Michigan
21-15-5 overall
North Dakota
28-15-1 overall
Sioux's Special Teams Knock Wolverines Out of NCAAs
3/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team fell behind 3-0 to No. 6-ranked North Dakota on two power-play goals and one shorthanded tally and could not recover, falling 5-1 Friday night (March 24) in the first round of the NCAA West Regional at UND's Ralph Engelstad Arena. Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) had U-M's lone tally, while Noah Ruden (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) made 22 saves in net.
Mark Mitera (Livonia, Mich.) was forced to take a holding penalty at 3:23 of the first period when two Wolverines ran into each other at the U-M blue line, creating an odd-man advantage for North Dakota. The penalty proved costly as UND scored at 5:01 to take the first lead of the game. The Fighting Sioux made a pass from the right point to the left circle and then to the back right post, where Ryan Duncan was waiting to one-time the puck behind Ruden.
Just 12 seconds later the Wolverines received a power play. Unfortunately, the man advantage lasted just 39 seconds until U-M was whistled for holding. North Dakota upped its lead to 2-0 on the ensuing power play when T.J. Oshie came free in the high slot and snapped a shot into the top right corner of the net at 7:28.
Michigan earned its second power play at 8:52 but could not put pressure on the Fighting Sioux defense. Another power play that began at 14:31 was fruitless for the Wolverines. After 20 minutes Michigan held a 9-5 shots advantage but trailed 2-0 on the scoreboard.
UND's Zach Jones was penalized for interference at 2:56 of the second stanza. After the Wolverines nearly scored on a scramble in front of the net, the Fighting Sioux broke back the other way with a two-on-one. Drew Stafford gained a step on the U-M defender and shot the puck inside the right post for a 3-0 lead at 4:08.
The Wolverines quickly answered with a power-play marker at 4:30 to make it 3-1. Brandon Kaleniecki (Livonia, Mich.) corralled a rebound and dished to Kolarik in the left circle. Kolarik fired the puck high over goalie Jordan Parise's glove hand. With the assist Kaleniecki recorded his 100th career point and set a single-season career high for assists with 12.
North Dakota reestablished a three-goal lead at 14:39 on a rebound tally by Jonathan Toews. Ruden saved a Duncan shot in front, but the puck deflected high into the air, and when it fell to the ice Toews was there to flip it into the goal. Michigan trailed 4-1 heading into the second intermission though it was outshooting UND 23-20.
The Wolverines went on the power play at 3:20 of the third period but were unable to chip away at their three-goal deficit. The Fighting Sioux remained stout defensively throughout the third period, permitting only four Michigan shots on goal the rest of the way.
Travis Zajac scored on a slap shot from the left circle at 14:42, expanding the North Dakota lead to 5-1, and UND salted away the final minutes of play to clinch a spot in the NCAA West Regional final on Saturday (March 25) against Holy Cross.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
