Michigan
11-4-1/9-1-0
Notre Dame
3-8-4/2-7-3
Eight is Enough: Michigan Polishes Off Golden Domers
12/4/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team eased past Notre Dame to earn the series sweeps by a score of 8-0 on Saturday (Dec. 4) at the Joyce Center. The Wolverines scored five times on the power play and outshot the Fighting Irish 48-16. Each of U-M's freshmen -- Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) and Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) -- recorded career highs. Porter had two goals and two assists, while Kolarik had a goal and two assists. Al Montoya (Gleview, Ill.) earned his 12th career shutout, three shy of Marty Turco's (1995-98) U-M career record.
The Wolverines got off to a fast start by way of a rebound goal from T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) at 1:53 of the first period. Assists were awarded to Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and Porter.
Michigan upped its advantage to 2-0 at 4:03 while on the power play. Porter fired a pass across the top of the circles from the right side to Kolarik for a one-timer. Kolarik's shot from the left circle deflected into the air in front but still found its way up and over goalie Morgan Cey for the score.
The U-M lead was tested minutes later as a result of being whistled for consecutive penalties at 5:35 and 7:01. The penalty-killing units successfully protected the net with the help of timely stops by Montoya, who later made a big save in front on a two-on-one with 5:15 remaining in the first period to keep U-M ahead by two.
With 28 seconds remaining in the first frame Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) scored Michigan's second power-play goal of the game off assists from David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) and Kolarik. The Wolverines outshot the Fighting Irish 20-8 in the first 20 minutes.
In net, Notre Dame replaced Cey in favor of David Brown to begin the middle period. The Maize and Blue continued to control the pace of the game throughout the period and added its third power-play score on a one-timer from the low slot by Porter at 12:38. Hensick fed a pass across the goalmouth from the left side for the bang-in tally.
Less than a minute later at 13:10, Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) found the back of the Irish net with a wrister over Brown's shoulder from the slot. The Wolverines took the 5-0 lead into the second intermission with a 33-12 shooting advantage.
In the third period, Porter added his second score of the night at 4:54. Notre Dame's Jason Paige was then given a five-minute major for butt-ending. Tambellini scored U-M's fourth goal on the man advantage at 6:02 when he banked the puck off the ND goalie from the right corner.
With a five-on-three advantage at 6:41 Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) notched Michigan's fifth power-play goal.
Michigan finishes up its first half of the 2004-05 season when it faces Bowling Green in another home-and-home series on Dec. 10-11. U-M hosts first on Friday (Dec. 10) with a 7:35 p.m. faceoff at Yost Ice Arena.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
