Michigan
8-1-0, 5-0-0CCHA
Alaska
0-5-0, 0-3-0CCHA
Third Period Flurry Secures U-M Shutout of Alaska
11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team extended its winning streak to seven games with a 4-0 home victory against Alaska Friday night (Nov. 9) in Yost Ice Arena. Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) earned his third career shutout, making 15 saves on the night. Alternate captain Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) garnered the game-winning goal at 10:27 in the first period. The game was up for grabs until late in the third period, when the Wolverines tallied three goals in the last seven minutes of play.
Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.) put U-M up by two with 6:03 left in regulation, and Aaron Palushaj (Northville, Mich.) followed 50 seconds later with a tally to make it 3-0. The Wolverine offense was generated by eleven different players.
The Wolverines were the first to jump on the board with a goal from Kolarik at 10:27 in the opening frame. Immediately after a Michigan power-play ended, Chad Langlais (Spokane, Wash.) passed the puck to Palushaj, who was situated near the top of the left face-off circle. Palushaj spotted an open Kolarik in the corner of the ice, and Palushaj made an immediate flat pass to the right winger. Kolarik skated towards the goal post and was able to push the puck behind Alaska netminder Chad Johnson.
The U-M goal would be the only score of the first period. The Wolverines out shot the Nanooks 8-6 and had a 1-0 lead at the close of the opening stanza.
Goaltending was the name of the game in the middle frame. Michigans Sauer had six saves, while Johnson had nine saves for the Nanooks. In the back-and-forth action, both teams posted solid shots, although neither side was able to capitalize on their attempts.
The best scoring opportunity came from Michigans leading scorer Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) with about four minutes left in the second period. Porter stood in the middle of the slot about a sticks length from the crease. The team captain wound up and took a hard high shot on Johnson. Luckily for Alaska, the puck deflected off the top of its netminders stick and towards the back glass.
At 5:18 in the third period Brian Lebler (Penticton, B.C.) had a five-minute major penalty for hitting from behind. He was also an assessed a game misconduct. U-M did not allow a single shot on goal during Alaskas power play. Michigans penalty killing was aided when Nanook center Adam Naglich got charged with hooking at 6:59.
The scoring drought ended with Turnbulls goal at 13:57 in the last frame. Turnbull was able to knock in the puck after a large scramble in the front of the Alaska cage. Max Pacioretty (New Canaan, Conn.) and Louie Caporusso (Woodbridge, Ontario) were both credited with assists as well. The Turnbull goal extended Michigans lead 2-0.
Less than a minute later at 14:47, the Wolverines put another tally on the board. Left winger Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.) was skating in the left face-off circle, where he viewed Matt Rust (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) standing behind the Alaska net. Miller dished the puck to Rust, who skated from behind the net toward the front of the crease. He passed the disc to Palushaj, who pushed it from the left goal post into the back of the net. Palushajs score gave the Wolverines a 3-0 advantage.
With less than two minutes left to play in the game, Porter capped the scoring and extended his point streak to eight games. Chris Summers (Milan, Mich.) had a long pass that bounced off the boards near the UA blueline. The bouncing puck found its way to Carl Hagelin (Sodertalje, Sweden), who deflected it to a skating Porter. After receiving the puck, Porter moved down the slot, deked a few times, and shot high toward the back of Alaskas net. The shot was successful, giving Michigan a 4-0 victory at 18:13.
The Wolverines and Nanooks meet again Saturday (Nov. 10) in Yost Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
