Michigan
33-5-4
Clarkson
22-13-4
Frozen Four Bound: U-M Blanks Clarkson in Regional Final
3/29/2008 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Site: Albany, N.Y. (Times Union Center)
Event: NCAA East Regional Final
Score: #1 Michigan 2, #10 Clarkson 0
Records: U-M (33-5-4), Clarkson (22-13-4)
Attendance: 4,301
Next U-M Event: Thursday, April 10 -- vs. Notre Dame (Denver, Colo.), 4 or 7 p.m. MDT
Boxscore | Postgame Notes | Quotes | Photos | Video Report | Blog
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The No. 1-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team defeated No. 10 Clarkson 2-0 Saturday night (March 29) in the NCAA East Regional final to earn its first Frozen Four berth since 2003. Aaron Palushaj(Northville, Mich.) and Kevin Porter(Northville, Mich.) tallied Michigan's goals, while Billy Sauer(Walworth, N.Y.) posted 27 saves in a shutout effort at the Times Union Center.
The Wolverines' penalty kill was key in the game, going a perfect 8-for-8 on the night. For the weekend, Michigan was an unblemished 11-for-11 when killing penalties against both Niagara and Clarkson.
The teams exchanged power plays in the first 10 minutes of the opening period, but neither could muster any quality scoring chances in the two-minute spans. Michigan registered a trio of shots, while the Golden Knights put two shots on net.
Clarkson generated three rapid-fire shots following its time with the man advantage, but Sauer turned aside each of the chances. Chris D'Alvise threw a shot at Sauer, then scooped up his own rebound and fired another shot at the U-M netminder. Matt Beca tried to stuff the loose puck home, but Sauer's pads negated the attempt.
The Wolverines answered back with an opportunity of their own when Max Pacioretty(New Canaan, Conn.) snapped a quick pass up to Chad Kolarik(Abington, Pa.). The alternate captain gained the zone and ripped a shot from the left faceoff circle that tipped off David Leggio's glove and caromed just wide of the net.
On the power play, the Maize and Blue broke open the scoring on Palushaj's 10th goal of the season. Palushaj snagged a pass from Porter and carried the puck down near the goal mouth. The move pulled Leggio onto his knees and out of the crease, and Palushaj skated around the back of the net and tucked the puck into the vacated net for the wraparound tally at 14:23. The man-advantage marker gave U-M the 1-0 edge.
Michigan was assessed four consecutive penalties, stymieing any offensive effort in the opening minutes of the second stanza. However, the Wolverine penalty-killing unit was extremely effective at limiting Clarkson's opportunities, holding it to just a pair of shots on goal in the nearly eight minutes with the man advantage.
The Golden Knights' best chance came when Brandon DeFazio gobbled up the puck just outside of the crease and fired a point-blank shot at Sauer. The attempt ricocheted off the junior's mask to deny DeFazio.
Despite accumulating only four shots on goal the entire middle period, U-M created a pair of scoring chances in the final minute of play. Kolarik was a key player in both shots, including a two-on-none breakaway. Porter corralled the loose puck inside the left faceoff circle but elected to carry it behind the goal line before sending a pass to Kolarik. The right winger snapped a one-timer from the slot, but Leggio adroitly moved side to side to turn away the shot.
The Maize and Blue used the momentum built late in the second period to capitalize just 26 seconds into the final session. Kolarik sent a pass to Pacioretty skating down the center of the ice, and the freshman slipped a pass through traffic to Porter. The captain's backhand connected for his 33rd goal of the season, giving U-M the 2-0 lead.
With the teams skating four men to a side, Shea Guthrie blasted a shot from the slot. Sauer made the initial save, but Nick Dodge gobbled up the rebound and put a try on net himself. The Wolverine goalie kicked out both his legs to deny the attempt five minutes into the third period.
Michigan was awarded a five-on-three advantage for 1:13 but could not put the puck in the back of the net despite two shots on goal.
Dodge against tested Sauer with just over three minutes remaining in the contest. Off the faceoff, the Clarkson captain slung a shot at Sauer that caught the junior off guard, but he fell on the puck to deny any second chances.
Steve Kampfer(Jackson, Mich.) and Carl Hagelin(Sodertalje, Sweden) were called for penalties 55 seconds apart and, with Leggio pulled for an extra attacker, Clarkson used the six-on-three advantage to pepper Sauer for the final minutes of the game. Steve Zalewski directed a shot at Sauer, then followed it up another chance. With the puck loose in front of the crease, DeFazio tried to push the puck behind the Wolverine goalie, but Sauer stood strong once more to preserve his shutout bid.
Forwards Porter and Kolarik, defenseman Mark Mitera(Davisburg, Mich.) and goaltender Sauer were selected to the NCAA East Regional all-tournament team. Porter was named the Most Outstanding Player.
The Maize and Blue advances to the Frozen Four for the 23rd time in program history and will face Notre Dame, a 3-1 winner over Michigan State in the NCAA West Regional final. The Wolverines-Fighting Irish semifinal contest will be played Thursday, April 10, at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo. Game time will be either 4 or 7 p.m. MDT, and the game will televised by ESPN2.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
