November 11, 2011 - 10:22pm
Michigan drops first game to RedHawks
BY DAILY HOCKEY BEAT
The Daily's hockey beat is LIVE from Goggin Ice Center in Oxford where a massive CCHA test awaits No. 4 Michigan.
Miami (Ohio) was picked to finish second in the conference preseason by the coaches, but it's been a disappointing start for coach Enrico Blasi and the RedHawks.
Meanwhile, the Wolverines are coming off a difficult series split with Western Michigan last weekend at Yost Ice Arena. And Miami (Ohio) swept Alaska on the road.
Junior forward Chris Brown returns to the lineup for Michigan. He'll be skating with junior forward A.J. Treais and freshman forward Phil DiGiuseppe.
The Wolverines will be tasked with slowing down star freshman forward Tyler Biggs — the Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round draft pick.
Follow the live blog below for all of the action from the Oxford.
FIRST PERIOD SUMMARY
The RedHawks came out as the fastest team Michigan has played so far. And their first goal of the night came just as quickly — less than two minutes into the game. After being reviewed, the goal counted, and the tone was set for the period
The tone with physicality, and both teams came out with plenty of it. Miami controlled the puck, but never had any good looks on fifth-year senior goalkeeper Shawn Hunwick. When the Wolverines did have possession, their passes were interepted.
The RedHawks have spent a third of their season in the penalty box, but junior forward Lindsay Sparks took the first minor of the night for slashing, but the Wolverines successfully killed it. Sparks’ penalty was the only one of theh period — a surprise for two teams that have spent so much time shorthanded.
Freshman forward Travis Lynch had the best look for the Wolverines, but his shot went wide as he approached the crease.
But Michigan lost what was perhaps its best opportunity with a minute and a half left. The puck came loose under Miami netminders Cody Reichard, but the Wolverines couldn’t find an avenue to score.
The RedHawks outshot the Wolverines 11-7.
SECOND PERIOD SUMMARY
Not wanting to relinquish their lead, the RedHawks took the first shot of the stanza but it missed the net by inches. Miami had a breakaway chance and what seemed like an open shot on Hunwick. But this time the puck clanked off the post, and senior forward Luke Glendening took over duties for Hunwick and made the save.
After a RedHawk penalty, Michigan was on the power play — but only for a minute. Freshman forward Alex Guptill exchanged some shoves with a Miami player after the whistle, and was sent to the box for slashing.
With both teams even at five, Miami kept the puck in their offensive zone, and Hunwick was kept on his toes — he just kept making save after save.
The Wolverines tried to retaliate with goals of their own, but Miami caught each rebound. These interceptions, and poor passing proved fatal for Michigan when freshman forward Travis Biggs scored RedHawks’ second goal of the evening after Miami intercepted Michigan’s puck.
Miami dominated absolutely everything this period — shots on goal, time spent in its offensive zone, as well as pure physicality. It was thanks to several near misses, some big saves by Hunwik and a little luck for Michigan that the RedHawks didn’t score more.
THIRD PERIOD SUMMARY
After two scoreless periods, the Wolverines were desperately looking for something to spark a little momentum.
Michigan did better on getting the puck into its attack zone, but once it was there, nothing really happened — they didn’t have any major chances on goal, but didn’t give Miami any major breakaway opportunities either.
Michigan’s saving grace came from a strange place — a scrum around the boards. Luke Glendenning won the puck from several RedHawks against the glass, broke away from the swarm, and slid the puck in the back of the net to close the deficit by one.
The goal lit the fire for Michigan, and it continued to keep possession of the puck. But sloppiness in front of the crease was a problem for Michigan, and what should have been easy shots on goal sailed way wide.
The Wolverines stayed patient, continually passing the puck to one other, all while searching for an avenue, but had trouble finding any more good opportunities — they lost all the good ones they had. The last two minutes was characterized by missed opportunity by missed opportunity.
No matter how hard Michigan tried in the third, they couldn't find a way to close the gap.
