Michigan
15-9-3, 10-6-3CCHA
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Western Michigan
6-17-4, 6-12-3CCHA
Fardig, Kolarik Lead Michigan Past Western Michigan
1/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team used a four-goal ourburst in the second period to skate to a 7-3 win over Western Michigan on Tuesday (Jan. 31) at Yost Ice Arena. The victory vaults the Maize and Blue from fifth place into a tie for second place in the CCHA with 23 points. Seven Wolverines had two points, including Danny Fardig (Ann Arbor, Mich.) and Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.), who each tallied two goals. Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) scored for the third game in a row as his tally proved to be the game-winner.
U-M earned the first power play of the game following an interference call at 6:13 but generated just one shot on goal.
Western Michigan had the best scoring chance of the period with just over nine minutes remaining in the first. Bronco forward Kevin Labatte grabbed a rebound lying above the crease in front and snapped one high, but Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) snared it with his glove.
Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C.) nearly netted the first goal of the game 12 minutes in on a wrap-around chance that Daniel Bellissimo just kept from completely crossing the goal line.
Western Michigan received its first man advantage of the game at 13:09 following an interference call. Ebbett knocked down a Bronco pass at the blue line and poked the puck to Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.), who skated in alone on Bellissimo, but Porter's quick snap shot was denied. Shortly after Hunwick returned from the box, T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) also earned a partial break, but Bellissimo kicked away his attempt through the five hole.
Western Michigan scored the first marker of the game at 16:23 on a wild scramble in front to make the score 1-0. After several Sauer saves on a bouncing puck in front, the puck caromed out left of the crease to Jeff Lovecchio, who batted it out of the air and into the net.
U-M rebounded with pressure and offensive chances, earning its second power play of the contest at 17:17. Porter had the best opportunity on Michigan's first shot on the man-advantage, but his one-time chance off a pass from Kolarik was blocked by Bellissimo off the post and out.
Despite outshooting WMU 15-10 and having a clear advantage in scoring chances, Michigan went to the intermission down 1-0 in a high-impact first frame.
WMU extended the lead to 2-0 in its first power play of the second period. Mike Erickson sent a pass to the point to Reid Yantzi, who one-timed it low to the glove side past Sauer at 4:38.
U-M cut the lead to 2-1 on a two-on-one break with Ebbett and Kolarik. Ebbett skated down the right side of the ice and fed a pass across to Kolarik, who sent a one-timer into the open net past Bellissimo at 7:05.
Fardig then evened the game on a short breakaway at 9:49. Fardig deked and rang a backhand shot off the post and out, but a WMU defender inadvertently knocked it back into the net. Thirty-five seconds later, Kolarik put Michigan up 3-2 on a delayed penalty. From the point Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) sent a shot down low, which deflected on net. Three Michigan forwards banged at it and Kolarik finally knocked it past Bellissimo to make the score 3-2 at 9:49.
WMU netted the tying marker at 11:39 during four-on-four play. The Michigan forwards got tangled up at center ice, allowing WMU to skate in on an odd-man rush. Brian Bicek received a pass from Jason Moul, who put a backhand move on Sauer, evening the score at 3-3.
Michigan took the lead again on an even-strength goal by Kaleniecki, who took a give-and-go pass from Ebbett along the boards, charged in, and roofed a short-side shot over Bellissimo at 17:17, giving the Wolverines a 4-3 lead.
With just under one minute to play in the second, WMU earned its third power play of the night. U-M killed off the first half of the penalty kill and went to the intermission up 4-3, outshooting WMU 13-3 in the second.
U-M extended its lead to 5-3 at 6:00 of the third. With the puck exchanging hands behind the net, the puck squirted out to the side of the net to Hensick. Hensick then easily tapped it across the crease to a wide-open Porter for the goal. Porter nearly had another marker over a minute later, but both of his shots from the right slot were pushed aside by Bellissimo.
Sauer made the save of the night with 11 minutes remaining in the period. His initial save trickled out to the front of the net to an uncovered Labatte, who redirected the puck back at Sauer, but Sauer pushed it out with his stick just before it rolled across the goal line.
U-M added two goals in the 17th minute of the third period. Fardig got his second of the game and Brandon Naurato (Livonia, Mich.) netted his first of the game off a pass from Hensick, giving Michigan the 7-3 victory. The Wolverines finished the game with a 44-20 advantage in shots.
U-M has a two-day break before hosting Ohio State for two games Friday and Saturday (Feb. 3-4). Friday's game starts at 7:35 p.m. and will be aired by Comcast Local. Saturday's contest is at 8 p.m. and will be shown on CSTV.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
