Michigan
24-12-2
Nebraska-Omaha
8-25-5
Nebraska-Omaha Beats Michigan, Forces Game Three
3/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7 University of Michigan ice hockey team failed to eliminate Nebraska-Omaha in the first round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs with a 3-1 loss on Saturday (March 13) at Yost Ice Arena. The Mavericks (8-25-5) blocked a total of 30 shots on the night, as the Wolverines struggled to get shots on net through the UNO defense.
Maverick freshman goaltender Chris Holt registered 29 saves on the shots that did make it through to goal, while senior forward Andrew Wong tallied the game-winning goal 9:40 into the second period. Freshman forward Mike Brown (Northbrook, Ill.) scored the lone goal for the Wolverines (24-12-2) 2:55 into the first period, but Nebraska-Omaha's defense silenced the Michigan attack the rest of the way to force Michigan to its fourth-ever Game 3.
Brown gave the Wolverines an early lead with rebound goal nearly three minutes into the game. After a faceoff win by junior forward Dwight Helminen (Brighton, Mich.), freshman defender Jason Dest (Fraser, Mich.) slid a pass to junior forward Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.), who fired a quick wrist shot from just inside the left faceoff circle. Holt kept Nystrom's shot out of the net with a blocker save but the puck caromed directly to Brown in front of the Maverick goal and the freshman forward calmly slid a one-time shot past Holt to give Michigan a 1-0 lead.
The Mavericks evened the score with six minutes remaining in the first period when forward Scott Parse netted a five-on-three power-play marker. Parse, who was stationed on the left side of the goal line, received a pass from Andrew Wong and slid a low, near-post shot past sophomore goaltender Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.).
After fending off a number of Michigan power-play opportunities early in the second period, Wong put the Mavericks on top 2-1 with an even-strength tally at 9:40. The scoring sequence started as forward Kaleb Betts fired a wrist shot on Montoya, which the Wolverine goaltender corralled between his legs. Montoya then lost control of the puck, as it trickled through his legs and toward the Michigan goal line. Wong pounced on the loose puck and slid it into the Wolverine net.
After a frantic first half of the third period, junior forward Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Ala.) came within inches of evening the score with 12:30 remaining when he rang a wrist shot off the left post. After receiving a pass from junior forward David Moss (Livonia, Mich.), Ryznar streaked into the Maverick zone and cut into the slot. He then fired a low wrist shot which beat Holt but found the inside of the left post.
With just over eight minutes remaining in the game, the Wolverines pushed hard to convert on their first power-play opportunity of the period and even the score, but as was the case for most of the game the Maverick defense frustrated Michigan with tight coverage. On the power play, the Wolverines managed only one shot on net while six shots were blocked by the UNO defense.
The Mavericks converted their stellar defensive play into a breakaway goal at 13:55 when forward Anthony Adams slipped a low wrist shot past Montoya to extend UNO's lead to 3-1. After receiving a pass from Alex Nikiforuk at mid-ice, Adams caught the Michigan defense in a line change and broke in alone on Montoya and converted the breakaway opportunity.
UNO's defensive trap kept the Wolverines at bay for the remainder of the game to seal the 3-1 victory.
With the victory, the Mavericks forced a decisive third game on Sunday night (March 14) at Yost Ice Arena. Opening faceoff is slated for 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
