Michigan
4-1-1, 2-0-0CCHA
Lake Superior State
0-4-0, 0-2-0CCHA
Michigan Finishes Off Season Sweep of Lake Superior
10/23/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DETROIT, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team earned a 5-2 victory over Lake Superior State on Saturday (Oct. 23) at Joe Louis Arena. The triumph gives head coach Red Berenson his 537th career win, which puts him in sole possession of 10th place on the all-time collegiate coaching wins list. Four Wolverines had multi-point games, led by T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.), who had three points on one goal and two assists.
Michigan gave Lake Superior State the first two power plays of the game at 2:51 and 11:20. Goalie Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) and the U-M defense were challenged during both Laker opportunities but managed to keep the game scoreless.
Hensick got Michigan on the scoreboard first with a great individual effort at 14:48. Hensick received the puck just beyond his own blue line and faced a one-on-two disadvantage as he went through the neutral zone. Once he reached Laker territory, Hensick skated wide left around the defenders before cutting back through the low slot and tucking the puck into the far right corner of the net.
Michigan's lead was erased just 38 seconds into the second period when Alex Dunn scored for LSSU on the power play. Montoya attempted to clear the puck from behind his own net, but Dunn stopped it along the right side and shot it past Montoya as he was settling back into the crease.
The Wolverines received their second and third power-play opportunities of the game at 6:05 and 8:39, respectively. Michigan was unsuccessful during both man-advantages.
At 11:40, the Lakers took a 2-1 lead as Nathan Ward beat Montoya high to the stick side from the top of the circles. Ward received a feed by B.J. Pelkey from the right half-boards.
The Maize and Blue knotted the game at two goals apiece on a goal by Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) at 16:58. Hensick generated the chance by circling out from behind the net and shooting when he got to the slot. Hensick's shot was blocked in front, but Kolarik pounced on the puck and fired it past the downed goalie.
The Wolverines regained the lead, 3-2, with a power-play marker at 18:15. Nick Martens (Ann Arbor, Mich.) blasted a shot from the blue line that found its way through traffic in front and into the back of the Lakers goal.
After killing off a Lakers power play to begin the third period, Michigan upped its lead to 4-2 at 5:15. Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) skated down the right wing uncovered while Michigan had a three-on-two break. Gajic feathered a perfect pass to the far left wing for Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.) to tap into the net.
Michigan made it 5-2 at the 8:02 mark on a tally by Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.). Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) made a nice pass into the slot to David Moss (Livonia, Mich.), who then drew the defense and goalie to the left side. Werner snuck into the right circle and, after taking a crossing feed, easily deposited the puck into the net.
Michigan finished the rest of the game unscathed after killing off a trio of penalties in the game's final minutes.
Michigan's next game will be on Friday, Oct. 29, when Ferris State visits Yost Ice Arena for a 7:35 faceoff.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
