Michigan
22-7-3, 19-3-2CCHA
Nebraska-Omaha
15-12-3, 11-10-3CCH
Hensick, Moss Rally Wolverines Past Nebraska-Omaha
2/12/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
OMAHA, Neb. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team rallied for its first third-period comeback of the season to earn a 4-3 win and a series sweep over Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday (Feb. 12). T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) sparked the team with two goals and an assist to bring the Wolverines back after trailing 3-1 in the second period. Goalie Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) only had to make 16 saves, but several were of the outstanding variety to hold U-M in the game. The win gives head coach Red Berenson the 555th victory of his career, which ties him with John MacInnes (Michigan Tech) for eighth place on the all-time coaching wins list.
David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) ended an eight-game goal drought with his second game-winning goal of the season with 2:11 left in the game. Hensick rifled a pass through the slot to the right post where UNO goalie Chris Holt, who had 32 saves, robbed Moss. He stayed with the puck, though, and finally backhanded the puck into the net.
Nebraska-Omaha was awarded the first power play of the game at 3:57 of the first period. The Mavericks kept the puck in the zone despite two blocked shots, and Dan Knapp snapped a shot through a screen and into the back of the U-M goal at 4:26.
The Mavericks caught Michigan's defense out of position with a goal in transition at 8:23 to make it 2-0. Skating four-on-four, Dan Hacker drew a defenseman out into the high slot, and two quick passes in the left circle sprung Alex Nikiforuk. He skated in alone from the left side, deked short side and wrapped it around Montoya at the far post.
Michigan got its first power play of the game at 10:04 but did little with it as UNO had the best scoring chance during the two-minute span. Another power play late in the period was also useless. U-M outshot UNO 8-6 in the first 20 minutes of play.
The Wolverines garnered their third power play at 2:00 of the second frame. This time Michigan capitalized with the man-advantage as Matt Hunwick's (Sterling Heights, Mich.) shot while skating down the right wing fooled Holt and trickled into the UNO goal at 2:18.
Just 47 seconds later Nebraska-Omaha reestablished its two-goal advantage courtesy of Bill Bagron. With Montoya and the U-M defense scrambling to clear rebounds in front of the net Bagron just got enough of a shot off to make the puck bound over the goal line.
Right back came Michigan with its second straight goal on the man-advantage at 5:23 to cut the deficit to 3-2. UNO cleared the puck down the ice and its penalty killers headed for the bench. Alertly, Montoya fired a pass to Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) at the left of the Maverick blue line. Hensick got behind the defense and received a pass from Kolarik to go one-on-one with Holt. Hensick made two quick moves and slid the puck underneath the goalie for the tally.
The Wolverines peppered the UNO defense during the second period and finished the period with 18 shots while allowing just five. Although the Mavericks had minimal shots they still tested Montoya. The U-M goalie made two huge saves to keep the U-M deficit at one. Midway through the frame he dove across the crease and cleared a shot with the back of his stick. Then with 3:20 to go he stoned Brandon Scero on a three-on-one opportunity.
Michigan continued to pressure Nebraska-Omaha in every zone during the third period, only stopping to kill a penalty five minutes into the stanza. Hensick finally knotted the game at 3-3 at 10:41. Hensick picked up a loose puck along the right side and faced a two-on-two. He danced around his defender to reach the slot and wristed the puck past Holt's glove.
With four minutes to play in regulation Montoya denied David Phillips' point-blank one-timer from the right slot to keep the game tied. He also cleared the rebound away from Phillips to prevent any more immediate opportunities.
Moss then scored the game-winner with 2:11 left on the clock.
Michigan returns to action next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 18-19) with a two-game set against Notre Dame. The first game will be played in Fort Wayne, Ind., at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum with faceoff scheduled for 8:05 p.m. Saturday night's bout will be at U-M's Yost Ice Arena and start at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
