Michigan
9-2-1, 7-1-1CCHA
Minnesota
6-7-2, 5-5-2WCHA
Michigan Defeats Minnesota in First Game of Showcase
11/27/1998 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
The Gophers (6-7-2, 5-5-1 WCHA) took the early lead with a goal from Jordan Leopold at the 14:17 mark of the first period when he received the puck on a short pass from the left side of the crease and wristed a shot between Josh Blackburn's (Choctaw, Okla.) skate and the post on the short side of the net as he faded back from the right side of the goal mouth. Leopold's goal came just seven seconds after Justin Clark (Grand Rapids, Mich.) came out of the penalty box but before Clark had time to set up and join the play.
Michigan (9-2-1, 7-1-1 CCHA) put on more pressure in the second period. With 12:16 remaining in the period, Jeff Jillson (North Smithville, R.I.) took a shot from between the hash marks on the face-off circles which deflected off of the right post. Then, at the 14:38 mark, Mike Comrie (Edmonton, Alberta) tied the game with his sixth goal of the season after Bubba Berenzweig (Arlington Heights, Ill.) brought the puck down the middle of the rink with two defenders on him and passed it off to Comrie on the right side. Comrie wristed a shot from about 10 feet out (about the same spot as the Leopold goal) over the pads of Minnesota's Adam Houser.
The teams took a 1-1 tie into the second intermission before Berenzweig netted his second point of the evening on an unassisted power-play goal just 34 seconds into the final period. Greg Crozier (Williamsville, N.Y.) capped the Wolverines' scoring with a goal just 30 seconds later at the 1:04 mark. Crozier received the puck at the offensive blue line on a pass through the neutral zone from Bobby Hayes (Westland, Mich.) and took it in one-on-one to beat Minnesota's Houser with a shot in the upper-left corner of the goal.
Minnesota applied pressure in the remaining minutes of the game, winning 14 of the final 18 face-offs and forcing a goal with just 44 seconds remaining in the game. The goal was by Minnesota's Leopold's, his second of the game.
In the net, Blackburn stopped 29 shots to earn his ninth win (9-1-1), while Minnesota's Houser made 22 saves in the loss (5-6-1).
Michigan heads to Madison, Wis., for its second and final game of the College Hockey Showcase on Sunday, Nov. 29, at 1:05 p.m. EST. The Badgers were 3-1 losers to Michigan State in Friday's other Showcase contest.
GAME SUMMARY
| Goals By Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
| Michigan | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
1st period
1, MINN, Jordan Leopold 4 (John Pohl, Dylan Mills) 14:17.
2nd period
2, MICH, Mike Comrie 6 (Bubba Berenzweig) 14:38.
3rd period
3, MICH, Bubba Berenzweig 4 (unassisted) 0:34 (pp).
4, MICH, Greg Crozier 1 (Bobby Hayes, Jeff Jillson) 1:04.
5, MINN, Jordan Leopold 5 (Mike Anderson, Wyatt Smith) 19:16.
Shots on goal: MICH 10-10-5-25; MINN 12-12-7-31.
Power plays: MICH 1 of 6; MINN 0 of 4.
Goalies: MICH, Josh Blackburn 9-1-1 (31 shots-29 saves); MINN, Adam Hauser 5-6-1 (25-22).
Referee: Don Adams
Linesmen: Jon Elvy, Gregg Wohlers
Attendance: 9,822
Time: 2:36
NOTES
QUOTES
HEAD COACH RED BERENSON
On the third period ...
"I liked the fact that we didn't give them much in the third period. Even though they ended up scoring on that face-off goal, I though we played well defensively."
On Mariucci Arena ...
"It was a good experience to play in this building. It is the best college hockey building I have seen."
On the crowd ...
"For young (Michigan goalie Josh) Blackburn to come in and play in this environment and be a factor in the game was really a positive. For the most part, our young players got a good feel. This is the toughest game environment we've been in, I think. Especially with a team that could explode at any time."
On the scoring drought ...
"We can't seem to get the goals we should have, but we are scoring the goals we need. We weren't worried about scoring a lot of goals; we just didn't want to give up a lot of goals, which is different from (Michigan) teams in the past. We realize our limitations, I guess."
On Josh Blackburn's impact on the game ...
"They (Minnesota) generated some good, quality shots and a couple of good back-door opportunities in which Blackburn made some very good saves. That's what a team needs to get going."
On the on-site format of the College Hockey Showcase ...
"I really like it. I think it is excellent. Now, who is it excellent for is the home fans. It is good for them to see their team against another traditional hockey school. It just isn't the same when playing in the Target Center or Joe Louis Arena.
SENIOR CAPTAIN BUBBA BERENZWEIG
On the team's play ...
"I was really happy with the chances we had tonight."
On his assist to Mike Comrie ...
"I just went up with the puck and tried to go through the guys and the puck went over to Comrie who was busting really hard. He put the puck in the right spot, so it worked out great."
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
