Michigan
21-11-1, 16-8-1
Lake Superior State
16-14-3, 10-12-3
Michigan Thwarted by Jakaitis in Loss at Lake State
2/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. -- The No. 10-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team lost by a 3-2 margin at Lake Superior State on Friday (Feb. 16). Chad Kolarik (Abington, Pa.) had a goal and an assist, and Andrew Cogliano (Woodbridge, Ontario) had a pair of assists. LSSU goalie Jeff Jakaitis -- the nation's leader in save percentage -- made 31 stops, including four in the final minutes of regulation while U-M was on a power play. The Wolverines were 1-of-9 on the power play for the night.
Neither offense created much pressure in the game's opening minutes. Billy Sauer (Walworth, N.Y.) faced four easy shots in the early going. Meanwhile, the Wolverines did not register a shot until three minutes in, when Mark Mitera (Livonia, Mich.) took two shots from the blue line.
The first penalty of the game was issued to Lake Superior State at the 5:37 mark. The Wolverine offense barely tested the LSSU penalty killers, however, attempting one shot, which was blocked.
The Lakers hemmed the Wolverines in their own zone during the middle of the period, which led to Jack Johnson (Ann Arbor, Mich.) being called for interference at 11:16. Sauer made a good right pad save while peering through traffic on a Ryan Baird one-timer. With 37 seconds left in the first penalty, David Rohlfs (Northville, Mich.) was whistled for hooking. The Lakers played catch around the zone but did not attempt a shot with the two-man advantage. U-M proceeded to kill off both penalties.
Following a botched three-on-one rush, the Wolverines capitalized on their next trip down the ice. Cogliano sent the puck from neutral ice up to Kolarik, who shot from the right circle. Jakaitis made the initial save, but Danny Fardig (Ann Arbor, Mich.) came in from the left side and swiped the rebound into the net for a 1-0 U-M lead at 16:33.
LSSU and U-M finished the period by exchanging penalties. LSSU was assessed penalties at 17:45 and 19:57. A Michigan penalty at 19:40 split the Lakers' infractions.
The first period concluded with U-M holding a 1-0 advantage. LSSU outshot U-M 10-9 in the first 20 minutes.
The Lakers knotted the game at a goal apiece at 7:00 of the second period. Barnabas Birkeland intercepted a U-M clearing attempt and sent a shot on goal. Pat Aubry was stationed in front of the net and redirected the lofted puck behind Sauer.
Matt Hunwick (Sterling Heights, Mich.) almost put U-M ahead one minute later. Kolarik ripped a shot on net and the rebound bounced free into the right slot. Hunwick's shot at the open net was denied when Jakaitis threw his arm out in desperation.
Michigan's streak of scoreless power plays was extended to 18 chances after unproductive man-advantages at 10:28 and 17:07. U-M mustered a total of just one shot on goal during these power plays.
The score remained tied at 1-1 heading into the second intermission. U-M had nine shots to LSSU's six in the middle frame to take an 18-16 shot advantage for the game.
Early in the third period, Cogliano was taken down hard into the LSSU end boards when he raced through Laker territory. As a result, Steven Kaunisto was penalized for tripping at 2:08. In addition, LSSU was assessed a too many men on the ice penalty during the same stoppage in play.
Thirty seconds apart, Kolarik and Rohlfs were stopped by Jakaitis at the edge of the crease. Two of Steve Kampfer's (Jackson, Mich.) point blasts were also stoned by the Laker netminder.
U-M continued its attack on the Lakers' net without the man-advantage. With less than 14 minutes to play, Johnson's right point shot clanged cleanly off the top left corner of the goal frame.
The Lakers took their first lead of the game (2-1) at 8:32 on Troy Schwab's rebound tally on the power play.
At 13:21, the Wolverines tied the game at 2-2 and snapped their power-play drought. Cogliano fed the puck into the slot to Kolarik, who spun and snuck the puck between Jakaitis' left leg and the post. Mitera also drew an assist on the goal.
Just more than a minute later at 14:29, LSSU responded to make it 3-2. Trent Campbell walked around a U-M defenseman in the right circle, but was stopped by Sauer. Josh Sim crashed the net and flicked the puck high into the goal.
The Lakers were penalized at 15:44 to give U-M a late power-play opportunity. At 17:23, a five-minute major was assessed to LSSU's Simon Gysbers for checking from behind, which gave Michigan a brief five-on-three chance.
Michigan swarmed the Lakers in the waning minutes but was unable to convert on its two best chances. Cogliano smacked a rebound attempt wide from the inner right circle with one minute left. T.J. Hensick (Howell, Mich.) then hit the left post with 14 seconds to go while skating into LSSU territory.
Michigan will face Lake Superior State on Sunday (Feb. 18) when the series concludes at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. FSN Detroit will air the matinee contest, which is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
