Michigan
23-9-1, 17-7-1CCHA
Michigan State
19-12-2, 15-9-1CCHA
Michigan State Shutout Dampens Michigan's Senior Night
2/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: Michigan State 4, #8 Michigan 0
Records: U-M (23-9-1, 17-7-1 CCHA), MSU (19-12-2, 15-9-1 CCHA)
Attendance: 6,874
Next U-M Event: Saturday, March 1 -- vs. Michigan State (Detroit, Mich.), 7:35 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 8 University of Michigan ice hockey team had its seven-game home winning streak snapped by rival Michigan State 4-0 on Friday (Feb. 28), which was Senior Night at Yost Ice Arena. Michigan State opened up a 2-0 lead in the first period and went on to add a single marker in each of the final two periods. Although the Wolverines outshot the Spartans 37-25, they could not beat goalie Matt Migliaccio.
Neither team earned control to start the contest, though Michigan had four of the first five shots on goal. The Spartans opened the scoring, however, 8:02 in when a wrist shot from the left point by Joe Markusen found its way through a collection of players in the slot.
Midway through the period, the Wolverines buzzed around the MSU zone and had a few open chances but were denied by Migliaccio and sliding defenders. Michigan State added its second goal at 11:33 on what seemed to be a harmless dump-in by Brian Maloney. After freshman goalie Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) struggled to corral the bouncing puck, Lee Falardeau chipped it past him at the left post.
Senior defenseman Mike Roemensky (White Lake, Mich.) had a prime scoring chance with over three minutes to go as he was left alone between the circles to wind up and fire a slap shot into the midsection of the goalie. A rebound bounced around in front of the net but U-M could not capitalize on it. The Wolverines then drew the first power play of the game 45 seconds later but could not convert. Freshman forward Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.) had the best opportunity when a deflected shot trickled toward the right side post, but Migliaccio dove to knock the puck away before Ebbett could slide it into the open net. Shots were 13-7 in favor of Michigan in the first 20 minutes.
Michigan started off the second period on a bad note as it took a penalty after only 38 seconds had elapsed. The Wolverines successfully killed the penalty and quickly turned back to the offensive end of the ice. Michigan forced Migliaccio to make numerous saves but could not sneak the puck past him. At 7:46, U-M had its momentum stunted when a hooking call behind the play ended a rush through the neutral zone.
During the power play, Michigan State caught a tremendous break when John-Michael Liles feathered a pass from the left circle that missed its intended target yet ricocheted to Maloney at the far post for a slam-dunk goal since Montoya was out of position. The tally came at 8:46.
The Maize and Blue picked up its second power play of the game at the 13:13 mark. Unfortunately, the Wolverines struggled to set up in the MSU zone and mustered only one true scoring chance, which was gloved by the goalie. Michigan's troubles continued as bad bounces and turnovers turned into Michigan State opportunities. To end the period, U-M gave Michigan State a power play that would carry over into the third period. Through two frames, U-M was still outshooting MSU, 26-17.
Only 17 seconds into the final period, the Spartans converted their second power-play goal to make the score 4-0. From the blue line, Liles hit Maloney with a pass that he tipped through Montoya's legs as he streaked from the left corner to the front of the goal. Minutes later at 16:50, U-M inserted freshman goalie Noah Ruden (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) in favor of Montoya.
Michigan took a penalty at 7:56 but MSU evened up things at four skaters a side by earning its own penalty 40 seconds later. Michigan did not gain any scoring opportunities during its abbreviated man advantage. Throughout the remainder of the contest, Michigan put together numerous rushes into the MSU zone but could never generate any high-quality scoring chances.
Michigan will take another shot at giving head coach Red Berenson his 500th career win when the Wolverines conclude their four-game season series with Michigan State tomorrow (Saturday, March 1) at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. Faceoff will commence at 7:35 p.m.
Q U O T E S
U-M Head Coach Red Berenson
On Michigan's play tonight ... "I saw a team, to a man, that was probably less ready to play in this game than any game I can remember since Christmas. I can't tell you why, we just weren't sharp. We didn't get any get any bounces, we didn't make any bounces. We gave up some ugly goals, I can't tell you it was our goalie's fault, just ugly goals, goals that shouldn't go in or wouldn't go in in a normal game, and of course we gave them confidence every time we gave them a goal. We couldn't get it turned around. We couldn't do it with our power play. Even though we generated some good shots, it hit someone, it just wasn't to be tonight. This was a poor game for Michigan to a man. We weren't good offensively, we weren't good defensively. It was one of those games and Michigan State played a strong game right from the start."
On the third goal ... "We needed to turn the game around and that's what you try to obviously after the end of each period is try to regroup. We've been a real good team in the second period and it just didn't happen tonight. And then in the third period, we couldn't score the goal and they scored a quick goal that killed us."
N O T E S
• Michigan was shut out for the first time since Oct. 26, 2001, when it fell by a 1-0 score to Northern Michigan at Yost Ice Arena.
• Michigan lost at home for the first time in eight games and just the second time this season, dropping U-M's record at Yost Ice Arena to 14-2.
• Michigan gave up more than one goal (2) in the first period at home for just the second time this season. Ferris State score three times on Jan. 31 at Yost.
• U-M was held scoreless at home in the first period for only the third time this year. The last time Michigan failed to earn a marker was against Miami (Ohio) on Jan. 4.
• Michigan did not score at home in the second period for the second time this season. Northern Michigan prevented any second-period U-M tallies on Feb. 8.
• Michigan dropped to 18-7-1 when outshooting its opponent. The Wolverines had 37 shots to MSU's 25.
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
