Michigan
14-4-1
Michigan Tech
1-15-1
Michigan Downs Michigan Tech, Advances to GLI Final
12/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DETROIT, Mich. -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team upended Michigan Tech 4-2 Wednesday (Dec. 29) in semifinal action at the 40th annual Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena. David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) led all scorers with a goal and two assists, while Charlie Henderson (East Lansing, Mich.) and Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) had a goal and an assist apiece. In goal, Noah Ruden (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) made 29 saves in just his fourth career start.
The Wolverines advance to the GLI championship game Thursday (Dec. 30) at 8 p.m. and will face intrastate rival Michigan State, which upset No. 6 New Hampshire 4-3 in overtime in Wednesday's second semifinal. U-M will be seeking its first GLI title since 1996.
The Wolverines drew the first power play of the game at the 2:47 mark of the first period. Michigan could not capitalize on two great chances as the man-advantage wound down. However, U-M used the momentum and, after keeping possession of the puck in the MTU zone, made it 1-0 at 4:58. Brandon Rogers' (Rochester, N.H.) shot from the right boards deflected into the slot, and Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) found the loose puck and flipped it into the net as goalie Cam Ellsworth was still searching for the initial shot.
Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) had a step on his defender from the right side to break in alone on the MTU net but his attempt was turned aside at the right post. Seconds later Kaleniecki was also stopped from in front. The Wolverines outshot the Huskies 19-9 in the first frame yet only held a 1-0 lead.
Ruden made his best save of the game thus far with 17:31 left in the second period. Husky forward Malcolm Gwilliam received a two-on-one pass in the right slot but was stoned by Ruden's pad as he squared up to the shooter.
Michigan Tech tied the game at 1-1 at 9:42 of the second period on a strange goal by Tyler Skworchinski. His shot from the slot found its way into the U-M net, but it went right out the back as two players behind the net leaned on the net and caused it to tip forward. Play continued until the puck was frozen seconds later. At that point the officials reviewed the play and awarded a goal to the Huskies.
Ruden kept the game tied after Chris Conner beat the U-M defense around the right side and tried to stuff the puck into the Michigan net with 7:11 to play in the period.
Michigan regained the lead, 2-1, at 17:41 on Henderson's first goal of the season. Carrying the puck down the left wing, Ryznar was hooked from behind, but he stayed with the puck and spun around to blindly pass it across the crease to Henderson waiting to tap it into the MTU goal.
Michigan Tech received two power plays to start the final period, but the Wolverine defense maintained the Michigan lead.
Michigan finally earned some breathing room with a goal by Ryznar at 13:06. Following a shot from the left side by Moss, Ryznar picked up the puck and moved around the outstretched arms of Ellsworth and slid the puck into the open net.
Just over two minutes later at 15:33, Moss banged home a power-play goal to make the score 4-1. Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) made the pass from the right corner into the slot where Moss found space between the goalie's legs.
Michigan Tech added a final tally with 2:29 remaining on the power play to make the final score 4-2.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
