Michigan
14-7-1, 9-4-1
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Western Michigan
13-9-3, 9-6-2
Dest's Game-Winner Helps Wolverines Tame Broncos
1/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- Freshman defenseman Jason Dest's (Fraser, Mich.) first career goal proved to be the game-winnner, as the No. 4 University of Michigan hockey team defeated Western Michigan by a score of 4-1 Friday (Jan. 23) at Lawson Ice Arena. Michigan (15-7-1, 10-4-1 CCHA), which led 1-0 after the second period, scored three unanswered tallies in the third period to fend off the Broncos (13-10-3, 9-7-2 CCHA).
| | Dest's first career marker was part of U-M's three-goal output in the third period. |
Western Michigan earned the first power play in a physical first period when sophomore Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) was whistled for roughing at 4:49, but Michigan kept the Broncos off the board despite an open-net chance early in the advantage. Montoya got tied up behind the net with several Western players on a dump-in and the puck was knocked out front. Werner stopped the low Bronco shot with his glove, denying Vince Bellissimo of a tally and the first goal of the contest.
The Wolverines' first chance on offense came seven minutes into the contest when sophomore Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.) and junior David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) combined on a quick series of three shots against WMU goaltender Scott Foster.
The two teams played back and forth until the Broncos were able to produce a flurry of activity in front of the Michgan net with five minutes remaining in the period. Montoya stood strong with three saves before freezing the puck at the top of the crease with 4:40 remaining.
On a breakout following the ensuing faceoff, Dest found sophomore forward Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) streaking across the blue line to set up a breakaway chance. The Broncos' far-side defender caught Tambellini at the circles, though, and kept him from getting off a shot at the last moment.
Montoya kept the game scoreless with a breakaway stop on Western's Jeremy Cheyne minutes later. Montoya stacked his pads to block the shot, as Cheyne deked to his left and attempted to lift the puck over Montoya's legs.
Action settled down until 13:34 of the second period, when the Broncos earned a power play after junior Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) received a cross-checking penalty in addition to a coincidental minor for roughing. Michigan's defense kept the puck out of the zone for the majority of the kill, however, limiting Western to only one shot on the advantage.
Junior forward Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) was credited with the first tally of the game at 17:39 of the second period after his rebound was deflected into the net off a Bronco defender. Kaleniecki began the break with a blue line to blue line pass ahead to Gajic. Gajic then broke in with the final defender a stride off his shoulder. Gajic took the puck to the net and the rebound found the back of the net after hitting off the sliding defender's shinguard.
With a 1-0 lead to begin the third, Michigan kept the puck in the Western zone at the start of the frame, but the Broncos capitalized on a defensive mixup to tie the game at one on their first trip down the ice. WMU defenseman Mat Ponto fired a hard shot on goal which deflected into the left corner. Montoya thought he had the puck underneath him and was unable to spot the loose puck, allowing Bellissimo the chance to fire a sharp-angle shot on the unguarded goal. Before Michigan's defense could react, WMU's Brent Walton redirected the shot into the net four minutes into the period.
Dest's goal 1:54 later also capitalized on a Bronco miscue in front of the net. On the rush, junior forward Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) was pushed into Foster by a Western defender, knocking the Bronco goalie to the ice. Dest fired a quick wrist shot from the right sideboards into the top shelf of the open goal to put Michigan ahead for good.
The game's physical play resulted in several penalties being called, including a major for charging on WMU captain Dana Lattery, who ran into Montoya behind the net. The Wolverines scored in the final minute of the advantage, after two minutes of four-on-four play, to take a 3-1 lead at 12:43. Moss netted the marker off a bad-angle shot to the right of the net.
Montoya kept the Wolverines ahead by two with a diving save after the puck was taken off his stick behind the net. After stripping Montoya with 6:24 remaining in the period, Bellissimo passed to Jeff Campbell in the slot. Michigan's netminder got back in net just in time to keep Campbell's one-timer out of the net.
Kaleniecki put Michigan up 4-1 with breakaway tally at 17:05 after Werner took advantage of a Western line change to spring Kaleniecki behind the Bronco defense. Kalenicki took the puck to his backhand and flipped it over Foster's blocker for the score.
Michigan and Western Michigan will renew acquaintances tomorrow night (Saturday, Jan. 24) when the two teams close out the home-and-home series at Yost Ice Arena. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
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