Michigan
20-7-2, 17-3-1CCHA
Michigan State
13-11-3, 8-9-2CCHA
U-M Surrenders Last-Second Goal, Ties Michigan State
2/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team tied Michigan State 2-2 in overtime tonight (Friday, Feb. 4) in front 6,952 maize-clad fans in support of the Maize Out at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines lost a 2-0 first-period lead in the final three minutes of the third period as MSU's Drew Miller scored at 17:34 and 19:58, and neither team scored in the five-minute sudden-death overtime. Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) had one goal and one assist, while Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.) had a pair of assists.
East Lansing native Charlie Henderson (East Lansing, Mich.) gave the Wolverines the early lead. Tambellini received an Ebbett drop pass after crossing the blue line and let the puck rip on Spartan goaltender Dominic Vicari. The Spartan goalie lost the rebound, and Henderson scooped up the puck and tucked it behind Vicari glove-side at 3:56.
The Maize and Blue power-play unit capitalized at 13:10, with some assistance from goalie Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.). After leaving his crease, Montoya fed the puck up to center ice where Ebbett eventually carried it into MSU territory. Ebbett slipped a pass to Tambellini, who once again rocketed a shot from the point. This time no rebound was neccessary as Tambellini's shot found space above Vicari's right shoulder, giving U-M the two-goal lead. Michigan dominated shots on goal in the first frame, 19-5.
The pace of the first period carried over to the second. However, U-M's offense was slowed by three key penalties. Michigan held off the Spartans three times on the man-advantage throughout the second period and still managed 10 shots on Vicari.
The Spartans got on the board at 17:34 of the third frame. An attempt to clear the puck out of the Michigan zone was intercepted by Ethan Graham. Graham fired on Montoya, and the shot was tipped high and over Montoya's glove by Miller.
The game was pushed into overtime with just 1.2 seconds left in regulation. Michigan State, skating with an extra attacker, capitalized on a scramble behind the U-M net. The puck came loose to Jim Slater, who knocked it quickly to Miller. Posted all alone down low, Miller beat Montoya just beyond his trapper.
U-M had three shots to MSU's one in the extra session but neither side could score the deciding goal.
The teams will meet again tomorrow night (Saturday, Feb. 5) at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit to complete the weekend series. The puck will drop at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
