Michigan
8-6-0 (5-5-0-0)
Miami (Ohio)
8-3-3 (8-2-2-1)
Michigan Suffers Hard-Luck Loss at No. 7 Miami
11/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Score: #7 Miami 2, #9 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (8-6-0, 5-5-0-0 CCHA), Miami (8-3-3, 8-2-2-1 CCHA)
Attendance: 3,025
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 28 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 7:05 p.m. CST
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes
OXFORD, Ohio -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team suffered a 2-1 loss at No. 7 Miami on Saturday (Nov. 22) at Steve Cady Arena. Miami, which earned the series sweep with the win, scored late in the first period and early in the second to take control. Michigan's lone goal came in the second period from Chris Summers(Milan, Mich.) on the power play.
Michigan was not without its chances in the third period. Louie Caporusso(Woodbridge, Ontario) hit the right post twice and Ben Winnett(New Westminster, B.C.) hit the left post once. Bryan Hogan(Highland, Mich.), who suffered his first loss of the season (6-1-0), made a season-high 32 saves in net.
Michigan kept Miami off the scoreboard early when the RedHawks picked up a power play at 6:18 of the first period. Hogan was sharp, making two tough saves during the penalty.
U-M earned its first power play at 11:25, but any momentum the Maize and Blue had was quickly washed out and then turned in favor of the RedHawks when one minute into its power play, Michigan took a minor penalty. Then seconds after MU's penalty ended, Matt Rust(Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct to put Michigan down two skaters. During the extended power play, Hogan made three saves, including one on Justin Mercier, who one-touched a shot from the doorstep. Late in the penalty kill, Travis Turnbull(Chesterfield, Mo.) deflected a Miami pass and headed off on a breakaway. Exhausted from his defensive effort, Turnbull's backhand shot was turned aside.
Despite U-M's exemplary penalty-killing efforts, Miami broke through with an even-strength goal at 18:36, just five seconds after Rust's major penalty expired. Tommy Wingels stopped a U-M clearing attempt at the half boards and flung it into the low slot, which is where Carter Camper deflected the puck up over Hogan's shoulder.
Miami outshot Michigan by a 13-4 margin in the opening 20 minutes.
The RedHawks went ahead 2-0 at 2:41 of the second period. Camper fed Wingels for a one-time blast from the outer left circle.
Michigan broke through for its first goal of the weekend at 14:43 when Summers notched his first career power-play goal. Greg Pateryn(Sterling Heights, Mich.) passed from the right point to the left point and Summers simply blasted a slapshot through a Turnbull screen and past Knapp. Brandon Naurato(Livonia, Mich.) also drew an assist.
Back-to-back Miami penalties at 15:51 and 16:26 gave the Wolverines an ample opportunity to tie the game. Michigan had two shots on goal during the overlapping power plays. Perhaps the best chance at a goal came when Turnbull's pass into the crease from behind the net hit Knapp's skate and lingered near the goal line before the netminder covered it up.
Shots were eight aside in the second period, leaving Miami with a 21-12 game advantage heading into the final frame.
Michigan successfully killed off Miami's fifth power play of the night to start the third period. The Wolverines received a power play at 1:46 but could not capitalize.
U-M broke down the Miami defense five minutes in, which resulted in a great look for Caporusso from the right slot. Caporusso beat Knapp glove-side, but the puck clanged cleanly off the right post.
Michigan's offensive pressure intensified over the next five minutes as the Wolverines were able to cycle the puck in RedHawk territory and rack up scoring chances from Caporusso, Carl Hagelin(Sodertalje, Sweden) and Aaron Palushaj(Northville, Mich.).
MU's Justin Vaive gave Michigan a power play with 6:04 to play when he took a cross-checking penalty. Caporusso was unlucky again with 4:30 to play when his whack at a loose puck to the right of the goal caromed off the right post.
Michigan's prospect of sending the game to overtime took a hit with 3:29 to go when it was whistled for a penalty. Nevertheless, U-M caught a break when Knapp coughed up a big rebound to Winnett who was streaking down the middle. For the third time of the night, U-M hit the post as Winnett's backhander clanged off the left pipe.
U-M pulled Hogan in the final minute but was not able to muster any appreciable shots on Knapp.
The Wolverines killed off all seven Miami power plays in the game. The RedHawks came into the weekend with the second-best power-play unit in the nation.
As members of the same cluster this season, Michigan and Miami will meet twice more -- in Ann Arbor Jan. 9-10.
Next week, the Wolverines take a break from CCHA play to participate in the 16th Annual College Hockey Showcase. U-M plays the top-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers on Friday, Nov. 28, at 7:05 p.m. CST in Minneapolis, Minn. The Big Ten Network will televise the Minnesota contest. Michigan then moves on to play the Wisconsin Badgers on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 7:05 p.m. CST in Madison, Wis.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
