Michigan
Minnesota
Wolverines Let Lead Slip Away, Lose to Minnesota in OT
4/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Site: Buffalo, N.Y. (HSBC Arena)
Event: NCAA Frozen Four
Score: #4 Minnesota 3, #7 Michigan 2 (OT)
Records: U-M (30-10-3), Minnesota (27-8-9)
Attendance: 18,702
Next U-M Event: Season Completed
• Postgame Notes | Quotes
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team suffered a 3-2 overtime loss Thursday night (April 10) in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal matchup against the University of Minnesota in front of 18,702 fans at HSBC Arena. Michigan (30-10-3) held a two-goal lead almost three-quarters of the way through the second period before the Golden Gophers (27-8-9) scored once in the second period and once in the third to set up freshman Thomas Vanek's game-winner 8:55 into the sudden-death extra session.
The Wolverines jumped on top of the Golden Gophers early, dominating play in the first period as they tallied 15 shots on goal compared to Minnesota's five, but Michigan only managed to capitalize on one on the its chances. Minnesota battled back in the second and third periods, holding a 27-18 shots-on-goal advantage throughout the rest of the contest. Neither team was able to light the lamp on with the man advantage, with the Wolverines going 0-5 while Minnesota went 0-4.
The Wolverines opened the scoring with 10:27 on the first-period clock when a faceoff victory from freshman forward Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.) trickled its way to freshman forward Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.), who picked up the puck in the high slot. Kaleniecki let go a wrist shot that beat Minnesota goaltender Travis Weber low to the glove side to give Michigan the early 1-0 lead.
Minnesota came out charging to begin the second period, forcing the play in the Wolverines defensive zone. It was Michigan, however, that was the first to capitalize in the second period. On a breakdown in the Gopher zone, freshman forward Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) picked up a loose puck on the far side boards and quickly slid the puck toward the goal, where senior forward Jed Ortmeyer (Omaha, Neb.) found himself wide open at the top of the crease. Ortmeyer brought the puck across the goal mouth to his backhand, opened Weber's legs, and slid the puck through the five-hole to give Michigan the 2-0 lead with 5:22 left in the second period.
Trailing by two goals with less than half of regulation time remaining, Minnesota continued to keep the pressure on, and just over three minutes later at the 17:45 mark of the third, the Gophers were finally able to sneak one past freshman goaltender Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.). After an initial shot from Matt Koalska at the top of the near faceoff circle, Vanek picked up the puck and flipped a shot toward the net. Montoya made the save, but the puck found its way underneath the netminder, and Gopher forward Troy Riddle poked the loose puck into the net from behind the actual goal to draw the Gophers within one. Minnesota came back in the second period to tally 15 shots on goal compared to Michigan's six.
Minnesota continued its solid play to open the third period. Just over a minute and a half into the period, Minnesota struck again, this time on a Michigan defensive zone breakdown. After Minnesota defenseman Chris Harrington just barely kept the puck in the zone and fed Barry Tallackson on the near side boards, Tallackson backhanded a pass into the low slot area where Minnesota forward Gino Guyer one-timed the pass through Montoya's five-hole to even the game at two goals apiece with 18:25 left in regulation.
The remainder of the third period saw each team enjoy multiple opportunities, with perhaps the best goal scoring chance coming in the Minnesota defensive zone with just three minutes left. After a shot from the point produced a rebound opportunity in front, sophomore forward Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) picked up the puck and had the majority of the near side net wide open. Minnesota defenseman Paul Martin scrambled to get his body in front of the puck and with a diving attempt blocked Ryznar's shot with his glove to help send the game into overtime.
Nine minutes into the overtime frame, Minnesota was cycling in Michigan's defensive zone in the near side corner when Vanek secured a loose puck, carried it to the near side post and wristed a shot that hit the inside of Montoya's left pad and ricocheted into the net. The goal gave the Gophers the overtime victory and a chance to repeat as national champions in Saturday's NCAA championship contest vs. New Hampshire, a 3-2 winner over Cornell in the other semifinal.
Contact: Paul Thomas (734) 763-4423
