Michigan
26-12-1, 18-9-1CCHA
Michigan State
21-13-3,15-10-3CCHA
Michigan Knocks Off Michigan State in CCHA Semifinals
3/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DETROIT, Mich. -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team emerged victorious over in-state rival No. 11 Michigan State by a 5-2 margin Friday (March 16) in the CCHA Tournament semifinals at Joe Louis Arena. The Wolverines were aided by Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.), whose two goals included the game-winner, and T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.), who notched a 1-2-3 line.
Porter scored twice in the second period to help the Wolverines take a 3-0 lead.
With the semifinal win, the Maize and Blue advanced to face No. 1 Notre Dame in the CCHA Tournament championship game on Saturday (March 17) at 7:05 p.m. The game between Michigan and Notre Dame, featuring a pair of Hobey Baker Award finalists in Hensick and David Brown, will be broadcast on FSN Detroit.
Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) was whistled for interference at 1:14 of the opening period, giving the Spartans the first man-advantage of the night, but Michigan State was unable to generate a single shot on goal in the two-minute span. Hensick took the puck the other way during the power play, but when he tried to split the MSU defense, he lost control of the puck to negate the shorthanded attempt.
From the lower right circle, Zak McClellan beat Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) to the far left post. Video review reversed the goal, however, as the puck hit the post and bounced through the crease and under Sauer.
On the power play, Michigan gave up a breakaway opportunity to Justin Abdelkader. The center raced down the ice, but his shot was hindered by Hunwick's stick, and Abdelkader was awarded the penalty shot at 12:20. Abdelkader triple-deked on Sauer, but his five-hole attempt was stopped to keep the game scoreless.
After 20 minutes of play, Michigan held the slight shot advantage, 7-5.
Michigan broke onto the scoreboard on a goal by Chris Summers (Milan, Mich.) at 3:07 of the second period. Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) cleared the puck up to classmate Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.), and the center sent a quick pass to a streaking Summers, whose shot bounced off Jeff Lerg's blocker and just under the crossbar for the 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines added to their lead just 1:04 later on Porter's 21st goal of the season. Johnson sent another outlet pass up to Hensick. Joined by his left winger, Hensick beat the lone Spartan defender and slid a pass to Porter, who chipped the puck over Lerg's leg for the 2-0 score at 4:11.
Porter's second goal of the night pushed the Maize and Blue's advantage to 3-0. Porter picked up the feed from David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.), gained the zone, and carried the puck across the front of the crease. Porter was thrown off balance but wrapped a backhand shot around Lerg's outstretched leg at 15:47. Hensick also picked up an assist on the play.
Michigan added to its shot margin, outshooting the Spartans 9-8 in the period and 16-13 through 40 minutes.
Jim McKenzie ended Sauer's shutout bid at 13:37 of the final frame. Tyler Howells fed the puck to McKenzie, who fired a shot that was past the U-M netminder before he had a chance to react. The goal cut the U-M lead to 3-1.
The Wolverines answered at 14:27, pushing their advantage back to three goals. Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) stole the puck off an MSU stick at the blue line and relayed the puck to Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.). The junior snapped a shot past Lerg's glove for the 4-1 lead.
The frenzy continued when Tim Kennedy cut the margin back to a pair of goals. Abdelkader laced a pass to Tim Crowder, but the play was lost in the scrum in the right faceoff circle. The disk trickled out to the slot, where it was rifled over Sauer's shoulder by Kennedy at 16:04.
Michigan State pulled Lerg in an attempt to narrow the gap, but Hensick's empty-net goal with seven seconds left put the game out of reach for the Spartans.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
