Michigan
5-1-1, 1-1-1CCHA
Alaska-Fairbanks
3-2-1, 1-1-0CCHA
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHIGAN | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| ALASKA FAIRBANKS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ruden Posts First Shutout, Guides U-M Past Nanooks
10/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team responded to its first loss of the season last night with a 4-0 blanking of Alaska Fairbanks on Saturday (Oct. 29). Noah Ruden (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) notched his first career shutout by making 23 saves. After tallying one power-play goal on eight chances on Friday, the Wolverines scored four times with the man advantage Saturday. T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.), Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich) factored in on three of the markers with a goal and two assists apiece.
Similar to Friday night, the Wolverines garnered a power play early into the game. UAF's Justin Binab was called for a checking-from-behind major at 1:56. Then at 2:28 Jordan Hendry was whistled for checking from behind.
U-M did not score during the two-man advantage, but in the final minute of the five-minute power play the Maize and Blue broke through for a 1-0 lead. Hensick slithered through the Nanook zone with the puck until he reached the left circle. Upon turning to face the goal he slid a pass across the slot for a one-timer goal by Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) at 6:05.
The Nanooks did not register their first shot until near the 11-minute mark, just after a penalty against U-M expired.
On UAF's second power play Nathan Fornataro almost tied the game with 9:25 left in the period. Ruden attempted to glove Fornataro's wrist shot, but the puck deflected up over his head and bounced along the goal line. However, David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) was close enough to the play to swat the puck out of danger.
The U-M offense stalled until 3:42 remained in the first frame when Kelly Czuy took a tripping penalty. Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.) came close to upping the Michigan lead midway through the advantage except Wylie Rogers smothered the puck.
Just as the Nanook penalty was about to expire Lucas Burnett gained a step on Michigan's defense for a breakaway. Johnson caught up to Burnett and hauled him down in the slot, resulting in a penalty shot. Burnett skated in on goal and aimed high only to be denied by Ruden's blocker. U-M held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play.
In the first five minutes of the second period, Alaska Fairbanks clanked two shots off the crossbar that could have evened the score or taken the lead in the game. Ryan McLeod's shot from the right circle caught just enough of Ruden to sail high and hit the crossbar at 2:10. At 4:35, Aaron Lee fired another shot off the crossbar from the left circle
Michigan scored its second power-play goal of the night at 10:28 when Johnson's shot from atop the circles hit Rogers and still found the back of the net. Hensick and Hunwick drew assists on the tally.
The Nanooks tried to answer back in the very next minute but Ruden made two good glove saves to preserve the 2-0 advantage.
Alaska Fairbanks and Michigan exchanged power plays in the last five and a half minutes of the period with the Nanooks having two chances to the Wolverines' one. After 40 minutes of play Michigan still held a 2-0 lead.
Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for checking from behind at 6:17 of the third period. The Michigan penalty killers allowed just two shots on goal while blocking many. Consecutive penalties to UAF negated the final 2:20 of power-play time.
Skating four-on-three, Michigan scored for the third time on the power play at 10:04. Johnson's shot form the right point went wide of the net but took a fortuitous bounce out the other side right to the stick of Hensick. With the goalie scrambling to find the puck, Hensick roofed the puck for a 3-0 Michigan lead.
Michigan capped the scoring at 17:30 with another power-play goal, this time from Hunwick.
The Wolverines play a home-and-home series against Notre Dame next weekend (Nov. 4-5). Friday night, U-M travels to South Bend, Ind., for a 7:35 p.m. faceoff. The following night the Fighting Irish come to Ann Arbor for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop at Yost Ice Arena.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
