Michigan
5-2-08-3-0; CCHA
Ferris State
1-5-13-7-1; CCHA
Kolarik Nets Pair as Michigan Prevails at Ferris State
11/17/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. -- The No. 8-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team earned a hard-fought 3-2 road victory over Ferris State on Friday (Nov. 17). The win ended U-M's four-game (0-3-1) winless stretch at Ewigleben Ice Arena, dating back to the 2001-02 season. Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) scored U-M's final two goals, Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) earned two assists, and Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) was solid in net, making 33 saves.
Michigan garnered a power play just 1:10 into the game, but despite controlling the puck throughout the advantage, it could not register a quality scoring chance.
FSU's best early opportunity came four minutes in when the Bulldogs created a two-on-one. Jason Dest (Fraser, Mich.) quelled the chance by intercepting the crossing pass from left wing to center. Before U-M cleared the zone FSU had another opportunity but fired high and wide.
At 6:01 the Wolverines went back on the power play. Again they were unable to capitalize with the FSU defense down a man.
Chris Summers (Milan, Mich.) was called for interference at 8:34 to give the Bulldogs their first power play. FSU cashed in to take a 1-0 lead at 9:49 when Sauer fanned on an attempt to clear the bouncing puck from in front of the crease. Instead, Blair Riley swatted the puck into the net.
U-M answered right back with a goal at 10:13. T.J. Hensick received a pass from Porter in the neutral zone and split the defense inside the FSU blue line. Hensick waited for O'Keefe to drop and then dished to his right to David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) for an easy tap-in.
Michigan took the lead at 10:45 on a breakaway goal by Kolarik. Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) got in front of a Ferris State crossing pass in the neutral zone and the puck deflected right to Kolarik at the Bulldog blue line. Kolarik skated in and beat O'Keefe glove side for a 2-1 Michigan lead.
Less than 30 seconds after U-M's third fruitless power play, Bulldog Dan Riedel earned a five-minute major for hitting from behind for an illegal check on Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.) with 6:05 left in the period. The Maize and Blue power play was ineffective as it registered just two shots on goal during the five minutes of power-play time.
FSU got its own power play with 39 seconds to play in the opening stanza when Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) was called for tripping.
Michigan outshot the Bulldogs by a 15-6 margin in the first frame.
U-M started the second period by holding Ferris State scoreless on the back end of the penalty to Johnson. The Bulldogs and Wolverines then traded abbreviated power plays as the teams took penalties 49 seconds apart near the five-minute mark.
With 11 minutes to go in the second period, Porter came within a few inches of giving U-M a 3-1 lead. Porter ripped a shot high on O'Keefe from the slot and the puck deflected up and over the goalie and bounced toward the goal line. A Ferris State defender got to the puck just in time to swat it out of danger.
On the ensuing Bulldog rush, Sauer came up with a key pad save on Matt Verdone when the FSU forward was left alone in the slot.
Summers drew a tripping penalty at 12:08 for U-M's sixth power play. Kolarik had two good chances in the first minute of the power play. His first shot in the slot was stopped by the goalie's blocker, and his second, a rebound chance, was smothered near the goal line.
Michigan carried the play to FSU throughout the rest of the middle frame but could not increase its lead. After 40 minutes, the Wolverines had 26 shots to FSU's 15 and a 2-1 lead.
Michigan went up a man for the seventh time starting at 4:55 of the third period. The advantage became two skaters 55 seconds later when Hensick beat his defender in the slot, forcing a Bulldog to haul him down.
The Wolverines ended their 0-for-14 power-play slump at 6:26 when Kolarik converted on a back-door feed from Porter. Johnson held the puck atop the right circle and drew one of three defenders in his direction. He then passed to Porter near the right post, and Porter quickly found Kolarik at the left post for the tally and a 3-1 U-M lead.
Ferris State attacked relentlessly over the final 13 minutes of play, but Sauer proved his mettle, making numerous difficult saves in close.
The Wolverines were forced to kill a five-on-three FSU advantage with 1:09 remaining when a melee in the U-M zone resulted in penalties being called on Summers (double minor) and Kolarik while FSU took one penalty. Ferris State's Verdone scored on a feed by Chris Zarb from behind the net at 19:36.
Sauer had to make one final save to seal the U-M win. The puck squirted out of the left corner to Cody Chupp, who tried to bring it around front to the right and stuff it in the net. Sauer covered the shot with just six-tenths of a second remaining to clinch the win.
The Wolverines and Bulldogs conclude the first of their two weekend series this season on Saturday (Nov. 18). Faceoff is slated for 7:05 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
