Michigan
25-12-2
Nebraska-Omaha
8-26-5
Third-Period Comeback Sends Wolverines to Super Six
3/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7 University of Michigan ice hockey team netted four third-period goals to rally from a 2-1 deficit at the end of two periods and defeat Nebraska-Omaha 5-2 Sunday night (March 14) at Yost Ice Arena. The Michigan win clinched the best-of-three first round CCHA playoff series against the Mavericks, as the Wolverines advance to the Super Six playoffs at Joe Louis Arena next weekend (March 19-20).
| | Werner's eighth goal of the season gave U-M the lead for good 7:54 into the third. |
Sophomore forward Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) and junior forward Dwight Helminen (Brighton, Mich.) each netted two goals on the night to pace the Wolverines, while sophomore goaltender Al Montoya (Glenview, Mich.) picked up the win in net with 21 saves.
For the third night in a row, Michigan struck first, as Tambellini broke a scoreless deadlock at 12:52 of the first period. Freshman defender Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) picked up the assist on the play when he found Tambellini at the left faceoff dot with a cross-ice pass. Tambellini received the pass and snapped a one-time shot through the legs of Maverick goaltender Chris Holt.
The Mavericks quickly struck back with an even-strength goal of their own at 16:12 of the first period. After a Michigan scoring opportunity went awry, forward Mike Lefley received an outlet pass and quickly carried the puck across mid-ice and down the right side of the Wolverine zone on a three-on-two break. As Lefley entered the right faceoff circle he found a streaking Alex Nikiforuk on the back post with a cross-ice pass. Nikiforuk caught Montoya out of position and swatted home a one-time shot to even the score at 1-1.
After registering just three shots through the first 18 minutes of the second period, the Mavericks pulled ahead 2-1 when forward Scott Parse wristed home a rebound shot at 18:29. After hitting the crossbar with a slap shot from inside the left faceoff circle, Parse collected his own rebound inside the right faceoff circle and flicked the puck over Montoya, who was still on the ice from the initial shot.
For the second straight night, the Mavericks took a 2-1 lead into the second intermission behind a stingy defense and an opportunistic counterattack. As was the case in Saturday night's 3-1 UNO victory, Michigan struggled to get shots on net through the Maverick defense. Through two periods UNO registered 23 blocked shots, while the Wolverines managed only 21 shots on the goal.
After struggling the find a rhythm on offense all night, the Wolverines finally cashed in and evened the score at two when Helminen tipped in a rebound shot at 6:55 of the final period. Freshman forward Mike Brown (Northbrook, Mich.) initiated the scoring sequence when he fired a slap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle off the inside of the right post. As both teams frantically hustled to collect the loose puck inside of the crease, Helminen slapped the puck under the pile-up and into the UNO net.
Only 59 seconds later, the Wolverines capitalized on their momentum when Werner notched gave the Wolverines a 3-2 lead with just over 12 minutes remaining in the game. After Werner's initial shot was saved, the junior defender collected the loose puck in the slot and fired a wrist shot through Holt's legs to give Michigan its first lead since the first period.
Tambellini collected his second goal of the night at 9:38 to stretch the Michigan lead to 4-2 when he fired a wrist shot from just inside the blue line through the legs of Holt. Tambellini's low line drive seemed to fool Holt, who was screened on the play.
Helminen sealed the game and the series for the top-seeded Wolverines with an empty-net goal at 18:31.
As the top seed in the CCHA playoffs, U-M has secured a second-round bye and will meet the lowest remaining seed following the second round of the CCHA Super Six playoffs in the first semifinal Friday (March 19) at Joe Louis Arena. The game is set to begin at 4:05 p.m. and will be aired live by Fox Sports Net Detroit.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
