NCAA East Regional Blog: Michigan vs. Clarkson
3/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
#1 Seed Michigan vs. #2 Seed Clarkson
NCAA East Regional Final
Saturday, March 29 7 p.m. EDT
Times Union Center Albany, N.Y.
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U-M HEADS TO DENVER
It is all over in Albany, and U-M is going to the NCAA Frozen Four for the 23rd time in its history and for the first time 2003. The Wolverines beat Clarkson 2-0 to win the NCAA East Regional.
The Golden Knights gave it one more all-out shot when Kampfer went off, and then Hagelin gave Clarkson a real chance with an obstruction interference call at 17:54. The Golden Knights pulled the goalie and the wild last two minutes showed U-M fans why Sauer is the man in net. Point-blank saves and even one stop without a goalie stick stymied the final effort for the Golden Knights.
Kevin Porter again showed why he should be the number one man for the Hobey Baker Award, and the entire Michigan team proved again it can play any style of game. In the third period, U-M outshot Clarkson 18-10 (32-27 for the game), so when the game was wide open, it was all Michigan.
The all-regional team included Kevin Porter (MVP), Chad Kolarik, Mark Mitera and Billy Sauer.
As the Michigan fans cheer "It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine" and the team celebrates on the ice, one can only feel the pride of all Maize and Blue fans as this ice hockey program goes for its 10th NCAA title.
Go Blue!
THE STYLE OF GAME NOW BODES WELL FOR U-M
Clarkson needs goals -- period. And this U-M team is just waiting to get this team in a wide-open game. U-M has outshot the Golden Knights 13-3 in this period. While Michigan is looking strong on both ends of the ice, the Golden Knights haven't been able to sustain their forechecking. The Wolverines are breaking out of their zone much quicker and are able to move the play through center ice with few if any issues.
The faceoffs are almost all down in Golden Knight territory. The Wolverines are controlling the boards, open ice and winning the small races to the puck.
Another penalty (again called by the linesman) against Brandon DeFazio 10 minutes plus into the period and another penalty against Chris D'Valvise for slashing at 11:31 gives U-M the two-man advantage but also shows the Golden Knights are starting to play a little worrisome. While the Golden Knights killed off the penalties, Michigan is keeping the pressure on.
In fact, the only Clarkson scoring chance this period might have come when U-M almost played the puck in behind its owns goalie.
DO NOT COME OUT SHAKY AGAINST U-M
The opportunity was there and U-M capitalized. Clarkson's poor puck handling against U-M's number one line in the first few seconds of the third period was exactly what the doctor ordered. Kolarik picked up a loose puck on the right boards, fed it to Pacioretty, who then slid it to Porter going to the net and moving Leggio from KP's left to right before sliding home the backhand goal at 21 seconds to give U-M a 2-0 lead. It was the 11th Michigan goal of the seasaon that took place in the first minute of the start of the period.
A high sticking penalty to Clarkson was negated by a Brandon Naurato slashing penalty, but as the game starts to get more wide open, U-M is getting more chances anyway. With another Clarkson penalty, the four-on-four situation and the ensuing PP are something that could play into U-M's favor with much more open ice.
FEW SHOTS DESPITE PENALTIES
If you would have told me there would be four penalties (one on Clarkson, three on U-M) in the second period and there would be only 11 shots on goal (seven for the Golden Knights, four for U-M) for both teams, I'd take to the ice as a skating mascot -- in my next life, of course. And this was with two breakaway opportunities for Kolarik (one a two-man break too!) near the end of the period.
What's happening Well, Clarskon was going to play a deliberate, hard-checking game and U-M was going to try to use its speed to take advantage of certain situations that would avail themselves to the Maize and Blue. And that is exactly what has happened in this contest.
Michigan is happy it is up by one and Clarkson has to be happy it is in the game. How the third period will shape is anyone's guess. I'm betting U-M is content to play the game the way it is going, knowing full well that Clarkson is going to have to open it up if it can't get more shots on net.
You have to give the U-M team credit for strong back checking and excellent play in its defensive zone. Even if the Golden Knights have a 17-14 SOG advantage in the game, U-M has cleared the rebounds and kept the scoring chances to poor angles. U-M also has to be one of the best teams in the nation with blocked shots and tonight is no exception. And Sauer has been strong when needed,
This game will not go down in the annals of history as the best two first periods ever played, but U-M is showing great patience for a young team, taking its opportunites when they come around.
U-M's PK COMES TO PLAY
Michigan's Chad Langlais received a two-minute cross checking penalty at 10:51 even though the linesman had to make the call. It was U-M's fourth consecutive penalty. The Golden Knights had some chances during their power play, but U-M forced poor shots and bad angles. Just when Clarkson had another scoring opportunity, Nick Dodge took a hitting from behind penalty at 12:12 to even things out.
Kolarik had a good chance taking it on on the left side, but Leggio gave him little room.
When Dodge came out of the penalty box, a pass off the boards almost sent him in on Sauer but Llewellyn hooked him down, going back to the penalty box at 14:22. Once again, U-M's PK held them off, allowing only one shot on Sauer.
By the way, U-M did got its first shot on net 10:07 into the period when Pacioretty got one on Leggio.
NO SHOTS, JUST BOOGIE BOARDING
The Golden Knight skating mascot was boogie boarding into the U-M net in between periods, but that would be as close as Clarkson would get to the net during its PP.Carl Hagelin and Matt Rust came out strong on the penalty kill and then Tim Miller and Danny Fardig missed connecting on a two-on-one while still on the PK. Miller pulled the defenseman over to the left then saucered the pass to Fardig at the right of the net.
Michigan is working hard on getting Leggio to move from side to side, but it wasn't until the six-minute mark of the period that Clarkson had a shot on net.. U-M still has no shots on goal.
