Michigan
16-2-323-3-3 < CCHA>
Miami (Ohio)
17-4-025-4-0 < CCHA>
First-Period Flurry Fuels Road Win Over No. 1 Miami
2/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Site: Oxford, Ohio (Steve Cady Arena)
Score: #2 Michigan 4, #1 Miami 2
Records: U-M (23-3-3, 16-2-3 CCHA), MU (25-4-0, 17-4-0 CCHA)
Attendance: 3,642
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 9 -- at Miami (Oxford, Ohio), 7:35 p.m.
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Video Report
OXFORD, Ohio -- The No. 2-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team defeated No. 1 Miami, 4-2, Friday (Feb. 8) in Steve Cady Arena to remain unbeaten on the road this season at 9-0-1. All four of U-M's goals occurred during the first period of play. Each of Michigan's top three lines contributed a goal in the effort, and nine U-M players had points in the game. Freshman Aaron Palushaj(Northville, Mich.) (one goal and one assist) and senior Chad Kolarik(Abington, Pa.) (two assists) each recorded multiple points.
The Wolverines made the game hard on themselves in the third period, giving the RedHawks seven power plays, two of which Miami scored on. Despite the two goals against, junior Billy Sauer(Walworth, N.Y.) played admirably with a dazzling array saves, several of which were in the third period.
The first period belonged to Michigan, as the Wolverines poured in four goals in a span of six minutes from 9:08 to 14:56.
The Wolverines opened the scoring with a rebound tally from freshman Louie Caporusso(Woodbridge, Ontario) at 9:08. Junior Travis Turnbull(Chesterfield, Mo.) recovered his own rebound from beside the net and shoveled it out into a scrum in front where Caporusso smacked it past Jeff Zatkoff's blocker.
U-M went up 2-0 at 12:18 on an excellent pass and finish by freshmen Palushaj and Carl Hagelin(Sodertalje, Sweden), respectively. Hagelin circled with the puck high in the right circle and flipped a saucer pass directly to the left edge of the crease to Palushaj, who immediately ripped the shot over the goalie.
Just 37 seconds later, captain senior Kevin Porter(Northville, Mich.) upped his nation's-best goal total to 24 on a semi-breakaway courtesy of Kolarik. Porter split the defense, skated down the left hash and fired a wrist shot high to the goalie's glove side.
Freshman Max Pacioretty(New Canaan, Conn.) completed the scoring binge with a power-play goal at 14:56. Kolarik dumped the puck down to the left corner for Palushaj, who sent a soft pass across the front of the net. Pacioretty initially fumbled the puck but was able to recover and slip a backhander through Zatkoff.
The Maize and Blue outshot Miami by an 11-3 count. The RedHawks had two power plays but U-M's defense did not allow a shot on either opportunity.
Five minutes into the second period, Sauer came up with his biggest save of the night when he stoned Pat Cannone on a power-play chance from the doorstep.
Otherwise, Michigan maintained control of the game through the middle stanza, which featured no scoring. U-M again out-shot MU, this time by an 11-5 margin. The Wolverines had a number of good scoring chances as a result of four power plays.
The RedHawks were in position to make a run at U-M's four-goal lead when U-M took penalties at 2:00 and 2:16 of the third period. Michigan's penalty killers were excellent for 1:07, whereupon MU was assessed a penalty to lessen its advantage.
The Wolverines could not keep themselves out of the penalty box as Scooter Vaughan (Placentia, Calif.) was given a five-minute major penalty for checking from behind at 4:26. Miami finally solved Sauer on a redirection in front by Ryan Jones at 5:41.
Still on the power play, MU went up two skaters for 90 seconds on a Michigan penalty called at 7:56. Thankfully, Sauer made a pair of clutch saves and the defense blocked a number of point shots to keep the U-M lead at 4-1.
On yet another power play, MU's Jarod Palmer scored on a wrist shot that went inside the left post at 13:02.
The Wolverines and RedHawks will tangle once more Saturday night (Feb. 9). The puck will drop at Steve Cady Arena at 7:35 p.m. FSN Detroit will be airing the game live.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
