Michigan
23-11-2, 18-8-2
Michigan State
21-15-2, 17-9-2
Michigan Blanked by Spartans But Still Wins CCHA Title
3/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
DETROIT, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team continued to struggle away from Yost Ice Arena as it fell 1-0 to Michigan State Saturday night (March 6) at Joe Louis Arena. Despite the loss, the No. 6 Wolverines (23-11-2, 18-8-2 CCHA) clinched the CCHA regular-season title and earned the No. 1 seed in the upcoming CCHA tournament thanks to a Miami (Ohio) loss at Ohio State.
| | Montoya kept the Wolverines in the contest with 25 saves. |
The game's lone goal came from junior Mike Lalonde at 14:24 of the third period. After Montoya was unable to control a shot from freshman Tommy Goebel, the puck trickled out into the slot and onto the stick of Lalonde. With Wolverine defenders all around him, Lalonde chipped a backhand shot over the right shoulder of Montoya and into the Wolverine net for the game-winner.
In the opening period, freshman defender Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) nearly broke the scoreless deadlock at 11:10 during four-on-four action. After a scrum in the right corner of the MSU zone, a wide-open Hunwick received a cross-ice pass from junior forward Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) inside of the left faceoff circle. With a Spartan defender converging on him, Hunwick fired a wrist shot toward the upper left corner of the MSU net, but Vicari deflected the puck high over the net with his left elbow.
The Wolverines continued to put pressure on Vicari late in the first period as junior defender Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) nearly converted on a wraparound attempt at 18:11. After collecting a failed Spartan clearning attempt, Werner skated behind the MSU net, wheeled out in front, and fired a quick forehand shot on Vicari. Vicari kept the puck out of the net with his right blocker and quickly covered the loose puck to end the Michigan threat. Vicari finished the period with 10 saves, while Montoya registered eight saves to keep the Spartans off the board.
Vicari continued his hot play in the second period as he stuffed junior forward Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) on a point-blank opportunity with just over six minutes remaining in the period. Ryznar, who received a pass from freshman forward T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.), skated in alone on Vicari and fired a close-range backhand shot. Vicari was once again up to the task as he smothered the shot and cleared it out of danger.
Only seconds later junior forward Michael Woodford Jr. (Westford, Mass.) received an outlet pass from a Wolverine defenseman and skated in on a breakaway. As Woodford prepared to shoot, the puck took an unexpected hop and caused the Wolverine forward to misfire on the puck.
In the final two minutes of the second period the Wolverines continued to pound the MSU net as they dominated possession and generated a number of quality opportunities. Despite their efforts, Michigan was unable to capitlize as Vicari continued his stellar play en route to 14 saves on the period. Montoya also continued his solid play in net for the Wolverines as he was forced to make a number of saves outside of the crease. The Michigan netminder recorded nine saves in the period.
Despite being outplayed late in the second period, the Spartans came out firing in the first minute of the final stanza with a flurry of shots on the Wolverine net. Montoya was forced to make a number of acrobatic saves, including a kick save from his back on a rebound shot from Jim Slater.
At 17:10 of the final period, the Spartans continued to apply pressure on the Michigan defense as David Booth nearly registered the game's first tally. After back-and-forth action, Booth received a pass just outside the Michigan zone and quickly skated into the left faceoff circle where he fired a hard slap shot on the Michigan net. Montoya was forced to make a sprawling glove save as the puck whistled toward the upper right hand corner of Wolverine net.
Just over two minutes later, Montoya once again denied Booth on a breakaway attempt to keep the game a scoreless tie. After a Wolverine turnover, Booth recovered the puck along the right side of the Michigan zone. With no defenders in sight Booth skated in alone on Montoya and fired a low wrist shot. Montoya was equal to the challenge as he turned away Booth with a pad save.
Lalonde's tally proved to be enough, as the Spartan defense kept the Wolverines off the board in the final five minutes of play. The Wolverines pulled their goalie with 43 seconds left to play but could not notch the equalizer.
The Wolverines resume play next Friday (March 12) when they take on Nebraska-Omaha in the first game of the best-of-three CCHA first-round playoff series at Yost Ice Arena. Opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Andrew Ladd (734) 763-4423
