender Montoya when he blocked a shot on the goal line to preserve the 4-1 Michigan lead. Montoya was tripped up in front of the goal as an Ohio State forward skated across the slot and fired a shot on the Michigan net. Kaleniecki slid across and got his body in front of the Buckeye shot and covered the puck for a faceoff.
Two minutes after Kaleniecki's defensive heroics, freshman forward Mike Brown (Northbrook, Ill.) slammed home a 4-on-4 goal to extend the lead to 5-1. Brown, who was skating down the right side of the Buckeye zone, received a cross-ice pass from Ryznar just outside of the crease and knocked home a one-time shot for the Wolverine goal. Following the fifth Michigan tally, sophomore goaltender David Caruso replaced Betz in the Ohio State net.
With just over five minutes remaining in the second period the physical play between the two teams reached a fevered pitch as junior Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) and OSU sophomore Nate Guenin tangled after the whistle. Both players received game misconduct penalties for their extracurricular activity.
The Wolverines continued their offensive siege at 7:50 of the third period, when Helminen completed his hat trick with a shorthanded goal, only the second shorthanded goal of the season for the Wolverines. Brown started the play for the Wolverines with a series of nice moves across mid-ice and into the Buckeye zone. After crossing the Buckeye blue line, Brown found Helminen streaking down the left side. Helminen skated in alone on Caruso and wristed a quick shot over the left shoulder of Caruso.
With just over nine minutes remaining in the game, Helminen continued his goal-scoring binge with a power-play marker. Helminen, who was set up in the slot, received a pass from Hunwick and wristed a one-time shot past Caruso to give the Wolverines a 7-1 lead. Helminen's fourth marker concluded the scoring on the evening.
The No. 8 Wolverines resume play on Jan. 17 when they take on the U.S. National Team Development Program's Under-18 team in exhibition play at Yost Ice Arena. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
