Michigan
8-2-1, 6-1-0
Michigan State
5-5-1, 3-4-0
U-M Takes Early Edge in Season Series With Spartans
11/18/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked Michigan ice hockey defeated Michigan State, 4-2, on Thursday (Nov. 18) at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Mich. Goaltender Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) was spectacular in net, making 29 saves. Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) scored the eventual game-winner while the Wolverines were short-handed early in the third period. The victory was U-Ms first in East Lansing since Jan. 7, 2000 (2-0), ending a five-game drought (0-3-2).
The opening minutes of the first period featured consistent pressure by both offenses. After a Michigan defender fell down during an MSU rush in the opening minute, Montoya held his ground at the right post and kicked away a shot. On U-Ms ensuing rush David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) had a rebound chance at the left post but was stopped by Dominic Vicari.
Just one minute later, Montoya made a big save when Ash Goldie took a shot from the slot aimed for his five-hole. Seconds after that chance, Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) fired from almost the identical spot on the ice in Spartan territory but was also denied.
T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) broke the scoring open at 13:08 by ripping a shot over Vicaris extended glove from the right hash. Hensick received the puck by way of an errant clearing pass by a Spartan defender deep in his own zone.
Montoya continued his solid play with a glove save on Colton Fretter, MSUs leading scorer, with just under four minutes remaining in the period. MSU out-shot Michigan 16-8 in the first period of play.
To begin the second stanza, U-M killed off a carry-over penalty from the first period. However, the Wolverines could not keep the Spartans off the scoreboard on their second power play of the night. At 4:04, Jim Slater found the puck amidst a pile of players in front of the net and flipped it over a downed Montoya to tie the game at 1-1.
Rohlfs pushed the Wolverines back ahead, 2-1, at 12:59 with a breakaway marker. Both teams were hacking at a loose puck near the center line until it bounced off of Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) directly to Rohlfs. Calmly, Rohlfs settled the bouncing puck, made a deke in the slot and backhanded a shot over Vicari.
Just 45 seconds into the third period, Montoya was tested by David Booth, who had broken in alone and sent a hard snap shot into the goalies midsection. Following the whistle, MSU was awarded a power play.
Despite being short-handed, it was the Michigan that picked up the next score. David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) intercepted an MSU pass in the neutral zone, skated along the ride side and had a shot stopped by the MSU goalie. The rebound deflected out to the high slot where Werner was waiting to slap it between Vicaris legs to give Michigan a 3-1 advantage at 1:21.
Mike Brown (Northbrook, Ill.) gave the Wolverines a 4-1 lead with an unassisted, wraparound goal at the left post that barely snuck past the Spartan goalie.
Michigan killed off its fourth penalty of the game during the middle of the third period. With 7:34 left, Montoya stoned Jim Slaters wrister from between the circles to keep U-M comfortably ahead.
MSUs Brian Lerg trimmed the Michigan lead to 4-2 at 15:14 when he tipped a pass by Peder Skinner into the net from the right side.
The Wolverine defense clamped down in the final minutes to preserve its 4-2 victory.
The Spartans and Wolverines will take a day off tomorrow before they end the weekend series at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday, Nov. 20 with a 7:35 p.m. face off.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
