Michigan
4-2-0, 1-1-0CCHA
Northeastern
2-3-1, 0-2-1HocEast
Power Play Falters in Michigan's Loss to Northeastern
10/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan hockey team fell to the Northeastern Huskies 3-2 on Saturday (Oct. 28) at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines' power play was fruitless on 12 attempts, as Husky netminder Brad Thiessen made 45 total saves. Senior forward T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) led Michigan with two assists.
Michigan was whistled for a pair of penalties early in the first period, but Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) stonewalled the Northeastern power-play unit, keeping the game scoreless. Ray Ortiz wristed a quick shot from the right faceoff circle, but Sauer slid across the crease to make the kick save. Ortiz continued to chip away, but Sauer was able to cover the puck and stop the Husky threat.
The Maize and Blue broke onto the scoreboard first, putting the puck in the net at 7:49 of the first period. Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) fed Hensick at center ice, who glided up the middle and gained the zone for the Wolverines. The alternate captain dropped a pass to Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.), who carried the puck in on Thiessen. Johnson's blast beat the NU netminder, giving Michigan the 1-0 lead. The marker was the sophomore's fourth of the year.
After 20 minutes of play, U-M had outshot the Huskies, 11-4.
The Huskies tied the game at a goal apiece in the opening minutes of the second stanza. Andrew Linard lined a pass from just inside the blue line to Dennis McCauley in the slot. McCauley tipped the puck to Randy Guzior, who spun around and lifted a backhand shot over the U-M goaltender's shoulder for the tally at 5:05.
Northeastern then used a power play to its advantage, capitalizing for a second goal at 7:24. McCauley dumped the puck down to Jim Driscoll behind the goal line. Driscoll slipped a pass through traffic to Jimmy Russo, stationed just outside the goal crease, and his shot found the back of the net, giving NU the 2-1 lead.
The Huskies threatened to pull further into the lead midway through the period when Joe Vitale grabbed the puck in the neutral zone and streaked in on Sauer. Vitale's attempt was stopped by the sophomore goalie, but Vitale's momentum propelled him full force into Sauer. In an effort to defend his goaltender, Johnson pummeled the NU forward, drawing a five-minute major and a game disqualification.
Michigan continued to apply pressure to Thiessen, peppering the Husky goaltender with 20 shots during the second period, but could not put one past him. After the middle session, Michigan trailed Northeastern 2-1.
Northeastern pushed its lead to a pair of goals on a Chad Costello marker at 10:44 of the final period. Mike Morris picked up a Guzior pass deep in the Michigan zone, twisting away from a U-M defender before relaying the puck to Costello in the left faceoff circle. Costello's one-timer beat Sauer glove side to put NU up 3-1.
A Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) score at 16:36 brought Michigan to within a goal of tying Northeastern. Jason Dest (Fraser, Mich.) took a feed from Hensick and lined a shot in on Thiessen. The Husky netminder denied the initial shot, but Porter was waiting in the slot to light the lamp for the Maize and Blue. The goal was Porter's fourth of the season.
U-M pulled its goalie with 1:10 left in the game in an effort to knot the score, but time expired with Northeastern on top, 3-2.
Michigan will face off against intrastate rival Michigan State next weekend in a home-and-home series. Friday's (Nov. 3) game will take place in East Lansing and is scheduled to start at 7:05 pm. The contest will be televised on Comcast Local. The series will return to Yost Ice Arena on Saturday (Nov. 4). Puck drop is slated for 7:35 pm and the game can be seen on ESPN 360.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
