Michigan
9-3-1, 7-1-0CCHA
Minnesota
9-3-0, 6-2-0WCHA
Michigan Drops Showcase Opener at No. 3 Minnesota
11/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The top-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team lost to No. 3 Minnesota, 5-1, at Mariucci Arena on the first day of the 12th annual College Hockey Showcase. The loss ended the Wolverines' six-game road unbeaten streak (5-0-1) at the College Hockey Showcase.
Ryan Potulny, the nation's leading goal scorer, wasted little time in giving the Golden Gophers the lead to start the game. At 3:10, he smacked home a rebound near the left hash after a shot by Ben Gordon hit the crossbar and deflected right to him. Just 28 seconds later Potulny scored on another rebound, this time from the right side, to up the Minnesota lead to 2-0.
Michigan earned a power play at 5:50 but despite numerous chances could not cut into the Golden Gopher lead.
Jake Fleming found space above Al Montoya's (Glenview, Ill.) glove from the right wing at 11:55 to make it 3-0. Less than one minute later at 12:46, Gino Guyer skated around the Michigan defense from the right side and slid the puck between Montoya's legs to make it 4-0.
The Wolverines finally broke through on the scoreboard at 15:19 on a marker by David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.). Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) took a shot from the left circle that was deflected, and the puck eventually bounced out from behind the net to Rohlfs' stick at the right post, where he was able to flip it past a confused Kellen Briggs.
To begin the second period, Minnesota reestablished its four-goal advantage at 1:32 on a wrist shot from the point by Mike Vannelli that found its way through traffic into the left side of the net.
At 15:49, Michigan received its second power play of the game. Unfortunately, the Maize and Blue could not capitalize on the opportunity.
To start the third period, goalie Noah Ruden (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) relieved Montoya in net. Five minutes into the final frame, Tambellini had a breakaway go awry as Briggs stopped his low wrist shot from the left circle. Rohlfs then had a rebound chance but Briggs smothered that chance as well.
In the final minutes the Wolverines had a few more high-quality chances but Briggs was up to the task each time, preserving the 5-1 Gopher victory.
The Wolverines will conclude the 2004 College Hockey Showcase on Saturday (Nov. 27) when they meet No. 2 Wisconsin for a 7:05 p.m. CST bout at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
