Michigan
24-11-2
Nebraska-Omaha
7-25-5
Montoya Helps U-M Take Series Opener Against UNO
3/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7 University of Michigan ice hockey team claimed the first game of its best-of-three first-round CCHA playoff series against Nebraska-Omaha on Friday night (March 12) with a 2-0 victory at Yost Ice Arena. Freshman forward David Rohlfs' (Northville, Mich.) power-play goal in the first period proved to be the game-winner as the Wolverines limited the Mavericks to only 16 shots on the night.
Sophomore goaltender Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) earned the 10th shutout of his career in the win, while junior forward Dwight Helminen (Brighton, Mich.) accounted for the only other goal on the night with an even-strength marker late in the second period to give the Wolverines (24-11-2) a two-goal cushion.
With a power-play marker at 12:06 of the first period, Rohlfs collected the third game-winning goal of his career, sending a rebound opportunity past Maverick goaltender Chris Holt. Holt made the initial save on a shot by sophomore forward Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.). As the UNO goaltender tried to tie up the puck in his jersey, Rohlfs wrestled the puck loose and plowed it into the Nebraska-Omaha net to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
The Mavericks nearly evened the score with just under four minutes remaining in the first period during a five-on-three power-play opportunity. After a Wolverine giveaway at mid-ice, UNO forward Scott Parse received a pass and broke in alone on Montoya. Parse quickly deked right and brought the puck to his backhand side, sliding a low shot toward the Wolverine net. Montoya was up to the challenge, however, and made an acrobatic pad save to preserve Michigan's one-goal advantage.
After unsuccessfully pounding the Maverick net for the first 15 minutes of the second period, the Wolverines finally extended their lead to 2-0 at 15:38 when Helminen netted an even-strength marker. Helminen, who crashed the back post of the Maverick net, took advantage of a centering pass that was redirected by junior forward Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) and slid the puck into an open UNO net.
Only a minute later, junior forward Michael Woodford Jr. (Westford, Mass.) had a shorthanded breakaway opportunity to extend the Michigan lead to three goals, but Holt came up big in net for the Mavericks to keep the score at 2-0. Taking advantage of a UNO miscue at mid-ice, Woodford moved in on goal, deked to his right and fired a forehand shot on Holt, but the Maverick goaltender anticipated Woodford's move, sliding over to his left to make the pad save.
Early in the final stanza, physical play emerged as a scrum broke out in front of the UNO net after the whistle. The extracurricular activity resulted in three players being penalized for both sides. The Wolverines continued to dominate play throughout the final period, limiting the Mavericks to only two shots on goal to preserve the shutout.
The Maize and Blue will attempt to close out the first-round series with Nebraska-Omaha (7-25-5) when the teams meet tomorrow night (Saturday, March 13) in game two of the best-of-three series at Yost Ice Arena. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
