Michigan
10-3-0, 7-2-0CCHA
Michigan State
6-4-1, 4-4-1CCHA
Power Play Lifts Michigan to Victory Over Spartans
11/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 7-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team upset intrastate rival, No. 6 Michigan State, by a 2-1 margin on Tuesday (Nov. 21). T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) and Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) each tallied a goal and an assist in the victory, while Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) stopped 24 of the 25 shots directed his way. The Wolverines have put together a six-game winning streak, dating back to its defeat of the Spartans on Nov. 4.
Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.) drew a holding the stick penalty at 8:14 of the first stanza, giving Michigan the first power-play opportunity of the game. The Wolverines were able to keep the puck in the MSU end for most of the two minutes, but could not convert, firing a pair of shots on net.
The teams traded quality scoring chances late in the period. With Michigan's power-play unit still on the ice, MSU mounted a scoring opportunity when Justin Abdelkader came out of the box. Abdelkader scooped up the puck and brought it into the U-M zone, but Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) laid out to deflect the shot away.
The Maize and Blue countered with its best chance of the period when Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) took the puck end-to-end. Kolarik's across-the-body shot beat Jeff Lerg stick side, but the attempt clanged off the far post at 14:50.
After 20 minutes of play, Michigan outshot the Spartans 9-4, but the contest remained a scoreless tie.
With both teams down a man to start the middle session, Michigan State ended the deadlock less than a minute into the period. Tim Kennedy corralled the puck behind his own goal, and skated around the entire Wolverine lineup before depositing it behind Sauer at 59 seconds for the 1-0 lead. The goal, Kennedy's seventh of the season, was the first even strength tally that Sauer allowed in 154:39, dating back to game two of the Nebraska-Omaha series on Nov. 11.
The Spartans were called for back-to-back infractions at 8:37, and again at 10:45. Michigan put constant pressure on the MSU goaltender, especially after a Spartan defender broke his stick. During the second power play, Michigan broke onto the scoreboard at 12:22. Hensick picked up a Johnson dish and cycled down to the goal line before threading the puck -- through considerable traffic -- to Porter. Planted in the right circle, Porter one-timed a shot that beat Lerg for the man-advantage tally, tying the game at 1-1. It was Porter's 11th goal of the season.
The Maize and Blue gained a 2-1 lead on its second power-play goal of the night, at 6:28 of the final period. Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) threw the puck cross ice to Porter, waiting at the blue line. Porter skated into the MSU zone, then tossed a backhanded pass to Hensick. The alternate captain collected the puck skating backwards, spun around a defender and ripped a snap shot that found the hole between Lerg's shoulder and the upper-right post for his fifth goal of the year.
With 2:10 left in the game, Michigan State had its best chance to tie the game. Chris Lawrence grabbed the puck in front of the net, but was wrapped up by Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and couldn't get off a pass to a wide open Brandon Warner in front of the net.
Already on the power play, the Spartans pulled Lerg for an extra attacker. McKenzie did his part to knot the game, but Sauer stifled his backhand shot with just over a minute left in the game.
In the waning seconds, Michigan was able to keep the puck out of its own end, and the game ended with the Wolverines on top, 2-1.
The Maize and Blue take on Wisconsin (Nov. 24) and Minnesota (Nov. 25) in the 14th Annual College Hockey Showcase this weekend. Both games are slated to begin at 7:05 pm.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
