Michigan
9-3-0, 6-2-0CCHA
Ferris State
3-8-1, 1-6-1CCHA
U-M Uses Power Play to Complete Sweep of Bulldogs
11/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team scored a power-play goal in each period and completed a weekend road sweep of Ferris State with a 5-1 effort on Saturday (Nov. 18). Three Wolverines earned multiple points: Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) with a goal and an assist, and T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) (0-2-2) and Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) with two assists apiece. Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) made 33 saves in goal. U-M has won five games in a row for the first time since the fall of the 2005-06 season.
Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) was assessed a high-sticking penalty at 4:12 of the first period. Michigan killed the chance without much trouble as Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.) and Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.) harassed the Bulldogs in their own zone, preventing them from setting up.
The goalies matched each other save for save inside of 10 minutes to play in the period. Sauer got in front of a dangerous Matt Verdone redirection in the slot. Less than a minute later, Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) blocked a point shot by FSU and took off on a breakaway the other way. Porter aimed for the top right corner but was robbed by Mitch O'Keefe's trapper.
Cogliano tallied the first goal of the night at 12:53. U-M's forecheck caused FSU to rush a clearing pass that was knocked down by Mark Mitera (Livonia, Mich.) at the blue line. Mitera shoveled the puck to Cogliano, who skated through the high slot and fired across the grain into the top left corner of the net.
U-M seemed to score a goal with 3:06 left in the first period as the red light went on after a Turnbull rebound chance from the left side. The play was reviewed and the referee ruled that O'Keefe kept the puck from crossing the goal line with the paddle of his stick.
Brian Lebler (Penticton, B.C.) took a slashing penalty at 17:42, and the Bulldogs converted on the power-play opportunity at 19:20. Dan Riedel scored from along the right side of the goal line after the preceding shot went wide from the left side. With Sauer and the defense scrambling to find the puck, Riedel flicked it into the half-vacant net.
Michigan answered to take a 2-1 lead just 34 seconds later at 19:55 with its own power-play goal. Hunwick followed his own shot into the left corner and passed behind the net to David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.). The winger brought the puck out from the right side and banked it off the goalie's skate for the marker.
Michigan and Ferris State traded power plays in the early going of the second period but neither team could take advantage.
With 13:45 to go in the middle frame Sauer made a big save on Casey Haines in the slot. Seconds later, Chris Summers (Milan, Mich.) corralled a loose puck in his zone and passed to the far blue line to Hensick, who skated in and beat O'Keefe only to see his shot bounce off the left post. After Porter kept the play alive, Turnbull followed and slid the puck into the empty net while the FSU netminder was scrambling. The score at 6:27 increased U-M's lead to 3-1.
Michigan put itself at a man disadvantage for nearly four straight minutes with penalties at 9:29 and 11:31. Sauer had to make just three saves over that span, but his stop at 10:01 on Verdone's one-timer in the slot was top-notch.
Late in the period U-M earned a two-man advantage with FSU penalties at 18:02 and 18:56. The Wolverines upped their lead to 4-1 on Kolarik's goal at 19:35. Cogliano passed to Hensick between the lower left circle and goal line. Hensick waited for space to open in front and threaded a pass into the slot for Kolarik to direct between O'Keefe's legs for the goal.
Michigan opened up a 5-1 lead on Lebler's power-play goal at 8:30 of the third period. Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) sent a pass to Hunwick, who then relayed the puck to Lebler skating down the right wing. All alone, Lebler deked and beat O'Keefe along the ice in the lower left corner.
The Wolverines held off moderate Bulldog pressure in the latter half of the third period to clinch the series sweep.
The Wolverines have just two days off before they take on rival Michigan State on Tuesday (Nov. 21) at Yost Ice Arena. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m., and television coverage will be provided by CSTV. Next weekend U-M plays in the 14th annual College Hockey Showcase, travelling to Wisconsin on Nov. 24 and then visiting Minnesota on Nov. 25.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
