Michigan
11-4-0, 7-2-0CCHA
Minnesota
12-1-2, 6-0-2WCHA
Michigan Dominated by Top-Ranked Minnesota
11/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan hockey team fell 8-2 to No. 1 Minnesota in the second game of the 14th Annual College Hockey Showcase on Saturday, Nov. 25. The Wolverines were outshot by a 52-24 margin. U-M was down 4-2 partway through the third period before the Golden Gophers poured on the offense in the final 13 minutes. Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) made 44 saves, and T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) had a goal and an assist for the Wolverines.
Michigan's offense was aggressive from the outset and it nearly resulted in a goal at 1:20. U-M garnered a two-on-one break with Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) carrying the puck down the right side. His pass to Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.) at the left post resulted in a strong chance, but the Minnesota goalie flashed the right pad to make the save.
Minnesota received the first power play of the game at 4:26. The Gophers had a couple chances, but the Wolverine penalty killers were successful.
Kevin Porter's (Northville, Mich.) point-blank one-timer with 10:30 on the clock was stoned by Kellen Briggs to keep the game scoreless.
Michigan got its first power play at 10:44, but unfortunately U-M permitted a shorthanded goal by Mike Carman at 11:12. Ryan Flynn flipped the puck high out of the Minnesota end into Michigan territory. Skating back with Carman was Mark Mitera (Livonia, Mich.), but he lost track of the puck in midair. Carman recovered it, held off Mitera and flicked a shot by Sauer's blocker.
The Gophers increased their lead to 2-0 at 18:40 on Jim O'Brien's breakaway tally. Michigan was pressuring in the Gopher zone, until a pass out of the left corner was deflected and the puck skidded out towards center ice. Brian Lebler (Penticton, B.C.), who was covering for a defenseman at the blue line, was caught flat-footed and could not catch O'Brien.
Minnesota held a 15-8 shots advantage and a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes of action.
Cogliano was sprung on a breakaway 3:45 into the second period, but was denied when Briggs stopped his shot with the right pad.
Just 19 seconds after Cogliano's chance, Minnesota increased its lead to 3-0. At the right point, Erik Johnson sent a wrist shot towards the left side of the goal. Kyle Okposo redirected the puck in the right circle and it beat Sauer low right as he was moving to stop Johnson's initial shot.
The Wolverines got their first goal of the game at 13:06 on Hensick's second shorthanded tally of the year. Alex Goligoski stumbled with the puck at the Michigan blue line, allowing Hensick to get out on a breakaway. Mike Vannelli tried to stop Hensick, but he guarded the puck with his body, swooped around the goalie and slid the puck into the net.
Despite being out-shot 19-5 in the second stanza and 34-13 through two periods, the Wolverines were down just 3-1.
O'Brien notched his second goal of the night 3:32 into the third period to make it 4-1 Minnesota. O'Brien received a pass from Evan Kaufmann while skating through the left circle and snapped a shot over Sauer.
Kevin Porter extended his point streak to 11 games with a goal at 6:24 to make it 4-2. Hensick took a pass from David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) in the neutral zone and skated into Minnesota territory. Porter was waiting along the left side for Hensick's feed, and fired it high past Briggs.
The Gophers replied with two quick goals at 7:25 and 7:48 to take a commanding 6-2 lead. Kaufmann scored first, followed by Blake Wheeler.
Carman and Tony Lucia scored two more before time expired to give Minnesota an 8-2 win.
Michigan returns to CCHA action next weekend (Dec. 1-2) with a home-and-home series against Western Michigan. The Wolverines host the Broncos on Friday for a 7:35 p.m. puck drop on Comcast Local. Saturday's game will be played in Kalamazoo, Mich., and start at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
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