Michigan
31-7-3
Wisconsin
23-14-4
Tambellini's Four-Point Night Helps U-M Past Wisconsin
3/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Site:Â Grand Rapids, Mich. (Van Andel Arena)
Event: NCAA Midwest Regional
Score: #5 Michigan 4, #13 Wisconsin 1Â
Records:Â U-M (31-7-3)
Attendance:Â 6,312Â
Next U-M Event:Â Saturday, Mar. 26 -- vs. Colorado College at NCAA Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids, Mich.), 5 p.m.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team defeated the No. 13-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in the first round of the NCAA Midwest Regional by a 4-1 tally tonight (Friday, March 25) at Van Andel Arena. The Wolverines have at least one NCAA Tournament victory in the last 11 seasons. Michigan advances to play No. 3-ranked Colorado College in the Midwest Regional final at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, March 26). Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) tied his career-best four points with two goals and two assists.
Michigan outshot the Badgers 31-18 and converted one of its eight power plays. U-M had to kill off only three penalties, all of which occurred in the opening period of play.
The Wolverines exercised their penalty-kill unit early, after taking a roughing penalty at 1:02. Michigan held off the Badgers, not allowing them to take a single shot on the power play.
At 6:58, U-M converted nine seconds into its first power-play opportunity of the night. Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) fed Tambellini from the left circle, and Tambellini ripped a shot from the high point, stumping Bernd Bruckler high blocker-side.
The goal light lit at 12:51 when it appeared that Kolarik capitalized on the third Michigan power play of the contest. However, following video replay it was ruled that Bruckler's stick prevented Kolarik's shot from crossing the goal line.
After U-M was denied its first attempt at a second tally, Brandon Rogers (Rochester, N.H.) officially gave the Wolverines the 2-0 lead at 13:49. Rogers cradled the puck at the top of the right circle and snapped a shot that blew between Bruckler's pads.
Going into first intermission, the Maize and Blue had successfully killed off three penalties and dictated shooting 18-4.
The second frame was subdued after the action-packed first period. The first penalty of the period came at 11:13 on Wisconsin. U-M's power play did not click and could not generate much in the Badger end.
U-M notched its third goal in the closing minutes of the second period. Jason Dest (Fraser, Mich.) broke up a Badger rush toward Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) with a great defensive move to take down A.J. Degenhardt. Tambellini scooped up the puck and carried it into Wisconsin territory. Hensick took a pass from Tambellini on the right wing and attempted to make a cross-crease feed to Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.). A UW defender tried to break up the pass and inadvertently deflected the puck into his own net at 18:00.
Tambellini tallied his second goal of the night at 7:04 of the third stanza. He carried the puck over the blue line, planted himself near the top of the right circle, and sniped the high corner on Bruckler's glove-side to give the Maize and Blue a 4-0 advantage.
Montoya's shutout was blown at 14:43, when Adam Burish snuck a wraparound shot into the net.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
