Michigan
4-2-3, 3-1-1-0CCHA
Alaska
6-2-1, 3-1-1-1CCHA
Wolverines Blanked in Series Opener at No. 15 Alaska
11/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Nov. 6, 2010
| Site: Fairbanks, Alaska (Carlson Center)
Score: #15 Alaska 3, #5 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (4-2-3, 3-1-1-0 CCHA), Alaska (6-2-1, 3-1-1-1 CCHA)
Attendance: 3,383
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 6 -- at Alaska (Fairbanks, Alaska), 11:05 p.m. EDT
FAIRBANKS, Alaska -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team (No. 5 USA Today/No. 6 USCHO) lost, 3-0, at Alaska (No. 15 USA Today/No. 14 USCHO) on Friday (Nov. 5) at the Carlson Center. The Wolverines went 0-for-5 on the power play, including a five-on-three advantage that lasted 1:41 late in the second period when they trailed, 3-0.
Alaska took a 1-0 at 12:23 of the first period as a result of a fortunate bounce to Cody Kunyk. Joe Sova's shot from the right point was blocked by U-M, but the deflection kicked to the left slot directly to Kunyk, who flicked it in.
Carlo Finucci upped the UAF lead to 2-0 just 43 seconds into the second period. U-M turned the puck over in its own zone and Derek Klassen found Finucci skating from right to left across the front of the net for the quick-strike tally.
Junior left wing David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) appeared to score with close to 11 minutes remaining in the second period, but his backhand shot from in tight hit the left post and the cross bar before rolling out of danger.
Alaska scored on the power play at 12:20 to go ahead 3-0 on Sova's slap shot from the right point that got through traffic and settled into the top left of the net.
U-M had a great opportunity to get back in the game in the final six minutes of the second period when it received a five-on-three power play for 1:41. Junior Brandon Burlon (Nobleton, Ontario) blasted a shot off the left post early on, but goalie Scott Greenham stopped the rebound chance. Michigan put six shots on goal, all from the slot area but could not muster a goal.
U-M successfully killed off a UAF five-on-three power play early in the third period but could not take advantage of the swing in momentum to solve Greenham.
The Wolverines and Nanooks complete their first of two series this season on Saturday night (Nov. 6). Faceoff at the Carlson Center is set for 11:05 p.m. EDT.
N O T E S
• The Wolverines fall to 39-9-1 against Alaska and 16-5-0 in Fairbanks. Three of the last four meetings have been shutouts -- two by Alaska and one by Michigan.
• Michigan's record against ranked opponents this season drops to 1-2-1. Alaska is ranked No. 15 in the USA Today poll and No. 15 in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll.
• U-M had not been shutout in its previous 35 games. Notre Dame blanked U-M in South Bend on Dec. 13, 2009.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On tonight's game ... "I thought it was a real good start for Alaska, like they got us on our heels early. Whether it was the penalties or the turnovers, the first period the chances were something like 12-2 (for Alaska). We were lucky to survive the first period. I thought that early goal in the second period really hurt us. Goals are so precious in a game like this and we give up a goal on a play where we have the puck in our zone and we turn it over, bang, it's in the net, 2-0. Now we're really on our heels and they score a power-play goal and it's 3-0. I thought we played better as the game went on, but the first half of the game cost us the game."
On Michigan's offensive struggles ... "We had trouble getting out of our own zone and down low in their zone they were tenacious. They were the more tenacious team in the game and that showed up in a lot of areas; they blocked more shots, they back-checked hard. They played a great home game and we played a poor road game."
On Alaska goalie Scott Greenham's play .. "Especially on that five-on-three that's when we had to bury it. We hadn't put one shot in. We hit a couple of posts, but he made a couple of big saves too, so he earned the shutout."
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
