November 12, 2011 - 11:58pm
Wolverines lose sudden death shootout at Miami (Ohio)
BY DAILY HOCKEY BEAT
We're LIVE from Goggin Ice Arena where No. 4 Michigan is looking to redeem itself after dropping last night's game against Miami (Ohio) 2-1.
The RedHawks came out much faster, and much more physical than the Wolverines expected. Miami took the lead early in the first period, and set the tone for the rest of the game. Though Michigan scored with minutes remaining in the third stanza, the RedHawks wouldn't relinquish their lead.
Friday nights and road trips have proved to be difficult for the Wolverines — tonight, they plan to use last night's loss to set the fire they need to walk away from Goggin with a series split.
Follow the live blog for all of the action here in Oxford.
FIRST PERIOD SUMMARY
The Wolverines looked to come out strong. And when Miami took an early penalty, it looked seemed like perhaps Michigan could use the momentum to score on the power play and take an early lead. But the RedHawks killed it, and the Wolverines were right back where they started.
As opposed to last night, Michigan did a much better job keeping the puck down near RedHawks netminders Cody Reichard. And it paid off.
Junior forward A.J Treais set up Michigan’s first goal of the night as he skated down the ice. He passed to freshman forward Phil DiGiuseppe, who in turn dished it to junior forward Chris Brown. The puck found its way in the back of the net, and Michigan’s most productive line all added more points to their stats.
But Michigan’s most productive line lost part of its chemistry when Brown was sent to the penalty box. A RedHawk had him in a headlock right next to the team benches, and both players were given minors for roughing after the whistle.
But even with Brown in the box, the line still found a way to score. Treais’ shot bounced off the Reichard and just sat on the line at the bottom of the crease. DiGiuseppe got there before Reichard could locate the puck, and knocked it in.
As the period wound down, the RedHawks tried to keep the puck down by fifth-year senior Shawn Hunwick, but some big plays by the netminder shut out Miami for the first period.
SECOND PERIOD SUMMARY
Where Hunwick saw little action in the first stanza, he saw much more in the second. A early block off his shins was a characteristic of the early parts of the period — strong presence in the Miami offense zone.
It paid off for them — they won the faceoff after a Michigan icing penalty and a slapshot sailed past Hunwick. They scored again moments later, but the goal was revoked.
The rest of the period was like a game of ping-pong — the puck went back and forth, with shots being made, but no strong looks on goal. The defensive pair of sophomore Mac Bennett and senior Greg Pateryn played very physically worked hard to clear the puck away from Hunwick.
As the period wound down, Miami had what looked like another goal, but this too was waved off. Hunwick made the save, but a RedHawk interference caused the puck to slip from between his legs.
The two waved off goals were a saving grace for Michigan, who would otherwise have had to overcome a one-goal deficit going into the third.
THIRD PERIOD SUMMARY
Michigan came into the third with a one-goal lead. But a Wolverines miscue tied the game.
Freshman defenseman Mike Chiasson had the puck in front of Hunwick. But a RedHawk interception resulted in a Hunwick save, but then a Miami goal off the rebound.
The Wolverines talked about how important special teams would be during this series. But the penalty kill becomes more difficult when the experienced senior leadership goes to the box. Pateryn took an interference penalty. A dish from the blue line, to a Miami player in front of Hunwick was all Miami needed to take a 3-2 lead.
The Wolverines pace quickened. Freshman forward Zack Hyman took the puck around the back of Miami’s net. From the red line at the corner, he shot, and the puck deflected of Reichard’s skate and into the net, tying the game 3-3 with 3 minutes left.
Neither team could score in the remainder of the stanza, and the teams went into overtime.
OVERTIME
Both teams came out with some very close near shots at the beginning of the extra time. But good team defense from Michigan stopped several close calls by Hunwick.
But a scoreless five minutes led to a shootout.
OVERTIME
Miami’s first shot was no good. Di Giuseppe took Michigan’s first shot, which was no good. The RedHawk’s second missed, as did Brown’s for Michigan. Miami’s third shot missed, as did Treais for the Wolverines.
With both teams taking all three shots, the shootout entered sudden death, with Miami scoring on its first try. Lindsay Sparks took the shot to tie the game, but missed, and Miami won.
