Michigan
9-2-0, 5-2-0CCHA
Ohio State
7-5-0, 6-3-0CCHA
Montoya, Wolverines Post Shutout Victory at Ohio State
11/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 5 University of Michigan hockey team earned its ninth win of the season with a 4-0 victory against the No. 14 Ohio State Buckeyes Friday night (Nov. 14) at Value City Arena. Freshman Mike Brown (Northbrook, Ill.) scored the game-winner for the Maize and Blue, while sophomore Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) made the goal stand up with 30 saves in the game.
Montoya earned his second straight blanking of OSU, while junior forward Dwight Helminen (Brighton, Mich.) broke out of a six-game scoreless streak with a goal and an assist.
The Wolverines struck first to secure the 1-0 lead when Brown netted his second goal of the season at 8:18. Linemate Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) cycled the puck down low in the right corner with Helminen. Helminen picked up the puck in the corner and slotted a pass to Brown, who was crashing the crease. Brown's one-time attempt beat Mike Betz to his left.
Junior Nick Martens (Ann Arbor, Mich.) then made the score 2-0 just three minutes before intermission with a wrist shot from the point. Martens recieved the puck from freshman T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) before firing a shot through the traffic in front of Betz. Junior Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) used his size to keep the puck in the zone, taking on an OSU wing with his shoulder as he shoveled the puck deep to Hensick.
The Maize and Blue nearly built a three-goal lead minutes into the second frame when Michael Woodford Jr. (Westford, Mass.) intercepted a Buckeye pass just inside the OSU zone during a penalty kill. Woodford moved in on net alone, deking to Betz' right before firing a shot glove side. Betz was up to the task, however, with a quick grab with his glove.
Montoya kept the Buckeyes off the board with 16 saves in the second period, including a glove save at 10:24 on a shot by OSU senior Doug Andress. With the puck on the right point on a Buckeye power play, Andress' shot on net made it through to the Michigan goal, but Montoya caught it high to his glove side as he fell to the ice.
With 3:21 remaining in the period, Montoya was again a factor with U-M on the penalty kill, as he grabbed the puck from mid-air to stop the play with two Wolverines on the ice in front of the crease.
Helminen scored Michigan's third goal 5:39 into the third period, swiping home a rebound from Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.). Gajic took the puck out of the right corner and stickhandled around an OSU defender to the front of the net before firing a backhander at Betz. The rebound was kicked to the left side of the goal right to Helminen, who was curling out from behind the net.
Hensick added a late insurance goal to put Michigan ahead 4-0 with just 3:47 remaining in the game. Freshman defenseman Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) started the play by chipping the puck through the neutral zone. Woodford reached the puck at the halfboards and drew both OSU players, leaving Hensick alone in front. Woodford found Hensick, who deked Betz and put away a backhand shot.
The Wolverines (9-2-0, 5-2-0 CCHA) play the final game of the weekend against Ohio State (7-4-0, 6-3-0) Saturday night (Nov. 15) at Value City Arena. The opening faceoff is slated for 8:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast tape-delayed by WTKA (1050 AM) following the Michigan-Northwestern football game.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
