Michigan
11-14-1, 7-11-1CCHA
Bowling Green
14-8-1, 9-5-1CCHA
Wolverines Thump Falcons in Weekend Series Opener
1/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team took on the Bowling Green Falcons on Friday (Jan. 20) and emerged with a 6-1 victory at Yost Ice Arena. Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) finished the night with two goals, including the game-winner, and an assist, while Noah Ruden (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) posted a solid performance in net, stopping 26 of the Falcons' 27 shots.
Michigan opened the scoring early, capitalizing on a delayed penalty at 1:11. Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) took the puck and sent it around the boards to Mark Mitera (Livonia, Mich.) before being knocked down by Jon Sitko. Mitera shot it in on Bowling Green goalie Jimmy Spratt, but the rebound came out to Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.). Ebbett gloved it down to himself and shot past Spratt to give the Maize and Blue an early 1-0 lead. Ebbett's goal ended a six-game goal-less drought for the senior captain.
U-M added to its lead with the man advantage, scoring its first power-play goal in the last 26 chances. Ebbett corralled the puck at the top of the zone and fired it into the right corner to a waiting Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.). Turnbull backhanded the puck in front to Cogliano, who flipped the puck into the back of the net over Spratt's stick.
With much of the game being played in the Wolverines' offensive zone, BGSU's first shot came 5:29 into the first period.
The Falcons got their first quality scoring chance late in the first period, but Ruden was there to deny them the goal. James Unger chipped the puck from behind the net back to Mike Nesdill just inside the Wolverine blue line. Nesdill rifled a shot in on a seated Ruden, but the U-M goaltender reached up and gloved it to blank the visitors in the first period.
The Maize and Blue started the second period with a bang, scoring a shorthanded goal just 1:56 into the frame. After a Bowling Green turnover, Cogliano streaked into the zone and dropped a pass back to a trailing Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.). Miller took a quick shot and the rebound bounced back to Cogliano just outside the crease. Cogliano tossed the puck to Tim Cook (Montclair, N.J.) skating in on the left side, and Cook beat the sprawling Spratt to notch his first career goal as a Wolverine and his first point in 61 games.
Michigan continued its scoring streak when it tallied its fourth marker just minutes later at 3:55. Kolarik passed the puck from just below the left faceoff circle to Cogliano, who wristed a shot in on Spratt. The Falcon goalie made the initial save, but Cogliano was there to scoop up his own rebound and pound it in the back of the net.
Bowling Green got on the scoreboard at 11:07 of the second period. Jonathan Matsumoto took a cross-ice pass from Rick Meloche and skated into the U-M zone. Matsumoto left the puck for captain Don Morrison, who caught Ruden flat-footed for the goal.
Michigan kept its momentum alive, scoring less than two minutes later at 12:55 to make it 5-1. Coming off a turnover in the neutral zone, Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) sent a rolling pass to the stick of T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.). Hensick skated around two scrambling defenders before stuffing the puck through Spratt's legs for a highlight-reel goal.
U-M seemed content to sit on its four-goal lead, but late in the final frame, Porter sealed the game with his seventh goal of the season. Hensick sent a rink-wide pass to Miller, who hit Porter in the slot. Porter took the puck from just inside the left faceoff circle and skated in front of the goal. Once Spratt committed, Porter slipped it through his five-hole at 14:45 to give the Maize and Blue the 6-1 lead.
The home-and home series concludes Saturday (Jan. 21) when the Wolverines head to Bowling Green, Ohio, for a 7:05 p.m. start.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
