Michigan
19-6-1, 16-2-0CCHA
Ohio State
16-7-3, 13-4-1CCHA
Wolverines Ride Five-Goal Second to Win at Ohio State
1/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan hockey team earned a weekend split with No. 10 Ohio State thanks to a 6-3 victory on Saturday (Jan. 22) at Value City Arena. After no scoring in the first period, Michigan exploded for five goals in 12:01 during the second frame. OSU mounted a comeback in the final period, but the Wolverine defense clamped down and preserved the win. As a result, the Maize and Blue reestablished its five-point lead over second-place Ohio State in the CCHA standings.
Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) tied a career high with three points on one goal and two assists. He factored in on U-M's third (goal), fourth (assist) and fifth (assist) markers. T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) extended his career-best point streak to 10 games with one goal and one assist.
Michigan earned the first break of the game with a power play being awarded at 1:40 of the first period. U-M's power play generated just one shot during the man-advantage as OSU killed off the penalty. The Buckeyes were again penalized at 4:26 to give the Wolverines another chance with an extra skater. Just as before, U-M had just a single shot on goal from the point.
Michigan was whistled for its first infraction of the game with 5:30 left in the first period. Dan Knapp had the best chance while skating around the left edge and cutting back to the middle, but Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) was up to the challenge and smothered the shot.
The period was predominantly quiet with neither team gaining much of an edge in the tight-checking affair. Through 20 minutes, shots were a sparse 7-5 in favor of Michigan.
The Maize and Blue got its third power play of the contest at 3:29 of the second period. This time the Wolverines capitalized on the opportunity on a well-executed play along the OSU goal line to take a 1-0 advantage at 4:59. Taking a pass from Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.), Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) rifled a shot from the right corner through the crease for Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) to tip into the Buckeye net.
Just 16 seconds later the Wolverines struck again. Tambellini took a pass from Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) at the OSU blue line, eluded a check along the right wing and slid the puck between the legs of goalie Dave Caruso when he attempted a poke check.
The offensive flurry continued when Ryznar backhanded a shot from the slot over the shoulder of Caruso at 9:52 for a 3-0 U-M lead. Then at 12:12 Kolarik scored his second marker of the contest. Just after stepping out of the penalty box, Kolarik received a perfect pass from Hensick as he had snuck behind the Buckeye defense at the blue line. Kolarik skated in on the left side and flipped the puck high over the glove of OSU's goalie.
The scoring showcase concluded at the 17:00-minute mark when Eric Werner (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) made it 5-0 with the teams skating four-on-four. Werner took a spinning slap shot from the right circle upon taking a feed from Ryznar. The tally chased Caruso from the Ohio State net in favor of Ian Keserich.
The Buckeyes finally got on the scoreboard with a power-play marker from Matt Beaudoin at 4:44 of the third period. OSU cut its deficit to 5-2 with a rebound goal by Rod Pelley that beat Montoya to his blocker side at 7:32.
Another goal by Pelley at 12:37 made the score 5-3 and gave Ohio State a chance to get back into the game. OSU pressed hard in the final minutes of the game and tested Montoya heavily. The Wolverines hung on, however, and added an empty-net goal by Hensick with 12 seconds left to ice the victory.
Michigan returns to Yost Ice Arena next weekend (Jan. 28-29) to take on Northern Michigan in a two-game series. Both games are scheduled to start at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
