Michigan
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Western Michigan
Tambellini, Hensick Net Two Each in Victory Over Broncos
1/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A buzzing crowd packed Yost Ice Arena Friday (Jan. 7) to witness battling power plays as the University of Michigan ice hockey team toppled Western Michigan 6-4. Half of the scoring came from the power-play units, with WMU tallying three and Michigan landing two goals with the extra attacker. Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) scored the game-winning goal and tied a career high with three points (2-1-3), while Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) tied a season high with another three-point effort (1-2-3).
The Broncos opened the scoring at 2:32 in the first frame. Paul Szcechura stole the puck from a Michigan defender near the hash marks and found an opening high above Al Montoya's (Glenview, Ill.) left shoulder. Michigan finally knotted the score at one with 2:40 left to play in the period. Gajic's shot slid away from WMU's netminder Dan Bellissimo onto the stick of T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.), who jammed the rebound over the goal line low on Bellissimo's stick side.
Hensick opened the second period with his second tally of the night coming at 1:29 during the power play. He controlled the puck from the left corner and carried it to the top of the circle and wristed the puck high into the left corner of the net, giving U-M the one-goal lead.
WMU tied the contest at two after a scramble down low in the Wolverine zone on the Bronco power play. With Montoya sprawling on the right side of the net, Mike Erickson flipped the puck over Montoya's stick and just inside the left post at 7:21. Just 37 seconds later, Tambellini caught Bellisimo sleeping off the faceoff, blasting the puck through his five-hole to once again gain the U-M lead.
The Wolverines continued to dominate with a perfect transition goal at the 10-minute mark. Brandon Rogers (Rochester, N.H.) got the play started by knocking the puck away from a WMU forward who was rushing the Wolverine net. Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) picked up the loose puck and fed it up to Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska), who carried the puck into Bronco territory. Gajic had a step on his defender and took the pass from Ryznar, skating at Bellissimo all alone. Gajic earned his third point of the game by sailing the puck high into the net.
Brent Walton notched WMU's third goal at 13:40 from the top of the right circle, tightening the duel at 4-3.
The third stanza began with the Maize and Blue leading by one goal. At 5:05, Tambellini earned his second goal of the game with a short-side, bad-angle rocket that skimmed the goal line behind Belllissimo and bounced in the net.
WMU fought back to within one at 10:50 while on the power play. Ryan Mahrle lifted the puck into the tight space between Montoya's shoulder and the crossbar, giving the Broncos their third power-play goal of the night.
David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) sealed the game at 16:37 with another U-M power-play goal. After Eric Nystrom's (Syosset, N.Y.) shot deflected through the crease, Moss tipped the rebound past Bellissimo for the 6-4 final score.
The Wolverines will travel to Kalamazoo, Mich., to complete the home-and-home series at Lawson Ice Arena tomorrow (Jan. 8). The puck is set to drop at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-7633
