Michigan
16-5-1, 13-1-0
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
Western Michigan
9-10-1, 4-9-1
Kaleniecki's Hat Trick Gives Michigan Sweep of Broncos
1/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team survived a wild Western Michigan "blackout" with a 6-5 victory in front of 4,575 fans at Lawson Ice Arena. Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) tallied his second career hat trick, which included the game-winning, power-play goal with just 53 seconds left in regulation. Five other Wolverines recorded multiple points to help the Wolverines earn their fifth straight sweep in CCHA play.
The first five minutes of play were non-stop with intense physical play coming from both the Wolverines and Broncos. WMU earned the first break of the game at the 4:12 mark. Mike Lesperance took the puck wide in the U-M zone and threw the puck out front from behind the net. With players from both teams crashing the crease Ryan Mahrle snuck the puck past Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.), who was buried under a myriad of players.
The Wolverines garnered their first man-advantage at 6:21 and quickly capitalized with a score at 6:55. T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) skated the puck through the neutral zone and into the right circle before sending the puck on net. A deflection in front put the puck into the left circle where Milan Gajic (Burnaby, B.C.) was waiting to slap it behind goalie Daniel Bellissimo.
Western Michigan answered with its own power-play goal to make it 2-1 at 13:43. Pat Dwyer skated down the left wing and flicked a backhand pass through two U-M defenders to a wide-open Vince Bellissimo for a one-timer from the right circle.
The penalty-riddled first period concluded with 26 total penalty minutes. The Wolverines were 1-for-3 on the power play while WMU was 1-for-2.
Barring a few penalties the second period was dormant until the Wolverines scored four times in 2:53. Kaleniecki started things off at 11:13 when he roofed a crossing pass from David Moss (Livonia, Mich.) from the right hash mark. Just 32 seconds later Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) gave the Maize and Blue its first lead of the game at 3-2. After a three-on-one save by Montoya on WMU, Tambellini took control of the puck in his own zone and streaked down the right wing with Kolarik for a two-on-one. Kolarik initially mishandled a crossing pass on the left side but he stayed focused and batted the puck out of midair into the net.
Kaleniecki and Moss hooked up again at 13:38 to up Michigan's lead to 4-2. Moss fed the puck across the crease from the right side for Kaleniecki to stuff between Bellissimo's legs. Tambellini then hit the back of the Broncos' net at 14:06 off a faceoff win by Kolarik and a quick pass by Nick Martens (Ann Arbor, Mich.) to make it a 5-2 affair.
In the final minute of the second stanza Western Michigan battled back with two tallies 32 seconds apart. Jonathan Lupa beat Montoya low from the right point at 19:15. Then Mike Erickson scored on the power play at 19:47. Tempers flared at the end of the period and two penalties were assessed to each team in the final seconds.
Through two periods of play the Wolverines were clinging to a 5-4 advantage after being outshot 26-16.
The Broncos appeared to knot the game up at 5-5 with 13:13 left to play, but a Western Michigan forward was clearly in the Michigan goal crease when the puck crossed the goal line. However, Western Michigan did match Michigan's goal total at 12:17 while on the power play. Jim McNamara took a pass that slithered slowly through the slot and flipped the puck up and over a sprawled-out Montoya from the right post.
WMU took a penalty with 6:20 left in regulation but the Wolverines could not score the go-ahead marker. Nevertheless, Michigan was awarded another power play with just 2:19 remaining. This time the Wolverines cashed in on their opportunity. Hensick and Gajic played catch on the left side of the Western Michigan zone. Gajic finally shot from the lower left circle and the rebound bounced up into the air. Kaleniecki swung his stick at the puck and got just enough of it to put it into the net.
The Broncos did not quit, however, and pulled the goalie in the waning seconds. Montoya made a great left pad save as he slid across the crease to preserve the one-goal victory.
The Wolverines return home for a two-game set against Alaska Fairbanks next weekend (Jan. 14-15). Both games are 7:35 p.m. starts.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
