Michigan
25-8-4, 19-6-3CCHA
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Western Michigan
12-20-3 10-15-3CCHA
U-M Takes CCHA Series Lead Over Western Michigan
3/10/2000 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Michigan (25-8-4) got on the scoreboard early when Langfeld beat Bronco goalie Jeff Raynaert from inside the right circle just 1:37 into the contest. The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead on J.J. Swistak's (West Bloomfield, Mich.) goal at the 7:59 mark of the opening period. Swistak was able to pick up a loose puck and avoid a check from Bronco defender David Gove before sliding the puck past Raynaert.
After a scoreless second period, the Wolverines extended their lead to 3-0 early in the third on Mark Mink's (Livonia, Mich.) seventh goal of the season. After Mike Cammalleri's (Richmond Hill, Ontario) breakaway attempt was stopped by Rayneart, Geoff Koch (Exeter, N.H.) fired Cammalleri's rebound off the goaltender's pads before Mink flipped the loose puck over Raynaert's shoulder and into the net.
Steve Rymsha put Western Michigan (12-20-3) on the board 3:22 into the third when his shot from below the right circle beat Josh Blackburn (Choctaw, Okla.). The Broncos added a second goal when Michael Bishai's shot from inside the slot beat Blackburn shortside at the 5:35 mark to cut the Wolverine lead to 3-2. Both teams failed to score on power-play opportunities before Matzka put Michigan ahead 4-2 with just 2:45 left in the game.
Blackurn made 17 saves on the night, improving his record to 12-2-4. Western Michigan's Reynaert stopped 25 shots and suffered the defeat, dropping his record to 12-18-3.
The Wolverines and Broncos will play Game 2 of the best-of-three series Saturday night (March 11) at Yost Ice Arena with the opening faceoff set for 7:05 p.m. The game will be televised by FOX Sports Net Detroit. Should a Game 3 be necessary, it will be 7:05 p.m. on Sunday (March 12).
N O T E S
Mark Mink is now tied for the team lead with three game-winning goals. Mike Comrie (Edmonton, Alberta), Scott Matzka and Josh Langfeld also have three game-winning goals each.
Defenseman Jay Vancik (West Bloomfield, Mich.) was +4 tonight against the Broncos to set a team season high. Vancik now leads the team with +27.
Josh Langfeld needs one more goal to reach 50 in his career, which will place him among the top 50 all-time at Michigan.
Josh Langfeld leads the team with 8-8-16 in eight career games against Western Michigan.
Western Michigan's goals were the first even-strength goals the Broncos have scored against the Wolverines this season. Their previous five goals against Michigan all came on the power play.
Prior to tonight's game, the Wolverines and Broncos each were averaging over 30 PIM in each of the previous 10 meetings. Tonight the teams combined for just 18 PIM (WMU 8, U-M 10).
Q U O T E S
Head Coach Red Berenson
On tonight's game ... "It was a game of momentum. I thought we had pretty good momentum in the first period, particularly the first 10 or 12 minutes. Then you could see it starting to slip. In the second period, [Western Michigan] came out and played a good period, and I thought we were on our heels in that period. We were fortunate to get out of the period with a two-goal lead. The third period was a continuation of the second period; we never really got going. They played hard. Hopefully we learned a lesson tonight, and we're going to have to play better."
On the play of junior Josh Langfeld ... "Hopefully, this is going to get him going, because he's had a so-called off-year considering he scored 20 goals his first two seasons. He has been playing hurt, and he's been frustrated, but hopefully that goal will get him going. He's had stretches where he's played well and not scored; so it's nice to see him pick up a goal and have some good chances."
On the penalty kill ... "The penalty killing needed to be strong, and the goalkeeping was strong when the penalty kill broke down. That was important because their power play is a very good power play. I thought our defense did a good job, and our penalty killers, for the most part, did a good job."
Sophomore Defenseman Jay Vancik
On tonight's game ... "We let them back into the game after we had a two-goal lead. We just let down defensively and really let them back in the game. I think we had a great first period; we started the game really well. We dominated them, and that's the way we have to play for the rest of playoffs every period."
Junior Forward Josh Langfeld
On the team's emotion in the game ... "I think we know the desperation it takes to go far in the playoffs, and we really didn't play with a lot of emotion tonight. If we want to be a team that can go far, we need to find that in our game; we need to find that emotion to play at the next level, because it only gets harder from here."
Junior Forward Scott Matzka
On his goal ... "It was a good transition play. (Jay) Vancik got it up to (Josh) Langfeld, and I just kind of streaked to the middle and just made a little move around their defenseman and shot it. I never really saw where it went."
On the game ... "I think we took our opponent a little too lightly. We really hammered them last game, but once we get a lead, this team doesn't do the little things it needs to do. In the second period and into the third period, we let it slip a little bit. When you get a win in playoffs, it's good. We can regroup for tomorrow night and for the rest of the playoffs."
Contact: Jason Gerdom (734) 763-4423
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