Michigan
1-1-0
Minnesota
2-0-0
Michigan's Comeback Effort Not Enough Against Gophers
10/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Event: Ice Breaker Invitational
Score: #6 Minnesota 4, #9 Michigan 3
Records: U-M (1-1), Minnesota (2-0)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 19 -- at Northern Michigan (Marquette, Mich.), 7:35 p.m.
Michigan's Comeback Effort Not Enough Against Gophers
Event Recap| Boxscore| Notes & Quotes
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team lost a hard-fought 4-3 affair to No. 6 Minnesota in the Ice Breaker Invitational championship game on Saturday night (Oct. 13) in front of 14,000-plus Gopher faithful in the Xcel Energy Center. Down 2-1 after 40 minutes, the Wolverines never relented, keeping their deficit within one goal after each of Minnesota's two tallies in the third period.
Freshman Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) tallied the first two goals of his career -- U-M's first and third in the game. Steve Kampfer (Jackson, Mich.) also scored for Michigan and Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.) had two assists.
Four minutes into the contest, Gopher Kyle Okposo squandered an outstanding chance at the left goalpost when he fanned on a two-on-one break. Michigan's Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) had a good chance the other way just seconds later when he hit the far post as he roared down the left wing.
The Gophers got on the scoreboard first with a seeing-eye shot by R.J. Anderson at 11:46. Anderson wristed a shot from the right point that hit a player in front and deflected just inside of Billy Sauer's (Walworth, N.Y.) right arm.
Minnesota upped its lead to 2-0 shortly after at 13:06. Blake Wheeler beat a U-M defender down the left wing, cut across the crease and tucked the puck around Sauer inside the right post.
With all the momentum on the side of Minnesota, Michigan stepped up its defense and negated a power play that began just 47 seconds after the Gophers tallied their second goal.
Max Pacioretty (New Canaan, Conn.) missed his first career goal by inches 30 seconds into the second period. Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) made a great pass to the back left post as he skated down the right wing, but Pacioretty's shot barely hit the goalie and the puck stopped just short of the goal line; a Gopher defender quickly swatted the puck out of danger.
The Wolverines were unable to score on consecutive power plays at 3:50 and 6:13 -- however, Michigan did cut its deficit in half with an even-strength goal from Rust at 8:48. Miller carried the puck down the left side and behind the goal line before jamming it towards the net. Ben Winnett (New Westminster, B.C.) slapped the loose puck from a few feet outside the right post and it ended up just behind the goal line. With three Gopher defenders scrambling, Miller poked the puck into the crease to Rust, who was waiting at the doorstop to swat it into the net for his first career goal.
Michigan had its third power play of the period start at 9:59, but the Wolverines were unsuccessful.
At 13:43, Minnesota went on the power play for the first time of the period. Sauer's best save came on an Okposo shot from the lower slot as the man-advantage expired.
Through two periods, Michigan trailed 2-1. The Wolverines carried the play in the second frame, letting loose 20 shots on goal to Minnesota's seven.
Minnesota reasserted its two-goal lead at 1:07 of the third period on a goal by Ryan Flynn. The Gopher circled out from behind the net and snapped a shot between the left post and Sauer's blocker.
Michigan replied shortly after to make it 3-2 on rebound score from Steve Kampfer (Jackson, Mich.). Porter recovered his own blocked pass in front of the crease and slid a backhand shot in on Frazee. The puck bounded into open space on the left side and Kampfer easily lifted the puck into the gaping net.
The scoring flurry continued at 5:27 when the Gophers took a 4-2 advantage. Patrick White gained control of the puck at the left hash mark after it had been poked off the stick of a teammate. White wristed a shot high into the net before U-M's defense could cover him.
Shortly after another fruitless power play for U-M, Rust scored on a breakaway at 10:32. Rust received a pass from Miller at the Gopher blue line and fired a shot up under the cross bar on the right side to make the score 4-3.
Michigan's final comeback efforts were hindered when it took a penalty with just 2:01 left in the game. The Wolverines pulled Sauer in order to skate five-on-five in the final minute and pressured the Minnesota crease well, but could not record the equalizer.
Michigan opens CCHA regular-season play Friday and Saturday (Oct. 19-20) with a road series against Northern Michigan in Marquette, Mich. Both games will be played at 7:35 p.m. in the Berry Events Center.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
