July 28, 2011 - 6:49pm
Live Blog: Michigan takes on Wisconsin for weekend sweep in College Hockey Showcase
BY RYAN KARTJE
After a one-sided, 6-0 obliteration of Minnesota last night in the first game of the College Hockey Showcase, Michigan (6-7-0) takes on a much better team tonight in Wisconsin which boasts three first rounders and two second rounders, just on defense.
It's going to be an interesting battle as the Wisconsin defense is one of the highest scoring defenses in the country, while the rest of the team isn't too shabby either. The Badgers put up seven goals on Michigan State last night, and Michigan's going to need another great performance from goalie Bryan Hogan to make sure the result isn't the same as it was for the Spartans.
Here's the lines for tonight's game:
Offense:
Hagelin - Rust - Brown
Wohlberg - Caporusso - Treais
Winnett - Glendening - Lynch
Sparks - Ciraulo - Vaughan
Defense
Langlais - Summers
Burlon - Pateryn
Llewellyn - Kampfer
1st period
19:47: We're underway here at Yost, and Michigan seems to be pretty high energy out on the ice. Not as high energy as the Chris Brown-Texas contingent though, who has to be 50-deep. They travel well apparently.
18:04: The defense is starting off pretty strongly tonight, just like they did last night, keeping the Badgers out of the defensive zone. This looks like it'll be a low-scoring game if the defense keeps this up.
17:00 Smith of Wisconsin goes to the box with the game's first penalty after the Badgers first good chance on Hogan, with an interference call. The Wolverines power play scored two goals last night, one of their best performances of the year. They're currently the worst on power play in the CCHA. We'll see if this newfound power play continues today.
15:00: Wisconsin's penalty kill looked really strong, comparable to Michigan's at least, as the Wolverines start off 0-1 on the power play.
13:50: A great pass from Steve Kampfer outside the right circle almost turns into a Michigan lead. With Carl Hagelin undefended on the other side of the ice, the junior winger's wrister nearly hits the post and Badger goalie Scott Gudmandson knocks the net off. That's definitely the best opportunity Michigan has seen thus far.
11:17: With the momentum swinging Wisconsin's way for the last few minutes, three Badgers were in front of the net as one of their shots hits the left post just out of Hogan's reach. That was a close call.
9:35: Hogan with a great pad save off of another good Wisconsin opportunity. The defense seems to be letting too many seams open up at this point. I'm clearly a jinx. As fellow Daily Sports Writer Mark Burns noted, it looks like a Wisconsin power play out here with Hogan having to stay attentive at all times. Of course, that could be the key to success for Hogan who does much better with 30 shots than he does with 13.
6:33: Wisconsin is really outplaying the Wolverines right now, with Hogan putting in a monstrous effort so far (this after a puck slid across the crease and he covered it just in time). He has 11 saves with six minutes left in the period, while Gudmandson has only had to make three. Michigan's offense really needs to pick it up.
4:31: A breakaway stems from Ciraulo not pressuring Wisconsin in their own zone, and luckily Brandon Burlon got to the streaking Badger as he was just about to make the shot. Hogan doesn't have to make a great save this time, luckily.
2:48: First whistle in awhile as Andy Bohmbach of Wisconsin gets trucksticked on the boards. He gets up and both teams finally have a chance to take a breather. Especially Michigan who's getting worked in their own zone a lot tonight.
1:20: Great chance as Lynch takes it to the right circle and delivers a beautiful pass to Glendening right in the slot. Glendening's shot is blocked by the Wisconsin player right in front of him. On the next player, Treais has a turnaround shot that just misses the post. At least it looks like Michigan's offense is getting back on track.
End of the 1st Period: Michigan 0, Wisconsin 0
Shots: Michigan 5, Wisconsin 12 (yikes)
2nd Period
18:11: A Ben Winnett one-timer looked like it was about to fall over the top of Gudmandson, but the Wisconsin defenders do a good job boxing Michigan out of the crease and leaving them with no opportunity.
17:18: Brown tries to get Hagelin another score, which would've been his third in two days, with another great pass from the circle to Hagelin waiting in the slot. Unfortunately for the duo, the Wisconsin defense is swarming the neutral zone and blocked the shot.
16:45: Sloppy play in Michigan's neutral zone almost costs the Wolverines a Wisconsin lead as a nice pass skidded across the open crease as Hogan was out of position. Luckily, the Badgers couldn't put the puck in the back of the net on that one.
14:21: Finally the refs remind us that they're here with just the second penalty call of the night. The Wolverines would be doing themselves a huge favor if they could score here.
13:58: On a Carl Hagelin pass, Matt Rust walks it out of the corner and puts it at Gudmandson's bottom right, and in the goal. HUGE goal on the power play, their third of the weekend. Michigan 1, Wisconsin 0
12:48: Tristin Llewellyn goes to the box on a very questionable boarding call that looked more like the refs trying to make up for Michigan scoring a power play goal. Hagelin charges the Wisconsin goal, looking for his second shorthander of the weekend, but he's stopped before he gets there. Sometimes I forget how fast he is.
