Michigan
21-10-0, 16-7-0
Bowling Green
6-24-2, 4-19-1
Michigan's Winning Streak Ended at Last-Place Falcons
2/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team had its six-game winning streak snapped in a 3-2 losing effort at Bowling Green on Friday (Feb. 9). The Falcons, which are in last place in the CCHA standings, scored two goals in the final seven minutes, including the power-play game-winner with 35 seconds left in regulation. Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) put forth a great effort, making 32 saves.
Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) and David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) provided the Michigan goals. With his helper in the second period, T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) earned a share of fourth place on U-M's all-time assists with his 138th career helper.
Forty-five seconds into the contest, a Hensick breakaway opportunity was blown dead because Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) was whistled for tripping behind the play.
Despite the misfortune, the Wolverines scored the game's first goal at the 1:14 mark. Kolarik broke up a pass in the neutral zone and sent a quick pass up to Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.) at the BGSU blue line. Miller waited out the lone defender and fed the puck back to Kolarik for an easy one-timer goal in the left slot.
The Falcons tied the game at 1-1 on a Kevin Schmidt tally at 8:18. Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) made a great post-to-post save on Schmidt's first shot, but he received no defensive help and the BGSU forward converted on his own rebound.
Neither team had many good scoring chances throughout the rest of the first period. The teams combined for 13 shots in the opening 20 minutes, with BGSU outshooting U-M 8-5.
A Michigan turnover in its own zone almost gave the lead to BGSU at 1:30 of the second stanza. Sauer shut down Derek Whitmore's wide open one-timer in the slot
Minutes later, Sauer was forced to make a tough save on BGSU's leading scorer, Jonathan Matsumoto, as he circled around the top of the circles and fired high.
David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) capitalized on a Hensick pass at 7:28 to put U-M back on top 2-1. BGSU cleared the puck to Johnson at his own blue line and the U-M rearguard quickly fired the puck up ice. Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) redirected the pass into Falcon territory, which allowed Hensick and Rohlfs to skate in on a two-on-none breakaway. Driving down the left side, Hensick sent the disc across the crease for Rohlfs to hammer past Jimmy Spratt.
Sauer's strong play in the middle frame continued when he stoned Matsumoto twice during a goal mouth scramble with 11 minutes remaining in the period.
Falcon Tommy Dee rang a shot of the lower left post with 3:45 to go. Sauer fell back and smothered the rebound, preventing Bowling Green from tying the game.
A scrum in front of the BGSU net resulted in two players for each team being sent to the penalty box. The Wolverines did not pick up their first power play of the game until 19:16 of the second period when Kyle Page was called for cross-checking.
Kolarik had an abbreviated breakaway in the final seconds of the period, but Spratt stoned him with a glove save.
The back-and-forth second period featured 28 total shots, 15 more than the opening stanza. BGSU outshot Michigan again, 18-10, for a two period total of 26-15.
Michigan was unable to pad its lead with its remaining time on the power play to begin the third period.
Michigan earned its second power play of the game at 3:21, but the Maize and Blue came within inches of giving up the tying goal late in its advantage. On a two-on-two, Kai Kantola received a pass across the front of the net, spun and was denied at the goal line when Sauer stretched out his stick and dove. John Mazzei scooped up the rebound in the slot and fired at the vacant net; however, the puck hit the prone U-M netminder in the back of the head and deflected out of play.
Michigan's third power play, which began at 7:26, was also fruitless, leaving U-M with its narrow lead.
The special teams battle ensued as the Falcons took a turn with the man-advantage with 9:09 to play. The Wolverines managed to kill the penalty without permitting any scoring chances for BGSU.
A bad clearing attempt around the boards allowed the Falcons to tie the game at 2-2 with 6:35 left in regulation. Tomas Petruska collected the puck along the boards and moved it to Matsumoto in the lower right circle. Matusomoto relayed the puck to the far left circle. Uncovered, Whitmore lifted the puck over Sauer's shoulder for the goal.
A broken stick by U-M in the offensive zone -- and a miscommunication at the bench -- resulted in a too many men on the ice call with 1:08 to go. Petruska capitalized on a rebound with 35 seconds to go, elevating the puck over U-M's defenders and Sauer.
Hensick hit the post with 22 seconds remaining while making a last-ditch rush down the left side.
Michigan will then face Michigan State at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit on Saturday (Feb. 10). The contest will be televised by FSN Detroit and is slated to begin at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
