Michigan
20-7-1, 17-3-0CCHA
Northern Michigan
13-8-5, 11-6-3CCHA
Resurgent Power Play Helps Wolverines Past Wildcats
1/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The match-up between the No. 4-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team and the Northern Michigan Wildcats drew a large crowd or 6,948 to Yost Ice Arena tonight (Saturday, Jan. 29). Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) fought off the Wildcat third-period push, making 19 overall saves to seal the U-M 3-1 victory.
The Wolverines broke open the scoring at 4:24 on their first power-play opportunity of the night. Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.), stationed behind the Wildcat net, hit Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) with a quick pass that Nystrom flicked the puck high glove-side from point-blank range, giving Michigan the early 1-0 lead.
U-M's power-play unit continued to produce, capitalizing on its second straight man-advantage. Hobey Baker Award candidate T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) initiated the effort by controlling the puck along the left boards and skating toward the middle, drawing both defenders toward him. He slid the puck in the left circle to Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.), who knocked it through the slot to Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.). Porter beat Tuomas Tarkki with the one-timer for the 2-0 margin.
At the close of the first frame, the Wolverines had tallied 13 shots on goal. The Wildcats trailed with only three shots.
Montoya defended the Michigan lead near the 15-minute mark of the second period. Darin Olver had the step on his defender and skated in on Montoya all alone. Montoya came out of his net to cut the angle and forced the shot wide.
Michigan had three-power plan chances in the second period but failed to increase its two-goal lead. The Wolverine defense held NMU to only four shots.
Gajic notched goal number three for the Maize and Blue at 2:33 of the third stanza. Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) passed to Gajic from the right, and Gajic whacked a slap shot, beating Tarkki high on the near side.
The Wildcats finally got on the board at 11:54 of the third period. Kevin Gardner won the faceoff back to Jamie Miliam, who wound up and fired a slap shot on net. Montoya never saw the shot through a screen in front.
With two Wolverines in the penalty box, the U-M penalty kill unit had to defend the 3-1 lead skating two men down for 1:41. Montoya came up big with three clutch saves to successfully kill off the penalties.
Michigan will face Michigan State next Friday (Feb. 4) at Yost Ice Arena with a 7:35 p.m. start.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 764-4423
