Michigan
0-1-0
Northeastern
1-0-0
Wolverines Beaten by Northeastern in Season Opener
10/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DAYTON, Ohio -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team was upended by Northeastern, 4-2, Friday (Oct. 8) at the Lefty McFadden Invitational in each team's first game of the season. The Wolverines held a 2-1 lead in the second period before the Huskies scored back-to-back power-play goals in the second frame and a final marker in the last minute of the third. Jason Guerriero led all scorers with one goal and two assists.
The opening period of play was riddled with penalties as U-M had three power-play chances, while the Huskies had four of their own. On Michigan's second opportunity with the man advantage Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) one-timed a shot into the NU net at 10:11 to give Michigan a 1-0 lead. As T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) circled toward the blue line on the right side he fired a pass across the zone to Gajic, who was in the left slot.
Just seconds after the Michigan tally Northeastern had a prime scoring chance as Mike Morris broke in alone from the right side. He was denied though, as Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) stopped his attempt to the stick side. Any subsequent opportunities were negated when Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) knocked the loose puck aside.
Gajic had two more chances on the next Wolverine power play with seven minutes left. After a long breakout pass by Montoya, Gajic was stymied at the left post by NU goalie Keni Gibson. The follow-up shot by Gajic was again stopped.
While killing a penalty in the final minute of play, the Wolverines survived a scare when a Northeastern player banked the puck off Montoya from behind the net and it sat in the crease for a few seconds. Defenders Jason Dest (Fraser, Mich.) and Werner tied up the Huskies in front and were able to slap the puck out of danger. The Wolverines successfully killed off their fourth infraction of the period to hold a 1-0 advantage after 20 minutes of play.
Fifteen seconds into the second frame Michigan had a goal waved off as Mike Brown (Northbrook, Ill.) was ruled to have directed the puck into the net with his skate. The Huskies notched a goal that did count just 30 seconds later. Ray Ortiz and Guerriero had a two-on-one break with Guerriero's initial shot being stopped by Montoya. Ortiz followed the shot though, and tipped the puck into the net while Montoya was still recovering.
David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) reestablished Michigan's lead at 5:37 with the assist being credited to Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.). While cutting across the front of the net alone, Moss waited for the Husky goalie to make the first move before drawing the puck to his backhand on the left side and flipping a shot high over the sprawled goalie.
The Huskies responded with two goals to end the second period and had a 3-2 advantage heading into the second intermission. Northeastern tied the game at 9:31 on the power play when Josh Robertson tipped a shot by Montoya from in front. Again on the power play, Guerriero gave the Huskies a 3-2 lead at 15:59. Guerriero received a pass while stationed at the right post with no defenders around, allowing him enough time to fake one way and tuck the puck short side around Montoya.
With just under eight minutes remaining in the game the Wolverines had two great chances to tie the game. At the end of U-M's final power play Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) found space in the slot for a one-timer, but his low shot was turned away. Seconds later, Hensick had a near open net to shoot at from the left side but misfired wide of the goal.
Montoya did his best in the final minutes to keep the Maize and Blue in it with a glove save while falling backwards after a two-on-one chance and a breakaway stop just after that. However, Northeastern sealed the upset victory with 52 seconds remaining on a point shot by Donny Grover that beat Montoya glove side.
The Wolverines conclude their weekend at the Lefty McFadden Invitational on Saturday (Oct. 9) with a matinee contest against Boston University at 4:30 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
