Michigan
8-4-4
Minnesota
8-5-1
Wolverines Fall at No. 15 Minnesota in Showcase Finale
11/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Nov. 28, 2010
| Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Mariucci Arena)
Score: #15 Minnesota 3, #8 Michigan 1
Records: U-M (8-4-4), Minnesota (8-5-1)
Attendance: 9,292
Next U-M Event: Friday, Dec. 3 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7:05 p.m. (TV: Big Ten Network)
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team (No. 8 USA Today/No. 8 USCHO) lost, 3-1, at Minnesota (No. 15 USA Today/No. 15 USCHO) on Sunday (Nov. 28) at Mariucci Arena.
The Wolverines were 0-for-4 on the power play, including a five-minute advantage during the second stanza. U-M's lone scorer was senior right wing Scooter Vaughan (Placentia, Calif.), who is now tied for the team lead in goals (7) with senior forward Carl Hagelin (Sodertalje, Sweden). Senior goalie Bryan Hogan (Highland, Mich.) made 23 saves, while his counterpart, Alex Kangas, had 36 stops.
Minnesota struck first at 14:50 of the first period by cashing in on a two-on-one break. Jacob Cepis flipped a pass over the outstretched stick of a U-M defenseman and Nate Condon made a quick deke before sliding the puck between Hogan's legs.
Michigan's power-play struggles in the second period proved to be decisive in the game's outcome. U-M had seven scoreless minutes with the man-advantage, including a five-minute span from 10:03 to 15:03 when it registered just four shots on goal.
The final three minutes of the second stanza were frantic. At 17:10, Minnesota scored on a two-on-two rush as Nick Larson blasted home a slap shot from atop the right circle to make it 2-1 Gophers.
Vaughan then answered with his seventh goal of the season at 18:05. Curling out behind the left side of the net, Vaughan's first shot was stopped, but he stayed with the puck and tapped in the rebound inside the right post before the goalie could kick out his pad. The tally briefly cut the Wolverine deficit to 2-1.
However, Minnesota's Erik Haula scored an easy power-play goal at 19:46 to put the Gophers ahead 3-1 after 40 minutes. Hogan made a point-blank save on Mike Hoeffel from the slot, but the rebound went directly to the wide-open Haula just beyond the right edge of the crease.
Junior left wing David Wohlberg (South Lyon, Mich.) picked off an errant Gopher pass at the U-M blue line and took off on a shorthanded breakaway with 11 minutes left in the third period. Wohlberg aimed low left and was denied by goalie Alex Kangas.
Michigan had two fruitless power plays in the third period, one before and one after Wohlberg's breakaway chance. Despite steady pressure in Minnesota's end for the final five minutes, the Wolverines could not cut into their deficit.
Next week, Michigan returns to CCHA play yet continues its string of games against Big Ten rivals, traveling to Ohio State for a two-game series. The opener on Friday (Dec. 3) starts at 7:05 p.m. and will be televised by the Big Ten Network. The Saturday (Dec. 4) finale is at 7:05 p.m. on BigTenNetwork.com.
College Hockey Showcase Notes
• Michigan completed the 18-year College Hockey Showcase with an all-time record of 20-14-2, which is tops in wins and winning percentage (.583).
• The Wolverines and Golden Gophers end the CHS with an even 9-9-0 record against each other. Michigan was 4-3-0 at Mariucci Arena.
Player Notables
• Scooter Vaughan scored his seventh goal of the season, tying Carl Hagelin for the team lead in the category.
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
