Michigan
8-1-1, 4-1-1CCHA
Northern Michigan
5-4-0, 2-3-0CCHA
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MICHIGAN | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| NORTHERN MICHIGAN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Sauer Backstops Michigan to Win at Northern Michigan
11/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
MARQUETTE, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team scored two second-period goals and made them stand up to garner a 3-1 victory at Northern Michigan on Friday (Nov. 11). Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) and Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) scored at 4:35 and 6:37, respectively, of the second period. Goalie Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) was outstanding in net, blanking the Wildcats for 55:33 and making 25 saves. Michigan held NMU without a goal on six power-play chances.
Just 2:59 into the game the Wolverines were penalized for obstruction-hooking. U-M's penalty killers performed admirably, allowing just one shot on goal while blocking three.
At 5:57 the Wolverines got their chance on the power play when Patrick Murphy was called for boarding. Michigan finally registered its first shot on goal with 13:23 left in the opening stanza. U-M had one more shot, but it did not convert and the power play ended.
The Maize and Blue went back on the power play at 9:26. Twenty-five seconds into the power play T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) was sprung on a breakaway. Wildcat goalie Bill Zaniboni stopped Hensick, who made two dekes and tried to stuff the puck in low.
Hensick negated the power play 30 seconds later, and then another Michigan penalty gave NMU a four-on-three advantage. Sauer made two saves while on the penalty kill as his defense kept NMU at the edges of the offensive zone.
On the very next shift Michigan was buzzing in the Wildcats' zone. Defensemen David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) and Mark Mitera (Livonia, Mich.) had the two best opportunities, each with a shot from the slot. Although U-M did not get on the scoreboard Northern Michigan was forced to take a penalty to stop the Wolverines' offense.
Near the end of the ensuing power play, Michigan had two good chances back to back on the same rush. Zaniboni, however, was up to the challenge each time, leaving U-M 0-for-3 with the man advantage.
The special-teams play continued with 2:46 to go in the period when Michigan was called for checking from behind. The first penalty-killing unit out was stuck on the ice for more than 90 seconds. Nevertheless, the foursome got off the ice unscathed and their replacements kept the game scoreless heading into the first intermission. Shots were 9-8 in favor of Northern Michigan.
At 3:13 of the second period Michigan was awarded its fourth power play of the night. Michigan's top-ranked power play unit converted this time on a well-executed tip by Brandon Kaleniecki at 4:35. Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) carried the puck behind the net and up to the half boards before feeding Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) at the point. Hunwick passed the puck just right of the goal for Kaleniecki to deflect up and over Zaniboni.
Less than two minutes later the Wolverines increased their lead to 2-0. Brandon Naurato (Livonia, Mich.) flipped the puck out of the U-M zone and Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.) kept the play moving beyond the NMU blue line. From there, Kolarik burst up the middle, gained control of the puck and fired it glove-side at 6:37.
Michigan had back-to-back power plays at 7:39 and 9:57 but could not increase its lead. With five minutes to play in the period Sauer made a pair of key saves on Mike Santorelli. The Wildcat skated across the front of the net alone only to be stopped by Sauer on the initial shot from the right side and then again on the rebound.
With just under five minutes left in the second period the Wildcats went on the power play with a chance to cut their deficit in half. As the penalty expired, Sauer had to be at his best again when the puck bounced around in the crease after a pass from behind the goal. A minute later, Andrew Contois was denied by Sauer on a shot from the low slot.
Michigan took its 2-0 lead into the second intermission despite being outshot 20-13 in the game.
The first part of the third period was very quiet. Michigan and NMU had just one shot apiece through the first seven minutes.
At 7:32 the Wildcats received a power play. Just over 30 seconds into the man-advantage it was Miller who nearly scored shorthanded. Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) drew the defense toward him on the rush and Zaniboni squeezed Miller's shot against his body to prevent the score. The Wolverines went on to successfully finish the kill.
Northern Michigan got another chance with the man advantage right after that, but again the Maize and Blue held off the Wildcat offense. Michigan earned its first power play of the final frame at the 13:17 mark. Zaniboni and the Wildcats held the score at 2-0.
Sixteen seconds after U-M's power play expired, Darin Olver streaked down the middle and broke in alone on Sauer. Olver made one move and sent the puck over Sauer's blocker to make the score 2-1 at 15:33.
Northern Michigan came close to drawing even with its goalie pulled in the final minute of play. The only shot that got through came from between the circles and Sauer made the save. Hensick capped off the game with an empty-net goal at 19:56.
The Wolverines and Wildcats meet again Saturday night (Nov. 12) at 7:35 p.m. at the Berry Events Center.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