10:36: Luke Glendening is really hurting the Wolverines on the faceoff with just one win on seven tries. For comparison's sake, Matt Rust won six of seven today thus far. It looks like it may be time for Glendening to move back to the wing.
9:52: Two great chances for the Wolverines as Caporusso and Wohlberg both get good looks at the net and a few inches would've given them a goal. Unfortunately, the defense slacks on the way back and Wisconsin goes on the breakaway. Hogan makes a great stop, but Brendan Smith pokes the puck out of Hogan's reach and Geoffrion puts it in top corner to tie the game. Michigan 1, Wisconsin 1
7:23: Scooter Vaughan gets romped by Brendan Smith, giving the Wolverines another power play. With the way they've been playing on the power play this weekend, there might finally be some confidence in Michigan's performance with the man advantage.
5:30: Despite a whole lot of cycling the puck around with some pretty good backdoor chances, the Wolverines can't deliver this time on the power play. Instead, they allow a 3-on-2 somehow at the other end that probably could've scored a goal if the Badgers didn't botch the shot completely.
5:03: An awful no call from the refs after Llewellyn's stick gets kicked away from him as the Badgers charge toward Michigan's end. That's ridiculous.
3:54: A scrum in Wisconsin's zone results in two-minute minors for Lindsay Sparks and Wisconsin's Brendan Smith. The loss of Smith is a lot bigger loss than Sparks, so this could be a good chance for Michigan. However, Sparks probably shouldn't have been called anyway.
2:41: Wohlberg gets a slashing call, and Wisconsin has the 4-on-3 for :47. Hogan makes a nice stop to start the penalty kill, and this could be the Wolverines' biggest test on the penalty kill all weekend.
1:58: Wow. After stopping the penalty kill and almost getting a shorthander from Glendening, Glendening proves me completely wrong on the faceoff and scores one shorthanded almost immediately after winning it. That's Michigan's second shorthanded goal of the weekend and of the season Michigan 2, Wisconsin 1 Berenson loves his guys to win faceoffs, but I'm sure with Glendening's goal he might ease up.
:49Rust almost takes a breakaway to light the lamp, but he loses his handle on the puck just outside of the crease. The Wolverines have played the last three minutes like they're the best team in the CCHA. Two more good scoring opportunities don't go their way, but this place is going absolutely nuts.
End of the 2nd Period: Michigan 2, Wisconsin 1
Shots: Michigan 22, Wisconsin 27
Note: I was reading the faceoff stat wrong, and in fact, Glendening is doing well on the faceoff. My bad. Thank MGoBlue and their confusing stat line.
3rd Period
17:50: Langlais gets his ankles broken on a sweet move from Wisconsin and just barely gets a foot out to take the tripping call. Better than a goal in this situation, I guess. But Michigan goes on the penalty kill.
16:22: Michigan gets a break with a tripping call on Ben Street to make it 4-on-4 for the next :30. Kampfer likes the call and absolutely destroys a Michigan forward on the boards. He follows the hit with a great defensive stop. Kampfer is clearly having his best weekend of the year, and he's proving to be an asset for the Wolverines on offense (3 assists this weekend) and in the defensive zone.
13:57: Wisconsin returns to full strength after the Michigan power play has one of its weaker outings of the night. Soon after, Gudmandson almost gives up an easy goal, but it slips right past the post.
12:13: The Wolverines go on the offensive and A.J. Treais comes through with a nice deke and almost scores the clincher. His shot just misses the net, and the crowd really thought that one was going in.
10:37: A weak icing call from Langlais after he's about a half-step away from the line. These last 10 minutes are huge for the Wolverines who have had some notable collapses in the 3rd period (cough, cough Bowling Green cough, cough). If they can pull out a victory, giving them three straight, this team could be back to form.
9:19: Llewellyn just lobbed one up and hit the scoreboard. That was sweet.
8:08: From the slot, Treais slaps a nice pass to Caporusso who puts it in the back of the net. That could be enough for the Michigan to close out the College Hockey Showcase. Michigan 3, Wisconsin 1
5:22: Miscommunication between Kampfer and Langlais ends with both of them ending up behind the goal. It looked like Kampfer should've been in front and Derek Stepan puts it in for the Bagers. This could get interesting. Michigan needs to show their endurance here if they want to win this game. And by Michigan, I mean mostly Bryan Hogan who's seen 36 shots tonight, which is a season-high. Michigan 3, Wisconsin 2
3:28: The third line has looked great tonight with Glendening's strong performance as well as Kevin Lynch. Lynch just about took a breakaway to end it, and then rebounded to almost get another one. The second time, he gets tripped and the Wolverines go on the power play. This couldn't have come at a better time.
2:00: Wisconsin is going to have a 1:30 or so to score and tie this one up after they most likely pull their goalie. This is probably a lot closer than most fans would've hoped after Caporusso's huge goal at 8:08. Next update will be the final score if there's no overtime. Here comes the 6-on-4.
FINAL SCORE: Michigan 3, Wisconsin 2
