2002-03 IHM at Minnesota -- postgame notes
12/1/2002 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Michigan posted two wins in this year's College Hockey Showcase, marking the first time since 2000 U-M has run the table against its WCHA foes. Overall, the Wolverines have swept four Showcases (1996, '97, 2000, '02).
The Wolverines improved their record in the College Hockey Showcase to 14-5-1 with the win today and remained the Showcase's winningest team. Michigan State is second with a 12-6-2 mark.
U-M snapped a two-game losing streak to the Gophers with the win and avenged a 3-2 loss to Minnesota in the semifinals of last year's NCAA Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn.
Michigan extended its unbeaten streak on the road to 15 games (11-0-4). The Wolverines have not lost in an opponent's building since Oct. 19, 2001.
The Wolverines are unbeaten (5-0-1) on the road during the Showcase since it moved to campus sites in 1997.
U-M improved its record in non-conference play to 5-1-0. The Wolverines have two non-conference games remaining on their schedule, with both games coming in the 38th annual Great Lakes Invitational on Dec. 28-29 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Michigan will face Michigan Tech (WCHA) in the semifinals and will face either Michigan State (CCHA) or Boston University (HEA) in the third-place or championship game.
Michigan snapped a two-game losing streak to the Gophers and recorded its first win over Minnesota since Nov. 25, 2000. U-M has not lost three straight to Minnesota since a six-game losing streak from Jan. 7, 1972, to Feb. 2, 1974.
Michigan scored first in both of its games during the College Hockey Showcase after giving up the game's first goal in the four previous outings. U-M is 8-1-0 this season when scoring first.
The Wolverines have scored a power-play goal in seven of the last eight games, including six straight.
Michigan netted its sixth shorthanded goal of the year -- and third in as many games -- to tie North Dakota for the national lead.
The Wolverines have netted a goal in the first period of play in the last six outings and have outscored their opponents 17-6 in the first 20 minutes of the game this year. In addition, U-M has scored a goal in the second period of every game this season and is outscoring opponents by a 25-6 margin during that stanza.
Michigan killed all four of Minnesota's power plays and has held its opponents scoreless on the power play in the last seven games.
The Wolverines have not outshot their opponent in the last four games.
Danny Richmond netted his second goal of the year and has both of his markers while U-M is on the power play. Richmond, who has 2-7-9 this season, has tallied a point in four of his last five games (1-4-5) and leads the team in scoring on the power play (2-4-6).
Dwight Helminen posted his third shorthanded goal of the year and leads the country with three goals on the penalty kill. Helminen, who has 3-1-4 shorthanded this year, leads the Wolverines with 6-8-14 totals. Helminen has recorded a point in his last four games, tallying 2-3-5, and has scored a shorthanded goal in two of his last three outings.
Mike Roemensky tallied his third point of the season with an assist on Helminen's shorthanded marker and has 1-2-3 this season after 14 games, surpassing his point total from 18 games a year ago (0-2-2).
Andrew Ebbett notched his first point on the road this season with an assist on U-M's first goal.
Sophomore forward Michael Woodford (Westford, Mass.) has eight assists after 14 games, including a helper on U-M's first goal. He recorded 11 in 43 appearances during the 2001-02 campaign.
Al Montoya stopped a career-high 38 shots, surpassing his previous best of 35 against Notre Dame on Nov. 22. Montoya also held his opponent to a single goal for the second time in as many games, marking the third weekend of the season he has limited opponents to two markers or less.
