MICHIGAN ICERS STUN BADGERS, 3-2
Now that’s more like it.
The much-maligned Michigan hockey team finally lived up to its pre-season top five billing and shut down high-powered Wisconsin 3-2 in the CHS finale.
The #15 Badgers, riding on a 7-3 thumping of MSU the previous night, came into Yost expecting to use their size and experience to wear down the Wolverines. Michigan had other ideas, carrying the momentum of a late second period tie-breaking, shorthanded goal, and then added a mid-third period score to hold off the Badgers.
The game started out cautiously for both teams, as Michigan executed a tight checking and patient attack. Wisconsin forced the issue often and early, though, and opened up a 12-5 shot advantage in the first stanza. The closest Wisconsin came to scoring was a harmless shot off the outside of Bryan Hogan’s left post about midway through the period. The Michigan backchecking was excellent and the defense in front of Hogan cleared away any rebounds that resulted.
The game pretty much remained the same until Michigan was finally awarded a power play after sustaining pressure in the Wisconsin offensive zone. Matt Rust lit the lamp from an acute angle at 6:02 to give the Maize and Blue the lead. Carl Hagelin and Steve Kampfer assisted on the goal.
Wisconsin tied the game about four minutes later on what could be described as a bad defensive change from the Michigan bench. Craig Smith accepted a stretch pass from Brendan Smith and beat the changing Michigan defenseman into the zone and went in alone on Hogan. The initial shot was stopped, but Badger Captain Blake Geoffrion followed up the play, gobbled up the effort by Hogan to stick-poke the puck past him, and drilled the rebound into the net to tie the game at 10:08.
Play became a little more physical after that and this resulted in not only an offsetting penalty exchange, but also a power play opportunity for the Badgers. Wisconsin’s defense is very active on the power play and Michigan forced a rare blue line error as the power play ran down. The Wisconsin defense recovered in its own zone, but persistence by the Michigan penalty killer (Luke Glendening) paid off in forcing a bad turn over in front of the Badger net. Jr. Netminder Scott Gudmandson was forced to stop the opportunity.
On the ensuing faceoff, and still at a 4x3 disadvantage, Glendening deftly forced the puck ahead from the draw, stepped to his left to avoid a defender, and buried a high shot over Gudmandson’s glove to give Michigan a 2-1 lead at 18:05. Michigan killed the remaining time on the man advantage and skated off with the narrow lead.
The wide open period ended with Wisconsin holding a 27-22 shot advantage.
The third period opened up with Wisconsin forcing play in an effort to tie the game. Michigan’s counterattack, though, gave the Wolverines more breathing room. David Wohlberg started a beautiful breakout from his own end to a hard charging A.J. Treais. The Michigan freshman entered the Wisconsin zone, was tied up but managed to thread a centering effort to Louie Caporusso, who directed the pass between the skates of Gudmandson for a 3-1 lead with a little over eight minutes to play. Michigan appeared to sit back a little and Wisconsin came back about two and a half minutes later to tighten the game. Michael Davies slid a pass in the high slot that caromed through several skates before stopping in the Michigan goal crease. Derek Stepan backhanded the puck over Hogan to give Wisconsin life.
The last five minutes and change saw numerous Wisconsin opportunities that either just missed, or saw Hogan come up big. Michigan enjoyed a late power play advantage but didn’t do any damage. The Badgers pressed the last minute and Captain Chris Summers was whistled for a cross check with: 17 left. Wisconsin managed to win a face off and got off two good shots, but they were blocked and the puck was cleared to end a very emotional effort.
Red Berenson on his team’s effort:
“Obviously, it’s a step in the right direction,” said coach Red Berenson. “You didn’t want to come off the game last night and then really be on your heels and be embarrassed because we knew Wisconsin would be pretty good from everything we’ve heard.
“They were, and we were up to the task. It was good for our team and it gave us some confidence. Our defense is playing better, our goalie is playing better and our forwards are chipping in and doing what they can to help us as well.”
On Bryan Hogan’s night:
“A few weeks ago, the bounces were going against him,” Berenson said of Hogan. “He was only getting 13 or 14 shots. You don’t want to see him have to make 40 saves in a game, but he had to be a factor this weekend and he was. Last night, in the second period, I thought he was huge and then tonight throughout the game.”
Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves:
“It’s another one of those games where I thought we did a lot of really good things, we certainly had our chances. I think Blake’s (Geoffrion) going to have nightmares about a couple that he had. We had our chances to score and we didn’t. We worked our fannies off. Disappointing that we didn’t win, but we can hold our heads high.”
Wisconsin (8-5-1) returns to conference play next week hosting Michigan Tech, while Michigan (7-7-0) travels to play its biggest Big Ten rival, Ohio State, in Columbus.
YOST Bits
Berenson held out Sr. Brian Lebler for the second straight game. Fr. Lindsay Sparks was reinserted in the lineup, and Fr. Lee Moffie, Sr. Eric Elmblad, and Fr. Jeff Rohrkemper were scratched.
The Badgers fall to 5-11-1 in the CHS against Michigan, the worst record of any team in the tourney.
Michigan scored two shorthanded goals and posted a 3-12 PP this weekend. The PK was especially impressive, shutting out both Minnesota and Wisconsin (0/11). Michigan only took four odd man penalties against the Badgers. Wisconsin took 6 penalties for 12 minutes as opposed to Michigan taking 5 penalties for 10 minutes.
Wisconsin outshot the Wolverines 41-35.
Hogan stopped 63/65 shots in the CHS. Louie Caporusso and Carl Hagelin led the offense this weekend with 2-1-3, followed by Steve Kampfer with 3A. David Wohlberg chipped in with 2A.
Hats off to Michigan ’s much-maligned defensive core for their play this weekend. Tristin Llewellyn played a very strong game last night, even with a very questionable minor that he was whistled for.
Defenseman Greg Pateryn left the game with an undisclosed injury in the second period. No status is available for next weekend against the Buckeyes.
Michigan will play the Badgers again in February in what should be a dynamite rematch. The game will be held in Camp Randall stadium, home of the football Badgers, in what is being billed as potentially the largest crowd to ever witness an NCAA hockey game.
Yostmeister three star selections:
1. Mich- Bryan Hogan- 39 saves including three or four outstanding saves to keep Michigan in front.
2. Wis- Scott Gudmandson- 32 saves in a losing effort, including two dandy glove saves.
3. Mich- Luke Glendening- a momentum changing SHG (unassisted) and solid defensive play all night.
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Written by Yostmeister
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