Michigan
Bowling Green
U-M Clinches Regular-Season Title With Win at BGSU
3/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio -- The No. 4-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team earned a hard-fought 4-1 victory over Bowling Green on Friday (March 4) at BGSU Ice Arena. The win gives Michigan the CCHA regular-season championship for the third time in four years and the ninth time overall. Eric Nystrom (Syosset, N.Y.) scored the game-winning goal off a tipped shot by Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.), who tallied U-M's first goal while shorthanded. Al Montoya (Glenview, Ill.) made 21 stops in the victory.
Bowling Green received the first power play of the game at 2:44 of the first period when Jason Ryznar (Anchorage, Alaska) tripped up goalie Jordan Sigalet behind the net while trying to get back into the play. The penalty kill was great for just over one minute until the remainder of the penalty was negated by a Falcon infraction. U-M's abbreviated power play registered zero shots on the BGSU net.
The Falcons got their second power play at 7:04. However, the Wolverines turned their defense into offense at 7:26. Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) blocked a pass at the point and eventually tipped the puck out the zone. Ebbett swooped in and picked up the puck to create a two-on-one the other direction. Ebbett made a quick deke in the slot and flipped the puck past the goalie's blocker for the 1-0 lead.
Still on the power play though, BGSU evened the score just 28 seconds later. Jonathan Matsumoto's shot from the right circle was stopped but the rebound came out left to Mike Falk, who roofed the puck over Montoya as he dove across the goal.
The teams exchanged penalties again before Michigan earned its first true power play of the game at 12:01. The man-advantage was fruitless for the Maize and Blue.
With 3:20 remaining in the first frame Montoya made a phenomenal save to keep the score tied. After a deflection left the puck on the edge of the crease, Montoya slid across the goal and stacked his pads to stone Steve Brudzewski.
The shots were just 6-4 in favor of Bowling Green during the tight-checking yet high-energy first period.
Bowling Green picked up a power play 5:25 into the second period but again had its advantage cut short by its own penalty. Michigan's subsequent short power play did not result in a score.
At the 10-minute mark Michigan regained the lead on a redirection goal from Nystrom. Ebbett flicked the puck hard along the ice from the left half boards and Nystrom tipped the puck over Sigalet's shoulder as the goalie butterflied.
BGSU's Brudzewski had another point-blank opportunity on Montoya with 8:12 left in the middle stanza and again was denied by the U-M netminder. The Falcons earned their sixth power play of the contest with 3:27 to play in the period. Michigan's penalty kill continued its strong play and quelled the BGSU advantage.
T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) drew a Bowling Green hooking call late in the frame to give U-M a power play heading into the third period. The Wolverines out-shot BGSU 14-6 in the middle stanza.
Although U-M did not cash in on its power play to start the final period, Jeff Tambellini (Port Moody, B.C.) blasted a shot through traffic and into the net just two seconds after the man-advantage expired at 1:42. Werner and Nystrom assisted on the marker.
Two minutes later, Werner made a sound defensive play when he stopped a wraparound chance while Montoya was stranded behind the net.
In the second half of the period each team had scoreless power plays. Hensick sealed the win for Michigan with 3:19 remaining in the contest on a two-on-one with Porter.
The series returns to Ann Arbor tomorrow (Saturday, March 5) for both teams' season finale. Faceoff is set for 7:35 p.m. The Wolverines will pay tribute to their 10 seniors with a short ceremony following the game.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
