Michigan
Michigan Tech
Michigan Claims GLI Crown in Double-Overtime Thriller
12/29/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Site: Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)
Event: Great Lakes Invitational (Championship Game)
Score: #1 Michigan 1, Michigan Tech 0 (2OT)
Records: U-M (18-2-0), MTU (7-9-2)
Attendance: 17,281
Next Event: Tuesday, Jan. 8 -- exhibition vs. U.S. NTDP Under-18 Team (Yost Ice Arena), 7:35 p.m.
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery
DETROIT, Mich. -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team pulled out a thrilling 1-0 double-overtime win over Michigan Tech Saturday (Dec. 29) at the Great Lakes Invitational championship game in Joe Louis Arena. The victory gave the Wolverines their first GLI title since 1996 and their 12th in program history. Travis Turnbull's (Chesterfield, Mo.) goal at 2:32 of the second overtime was the lone score of the game. Turnbull redirected a point shot by Scooter Vaughan(Placentia, Calif.) past Michigan Tech netminder Rob Nolan.
Billy Sauer(Walworth, N.Y.) made 37 saves to shatter his previous career shutout streak of 128:30. Sauer's streak now stands at 166:07 after he picked up a shutout for the second game in a row. His 87 saves during the GLI handed Sauer the GLI most valuable player honor. Sauer's counterpart, Nolan, was splendid as well, stopping 45 shots for the Huskies. Michigan was 0-for-8 on the power play, while Michigan Tech was 0-for-5.
The Wolverines and Huskies traded abbreviated power plays in the early stages of the game. Kevin Porter(Northville, Mich.) tested Nolan early, splitting the defense on a rush.
Chad Kolarik(Abington, Mich.) had an open look in transition with 12:30 to play when Brandon Naurato(Livonia, Mich.) hit him with a pass in stride at the MTU blue line. Kolarik fired into Nolan's midsection as the Husky defense closed in.
With 9:17 to play, Sauer made a sparkling save with his left shoulder on Geoff Kinrade from between the circles. The Huskies were able to maintain pressure when they garnered a power play 30 seconds later. Sauer's lone save was tricky, as Jordan Baker redirected a point shot right in front of the U-M goalie. Baker had a whack at the rebound but Sauer sprawled out and pushed it wide with his stick along the ice.
The last good scoring chance of the period went to Porter on a power-play with a little more than three minutes to go. His one-time blast from above the right circle was gloved by Nolan. U-M held a narrow 13-12 edge in shots on goal after a scoreless opening 20 minutes.
Despite being awarded back-to-back power plays at 9:18 and 11:33 of the second period the Wolverines could not tally the game's first goal.
With the teams skating four players aside, Kolarik was whistled for hooking to give Michigan Tech a four-on-three power play for almost a full two minutes. Sauer made two saves, and strong efforts from Mark Mitera(Livonia, Mich.) and Tim Miller(Davisburg, Mich.) denied additional Husky shots.
Scoreless through two periods, the Huskies outshot U-M by a 10-6 margin to in the middle stanza to take a 22-19 shot advantage into the second intermission.
At 1:50 of the third period Sauer made one of his best stops when he made a glove save on a breakaway attempt by Tyler Shelast, who is Michigan Tech's leading scorer.
Kolarik had an outstanding opportunity at 5:20. The senior slithered through the MTU defense left to right and, after deking backhand, tried to stuff the puck inside the right post only to be robbed by Nolan's left foot.
Michigan Tech's first chance since early in the period came with 5:13 to go when Bennett Royer's shot from the bottom of the left circle was stopped by Sauer's right shoulder.
The Wolverines earned a power play with 1:27 remaining in regulation when MTU's Drew Dobson tripped up Porter in the Huskies' zone. With just under a minute to go Miller broke in alone down the left hash, but his backhand attempt sailed wide right.
The teams took their 0-0 game into overtime, with U-M holding a 31-28 shots advantage.
Michigan did not capitalize on the remaining 33 seconds of power play time that carried over from the third stanza into overtime.
At 3:33 the Wolverines nearly won the game on a strange carom. Miller was tripped while skating with the puck in the slot and he and the puck slid into the net. After a video review it was decided that the net was dislodged before the puck crossed the goal line.
Michigan could not convert on the ensuing tripping penalty assessed to MTU.
With 8:45 remaining in the first overtime Sauer made a spectacular save with his left leg/trapper by going post to post to stymie Jimmy Kerr.
Nolan answered with a great glove save of his own with 48.3 seconds to go in the first overtime. Porter had a few strides on the MTU defense but could not solve the Husky goalie, which sent the game into a second overtime session.
Early in the second overtime, Michigan Tech take came inches from capturing the win when Eric Kattelus clanged a shot from in close off U-M's right post.
Finally, at 2:32 Turnbull scored his first game-winning goal of the season. Naurato tapped a loose puck back to the right point to Vaughan. The freshman defenseman let loose a low shot that Turnbull deflected while camped out in the slot.
Michigan's next action is an exhibition contest against the U.S. National Team Development Program Under-18 Team on Tuesday (Jan. 8) in Yost Ice Arena. Faceoff is at 7:35 p.m.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 263-4423
