Michigan
20-13-5,13-10-5CCHA
Ferris State
17-15-8,10-11-7CCHA
Comeback Victory Puts Wolverines in CCHA Semifinals
3/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team eliminated Ferris State from the CCHA Tournament with a 3-2 victory on Saturday (March 11) that gave U-M a 2-0 quartrfinal series win. Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) scored the game-winning tally and added an assist, while T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) netted a goal of his own and assisted on the deciding goal. Noah Ruden (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) was solid in goal and made 20 saves.
Michigan moves on to the semifinals of the CCHA Tournament for the 17th consecutive season. The semifinals for the CCHA Championship will take place on Friday, March 17, at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. U-M's opponent and game time will be determined after the quarterfinal round is completed Sunday night.
Michigan started off the game with the advantage in scoring opportunities, but the solid play of Mitch O'Keefe kept U-M off the scoreboard early. Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.) skated down the center of the ice and fired a quick shot in on O'Keefe. The rebound was scooped up by David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.), but his shot was deflected away off O'Keefe's blocker.
The two teams exchanged power-play opportunities in the middle part of the period, but neither team was able to capitalize. U-M managed a single shot on goal in its man advantage, and Ferris State got off two shots during its two minutes.
FSU's Matt Frank was called for obstruction-tripping after time expired in the opening period, giving the Wolverines a power-play chance to start the second.
The goaltenders' duel ended just 31 seconds into the middle frame, when Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) gave the Maize and Blue a 1-0 lead. Kaleniecki scored on his own rebound after taking a pass from Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) down in the left corner. Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.) also drew an assist on the power-play goal.
Ferris State was able to break onto the scoreboard at 8:13 and tie the score at 1-1. Corey Couturier fought his way down into the right corner of the Michigan end and threw a pass up to Adam Welch just inside the blue line. The FSU defenseman wristed a hard shot in on Ruden, who was able to make the initial save. However, Eric Vesely picked up the puck in traffic and lofted a shot over a diving Ruden to light the lamp for the Bulldogs.
Quick passing by the Bulldogs on the power play gave them the lead just 1:04 later. Mark Bomersback took the pass from Dan Riedel just inside the left faceoff circle and quickly telegraphed it to Greg Rallo at the goal line. Rallo roofed the puck over Ruden's right shoulder to make the score 2-1.
Michigan knotted the game at two goals apiece on a Hensick power-play marker at 13:26. Johnson carried the puck through the neutral zone and into FSU territory, then sent a pass back to Kolarik in the slot. Kolarik forwarded the puck in front of the crease to Hensick streaking in on the right side. Hensick beat O'Keefe for his 16th goal of the season.
Strong goaltending by Ruden stymied the FSU offense early in the third period. A clearing pass found the stick of Adam Miller waiting alone outside the Michigan zone. Miller skated in alone on Ruden, but the U-M goalie made a pad save and kept the puck from crossing the goal line.
Johnson gave the Wolverines their second and deciding lead of the night at 4:11. Hensick flipped a pass up-ice to Johnson near the left boards. The offensive-minded defenseman skated in on O'Keefe before letting go a hard liner that beat the goaltender to give Michigan a 3-2 lead.
Ferris State pulled its goalie with 26 seconds left in the game but was unable to carry the puck into Michigan's zone. A last ditch effort by FSU came up short, and the game ended with the Wolverines on top 3-2.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
