Michigan
17-2-0, 11-1-0CCHA
Providence
6-7-2, 4-3-2Hcky Et
Wolverines Dominate Providence in GLI First Round
12/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Site: Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)
Score: #1 Michigan 6, Providence 0
Records: U-M (17-2-0, 11-1-0 CCHA), Providence (6-7-2)
Attendance: TBA
Next Event: Saturday, Dec. 29 -- vs. Michigan Tech, 7:30 p.m. (Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Mich.)
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery
DETROIT, Mich. -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team blanked the Providence College Friars, 6-0, in the first semifinal game of the 2007 Great Lakes Invitational in Joe Louis Arena on Friday (Dec. 28). Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) turned aside 50 shots to set a career high for most saves in a game while Aaron Palushaj (Northville, Mich.) led all scorers with a goal and two assists for the Wolverines. With the win, Michigan advances to the GLI Championship Game for the third time in four years.
The Maize and Blue wasted little time in taking control of the game. Louie Caporusso (Woodbridge, Ontario), who was back in the lineup for the first time since an injury sidelined him on Nov. 10, scored on his first shift of the game at 1:02 of the first period. Palushaj passed the puck into the lower right circle to Tim Miller (Davisburg, Mich.), whose shot was blocked. Caporusso picked up the loose puck and sent it toward the net where it deflected off a Providence skate at the top of the crease and dribbled past goaltender Tyler Sims.
Providence's second line had a flurry of chances just inside the two-minute mark of the first period. Nick Mazzolini and Pierce Norton both had chances in front to cap a period of steady offensive pressure but were unable to get anything past Sauer.
With just 31 seconds left on the clock, Michigan notched its second goal of the night on just its third shot of the game. Palushaj and Brian Lebler (Penticton, B.C.) broke out of the Michigan zone on a two-on-one. Lebler's pass across the front of the net hit the Providence defenseman, but Palushaj was able to maintain control of the puck and banked his shot off of Sims inside the right post.
Although Providence dominated the shots on goal 16-3, Michigan took a 2-0 lead into the locker room for the first intermission.
The first penalty of the game went to Danny Fardig (Ann Arbor, Mich.) at 5:45 of the second period for interference. The Wolverines, whose penalty kill ranks 10th in the nation with an 88.3 percent success rate, did not give up a shot on goal during Providence's first power play of the game.
Michigan took a 3-0 advantage at 11:03 when Anthony Ciraulo (Clinton Township, Mich.) scored Michigan's fourth shorthanded goal of the year. Ciraulo accepted the two-on-one pass from Kevin Porter (Northville, Mich.) and fired a shot over the goalie's blocker under the crossbar. Porter's feed gave the senior captain his 150th career point.
Just 2:16 later, Porter scored a power-play marker from the right faceoff circle to make it 4-0. From behind the net, Palushaj sent a pass to the point for Chad Langlais (Spokane, Wash.), who then relayed it to Porter for a one-timer that beat Sims high on his glove side. The tally was Porter's 10th power-play goal of the season, which leads the country.
With 2:22 remaining in the period, Providence was attempting to carry the puck out of its zone when a pass from Ian O'Conner went behind his teammate and Ben Winnett (New Westminster, B.C.) picked it up. Winnett then took a wrist shot from the hash marks that went past the goalie's blocker to give the Wolverines a 5-0 lead after 40 minutes of play.
Sauer was a wall for the Wolverines yet again in the second period, making 16 saves for the second consecutive period.
Travis Turnbull (Chesterfield, Mo.) got on the scoresheet at 4:10 of the third period with a hard wrister that beat backup goalie Chris Mannix five-hole. Brandon Naurato (Livonia, Mich.) collected an assist.
With less thaneight minutes to play in the game the Michigan defense was stretched to its limits when it had to kill a five-on-three power play for over a minute. Sauer made a number of spectacular saves on point-blank chances to keep his shutout intact.
The Wolverines will play Michigan Tech for the GLI title on Saturday (Dec. 29) at 7:30 p.m. in Joe Louis Arena.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 263-4423