U-M's Tristin Llewellyn is now off for cross-checking at 6:17.
FAMILY TIES -- Pacioretty and Sauer win the honor of bringing the most family members to the game. Between the two players, they a total of 46 family members here.
1-0 AFTER ONE BUT THIS ISN'T NIAGARA
What is the record for the most faceoffs caused by tieups along the boards Well, I don't even think the wildest hockey fan would know that number, but whatever it is I think the record was broken in the first period. (For those who don't get sarcasm, I'm being sarcastic.) Anyway, there were at least three faceoffs caused by stoppage of play on the boards. So, Clarkson is doing what it wants but U-M is getting its chances offensively.
Kampfer went off at 19:34 for holding, his second penalty of the period, so the Golden Knights will have the man advantage when the second period starts.
Last night when U-M and Niagara were scoreless, you could tell it would be a matter of time before the Purple Eagles couldn't hold back the onslaught. Tonight, the Wolverines have the 1-0 lead but this game is tight.
Special teams could definitely play the deciding difference in this one -- and so far, U-M brought its power play out full blast early. Shots on goal are tied at 10 apiece with both teams getting their share of good scoring opportunities.
OTHER NOTES -- Tonight's crowd doesn't look much better than last night. The Times Union Center has put the black drapes around the ends in the upper deck, but I don't know if that really helps the ambience.
U-M STARTS TO CONTROL PLAY, GETS PP AND GOAL
Louie Caporusso had a good scoring opportunity just over 12 minutes into the game when Travis Turnbull sent a pass from the right faceoff circle in front of the net. Caporusso was taken down with no call and never did get his stick on the puck.
Chad Kolarik then broke in alone from the left side and was stopped by Leggio. Shortly after that Kolarik was taken down from behind by Phil Paquet. When Kolarik got up, Paquet pushed him back down. Paquet got 2 for roughing and 2 for interference. Kolarik went off for 2 minutes for diving at 13:01. Wow, that was interesting set of events. Then they called the Kolarik penalty "embellishment." Fortunately, the media and PR people in attendance don't have to worry about that call.
Aaron Palushaj capitalized on the PP opportunity at 14:23, gettting Leggio to go down as he went in right side low, then went behind the net and threw it in from the left side before Leggio could get back.
Porter and Mitera got the assists. Palushaj is now U-M's eighth player this season to score 10 goals.
Just when it looked like U-M was going to really start getting more control, Steve Kampfer went off at 16:32 for tripping.
TIGHT CHECKING
Tonight will be a little more rowdy. The fans and especially the Clarkson band are trying their best to make this a home-ice advantage.
Kevin Porter made the first big move at the end of his first shift 50 seconds into the game, and U-M got the first power-play advantage just over two minutes into the game when fourth-line winger Brandon DeFazio went off for hitting from behind.
For the first 70 seconds of the PP, U-M had some good scoring opportunities but Lauri Tuohimaa picked up a loose puck on the left wing and showed why the Golden Knights are tough on the penalty kill. His hard shot just missed to the left of Billy Sauer. But before that, good puck movement on the U-M PP and good shots from the point gave David Leggio reason for concern.
Michigan's Matt Rust picked up the Maize and Blue's first penalty at 5:43 for obstruction interference. The tough Clarkson forechecking could have been the cause for the penalty. U-M had trouble moving the puck out of its zome when the infraction was called.
The penalty kill was strong except for one break late in the penalty when Clarkson's Steve Zalewski had two whacks at the goal from just outside the blue ice.
U-M holds 7-6 lead in shots on goal nine minutes into the game.
WINNER GOES TO THE FROZEN FOUR
When Clarkson and Michigan take the ice tonight, will the Golden Knights have the home-ice advantage Potsdam is about four hours away in the New York "North Country," and there are plenty of seats available for tonight's game. Last night, a crowd of just over 4,000 watched the tournament games, leaving 11,000 seats empty in Albany's Times Union Center.
U-M goalie Billy Sauer even noticed the lack of enthusiasm in the stadium. Add the fact that Niagara really did not get many good scoring opportunities, and those games can make it rough on a goaltender if the opposition gets going. "I kind of wish our guys would have turned around and made a few shots on me," joked Sauer after the game.
He won't have to worry about that tonight. The Golden Knights had 40 shots on goal against St.Cloud State yesterday in their 2-1 win, gaining their first NCAA Tournament win since they beat Western Michigan in the first round at Albany in 1996.
Now, let's talk about the Golden Knights. First, they are a very aggressive forechecking team. They will send one player in hard, using the second player to read while the third forward will go to the boards hard. If the opposition tries to ring the boards the opposite direction, it is not uncommon for Clarkson to use its defenseman to pinch in on the forecheck.
Against St. Cloud State, Clarkson patiently moved the puck out of its own zone and tried to use the forecheck to create most of its scoring opportunities. It also plays strong along the boards. Clarkson is similar in style of play to Miami of Ohio.
Clarskon goalie David Leggio is very strong. Even though he plays a little deep in the net, he is quick enough to get from side to side to cover the angles.
This could be a game of special teams -- especially on the penalty kill. Clarkson has scored the most shorthanded goals in the nation (12). U-M has eight shorties.
As for Michigan, Scooter Vaughan will return to the lineup at defense. Eric Elmblad played defense last night and received a good amount of playing time.
The Wolverines were led by Kevin Porter's four goals -- the most goals ever scored in an NCAA Regional game. Red Berenson joked to the media after the game that, "I guess Kevin Porter's not in a slump anymore." Porter had not scored in the three previous games.
Chad Kolarik also tied an NCAA Regional record with five assists in a game.
