Michigan
22-11-1, 17-8-1
Lake Superior State
16-15-3, 10-13-3
Wolverines End Skid with Key Win Over Lake Superior
2/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DETROIT, Mich. -- The No. 10 University of Michigan ice hockey team ended its three-game winless streak with a 3-1 triumph over Lake Superior State on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 18) at Joe Louis Arena. T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) scored the first and third goals for U-M. Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) (1-1-2) and Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) (0-2-2) also had multiple points, and Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) made 35 saves for the win. Michigan's penalty killers stopped all nine of LSSU's power plays.
The win jumps the Wolverines over Miami into second place in the CCHA. Michigan has 35 points and the RedHawks have 34 with two games remaining in the regular season for each. Notre Dame has already clinched first place with 43 points.
Michigan broke onto the scoreboard on a rebound shot by Hensick at 8:16. Hunwick blasted a shot from the point that Hensick managed to get a stick on in front of the net. Goaltender Jeff Jakaitis made the initial save, but the rebound deflected into the air, where Hensick knocked the puck over the sprawling goaltender. The marker, Hensick's 15th of the season, put the Wolverines up 1-0.
Lake Superior State received power-play opportunities at 10:12 and 14:09 but was unable to convert on either chance and did not register a shot on goal during its four minutes with the man advantage.
In between penalties, Johnson made a key defensive play to keep U-M ahead. Trent Campbell slid a pass across the high slot to Justin Gutwald, but the Laker's one-timer was blocked by Johnson with six minutes left in the opening stanza.
Sauer made a key save and received a fortuitous bounce with less than two minutes to play to preserve the Michigan lead. Campbell intercepted a pass in the neutral zone and skated in unopposed on the U-M netminder, but Sauer snagged the wrister with his outstretched glove. Just seconds later, Jeff Rainville slapped an attempt on net that Sauer was unable to get a bead on because of traffic in front of the net. However, the shot sailed just high, bouncing off the crossbar.
Michigan capitalized on its first power play of the contest, pushing its lead to 2-0 at 2:40 of the second period. Johnson brought the puck from behind his own net and fed a pass up-ice to Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) streaking in along the right boards. Cogliano carried the puck into the Laker zone before slipping a pass through the crease to Hunwick, who lifted a shot over Jakaitis for his fifth goal of the season.
The Maize and Blue extended its lead on Hensick's second goal of the night at 6:43. The alternate captain picked up a Johnson dish and split a pair of Lake Superior State defensemen as he cut down the center of Laker territory. While shielding a defender on his back, Hensick cut across the front of the net and wrapped the puck around Jakaitis' left leg to push the Wolverine advantage to 3-0.
Sauer and the Wolverines negated three LSSU power plays in the latter part of the second frame to leave U-M with a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes. Sauer made 13 saves in the middle stanza for a two-period total of 23.
The Lakers broke up U-M's shutout bid at 9:11 of the third period when Dan Eves put the puck into the top left corner of the net while streaking down the right wing. The marker trimmed U-M's advantage to 3-1.
One minute later, Sauer stood his ground to deny Nik Sellers, who had slipped behind the U-M defensemen.
LSSU had its eighth and ninth power plays of the night when Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.) was called for interference and Hunwick was whistled for hooking shortly after Miller's penalty expired. Jakaitis vacated the net to give the Lakers a two-man advantage, but they were unable to put the puck behind Sauer, who made 12 stops in the third frame.
The Wolverines wrap up the regular season with a two-game road trip against Ohio State next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 23-24). The opener will start at 7:05 p.m., while the second game will begin at 8:05 and be featured on CSTV.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
