Michigan
12-5-0, 8-3-0CCHA
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Western Michigan
6-7-1, 5-7-1CCHA
Michigan Bucks Western Michigan in Wild Shootout
12/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
KALAMAZOO, Mich. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team pulled out a hard-nosed 6-5 triumph over Western Michigan on Saturday (Dec. 2) at WMU's Lawson Ice Arena. The Wolverines trailed 3-1 in the second period until they exploded for three goals, two on the power play, over a 4:12 span late in the frame. T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) had assists on each of the markers. He later added his career-best fourth assist in the third period. Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) scored twice, including the eventual game-winner. Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) chipped in with a career-high three helpers.
Michigan received a power play 46 seconds into the game as Jason Moul latched onto Hensick. Just as the first penalty was about to expire, Matt Clackson was whistled for cross-checking. The Wolverines capitalized on the second power play when Brian Lebler (Penticton, B.C.) slapped home a rebound at 2:49. Brandon Naurato (Livonia, Mich.) and Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) drew the assists.
The Broncos tied the game 1-1 less than a minute later at 3:37 when the U-M defense coughed up the puck in the slot. Patrick Galivan quickly deposited a shot by Steve Jakiel's (Santa Clarita, Calif.) trapper.
Michigan killed off a Western Michigan power play shortly after to keep the score at 1-1. Jakiel had two saves during the penalty kill.
The Broncos had their second power play of the night inside of 10 minutes to play in the opening frame. Again the Wolverines shut down the WMU offense, allowing zero shots.
WMU took a 2-1 lead at 16:37, just seconds after a U-M power play had expired. Brett John came out of the penalty box to collect a clearing pass by Jonathan Lupa. John cut across the net, right to left, and slid the puck through Jakiel.
Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) got a stride ahead of the WMU defense four minutes into the second period, but Riley Gill was able to deny his shot with the left pad.
With a power play, Western Michigan increased its lead to 3-1 at 11:39 on a wraparound goal by Jason Moul.
Killing their third penalty of the period, the Wolverines countered with a shorthanded goal at 15:02 to cut their deficit to 3-2. Hensick grabbed a loose puck and skated up ice on a two-on-two break with David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.). As Hensick pulled up in the high slot, Rohlfs dropped his defender to get open for Hensick's pass. Rohlfs deked at the right post and put the puck between Gill's pads.
U-M received its first power play of the second stanza at 16:09. The Maize and Blue quickly capitalized, tying the game, 3-3, at 17:13. Hensick passed from the left circle to the top to the middle point where Cogliano was stationed for a one-timer that beat the goalie glove-side.
Michigan went right back on the power play with 2:04 remaining. Porter gave the lead back to U-M with 46 seconds left. Kolarik's slap shot from the left dot was stopped, but Porter whacked the rebound into the net before the Broncos' defense could clear it.
On just the third overall shot of the third period, the Broncos knotted the game, 4-4, at 7:31 on a deflection by Jeff Pierce. Tyler Ludwig took the initial shot from the right side.
Michigan regained the lead, 5-4, thanks to another assist from Hensick at 11:29. Hensick skated into the WMU zone, looked off a pass to his right, and hit Naurato wide open on the left side. Naurato waited out Riley and beat him low.
Jakiel made his best save of the night with eight minutes to play. Brian Bicek knocked down his teammate's shot at the right edge of the crease and walked around to left only to be stoned by Jakiel's right skate.
Thirteen seconds after Jakiel's save (12:11), Cogliano scored his second goal of the night to give Michigan a two-goal cushion, 6-4. Kolarik assisted on the play as his shot resulted in a loose rebound for Cogliano to knock home from the lower left circle.
The scoring binge continued when Bronco Mark Letestu tallied at 13:31 to make it 6-5. LoVecchio found Letestu trailing the play on a rush into U-M territory.
Gill made an unbelievable glove save on Hensick with 4:40 to play in regulation. Porter fired a crossing feed from the left circle to the edge of the right crease, but the WMU netminder dove across the net to smother the chance. Porter was then stopped on a two-on-one pass from Hensick two minutes later.
Following a fracas with 1:36 remaining on the clock, Chris Frank was called for hitting after the whistle to put U-M on the power play. Inside the final minute, the Broncos were assessed a penalty for too many men on the ice when there was miscommunication between the WMU bench and the goalie. Michigan held on for the 6-5 victory.
The Wolverines conclude the first half of the 2006-07 campaign next weekend (Dec. 8-10) with a home-and-home series against No. 5 Notre Dame. Game one will be on Friday (Dec. 8) at Yost Ice Arena, while the second game will take place on Sunday (Dec. 10) in South Bend, Ind.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
