Michigan
13-1-0, 8-0-0CCHA
Minnesota
7-6-1, 3-5-0WCHA
Sauer Sweet as Michigan Halts Gophers in Showcase Finale
11/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan hockey team posted its 12th straight victory with a 5-1 win over No. 15 University of Minnesota on Saturday night (Nov. 24) at the College Hockey Showcase in Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines had a three-goal second period after taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. With the win, the Wolverines snapped a six-game losing streak against the Gophers.
Michigan seniors Kevin Porter(Northville, Mich.) and Chad Kolarik(Abington, Pa.) led the way for the Maize and Blue, accounting for four of U-M's five goals. Porter had a season-high two goals and two assists for four points, while Kolarik had two goals, including the game-winner, and an assist. Junior goaltender Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) made 26 saves to steady the Wolverines on defense.
The Wolverines failed to take advantage of early back-to-back power plays in the opening 6:29 minutes of action. Michigan went on the defensive for the first time with a Matt Rust(Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) slashing call 12:47 into the game. Porter had a short-handed breakaway opportunity, but Minnesota's Cade Fairchild was called for slashing on the play, resulting in a four-on-four for just under a minute.
The scoring opened with 2:14 remaining in the first period on a goal from Kolarik, his eighth of the season and second of the weekend. Porter received a pass from sophomore defenseman Steve Kampfer(Jackson, Mich.) and had a near breakaway. Minnesota goalie Jeff Frazee poked the puck away from Porter, but directly to Kolarik who was trailing and beat Frazee glove-side. The period closed with a pair of penalties at the 19:35 mark, with Minnesota's Jay Barriball called for diving and U-M's Kampfer called for holding.
Minnesota captain Derek Peltier was called for interference just 1:50 into the second period, putting the Wolverines on a power play, and this time, they capitalized. Rookie forward Aaron Palushaj(Northville, Mich.) made a pass from center ice to Porter at the blueline, who connected across the top of the circles to Kolarik on the right wing. Before the goalie could rotate across the crease, Kolarik fired it high-glove for his second goal of the night, giving Michigan a 2-0 lead.
Four minutes later, sophomore defenseman Chris Summers(Milan, Mich.) was called to the penalty box, but within 14 seconds, the Wolverines got on the board again -- this time with a goal from Porter, making it 3-0. His short-handed goal came unassisted, as Porter stole the puck from the Gopher goaltender. Frazee went behind his own net to clear the puck, but he fanned on the opportunity and Porter skated behind him, lifted his stick and stole the puck for a wrap-around empty-netter.
The Gophers made it a 3-1 game with 6:40 remaining in the second period on a goal from senior forward Ben Gordon. The shot was going wide, but hit a defenseman and slid past Sauer's right skate. Cade Fairchild and Blake Wheeler were credited with assists.
Gopher Ryan Flynn was called for interference at the 16:20 mark, giving Michigan another power play opportunity. Just 25 seconds into the penalty, Porter gave the Wolverines a 4-1 advantage, tallying his second power play goal of the night with assists from Kolarik and freshman Chad Langlais(Spokane, Wash.). Porter split the Minnesota defense and beat the goalie under his glove for his fourth point of the night.
Freshman Ben Winnett(New Westminster, B.C.) tallied his third goal of the season 4:59 into the third period to give Michigan a 5-1 lead. Palushaj and Kampfer were each credited with their second assists of the game. Palushaj found Winnett wide open in the lower left circle for a quick wrist shot just inside the left post.
The Wolverines remain at home to host the Ohio State University Friday and Saturday (Nov. 30-Dec. 1) for a pair of 7:35 p.m. games. Friday night's game will televised on FSN Detroit, while Saturday's will be broadcast on Comcast.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
