Michigan
19-7-1, 16-3-0CCHA
Northern Michigan
13-7-5, 11-5-3CCHA
NMU Ices Michigan's 22-Game Home CCHA Win Streak
1/28/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team was defeated by Northern Michigan, 4-1, tonight (Friday, Jan. 28) at Yost Ice Arena. The loss ends Michigan's 22-game home CCHA winning streak. Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) had U-M's lone goal, while NMU's Tuomas Tarkki stoned the Maize and Blue offense, making 27 saves on the night.
After a scoreless 10 minutes to begin the game, the Wildcats struck first at 11:42. NMU's John Miller hit Darin Olver with a pass from enemy territory to the Michigan blue line. Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) charged out to deflect the pass but fell just short of the attempt. Olver capitalized on the empty Michigan net and gave the Wildcats the one-goal lead.
On only their third shot of the contest, the Wildcats tallied their second goal. Patrick Murphy dove at the Wolverine netminder and poked the puck through Montoya's five-hole at 15:11 to give the Wildcats a 2-0 advantage.
Gajic scored at 17:17 to trim the Michigan deficit to 2-1. Gajic fired a shot on net from the right circle. The rebound popped out to an NMU defender, and Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) interfered with the clearing pass, resulting in the puck trickling through Tarkki's five-hole and inching past the line.
Near the 10-minute mark of the second stanza, an NMU attack resulted in the Wildcats owning a two-goal lead for the second time in the contest. Matt Maunu rocketed a pass from the point into the right corner of the Wolverines' territory. Mike Santorelli cradled the pass and manuevered around two Michigan defenders down low. He placed the puck precisely above Montoya's glove at 9:24.
The Maize and Blue had three power plays in the third period but could not find a way to slip another puck past Tarkki.
Northern Michigan extended its lead to 4-1 at 9:34 of the third period. Pat Bateman controlled the pass from Olver between the hash marks and deked Montoya, backhanding the shot for the tally.
The Wolverines were unable to mount any sort of counterattack in the final minutes and took the 4-1 defeat.
Michigan will look to avenge its home loss tomorrow night (Saturday, Jan. 28) when NMU and U-M meet for a 7:35 p.m. faceoff.
Contact: Matt Trevor (763-4423)
