U-M BREAKS MUNN ROAD WOE WITH 4-2 WIN
November 18, 2004

The #2 ranked Michigan hockey team weathered an early storm and rolled over
rival Michigan State, 4-2, at Munn Ice Arena Thursday night. It's the
first Wolverine victory at the arena since January 5, 2000 when Josh
Blackburn shutout the Spartans 2-0 in his return from injury.

The Wolverines turned in a strong defensive effort, capitalized on
turnovers, and received excellent goaltending from Al Montoya, who turned
aside 31 shots.

"We took advantage of our opportunities," coach Red Berenson said after the
game on WTKA, "and anytime you do that, it gives your team a boost and
takes away from their team."

The Spartans got out of the gates strong and Montoya was outstanding
turning aside 16 shots, while the Wolverines only mustered half that
amount. But it was U-M that got one that counted as T.J. Hensick stole the
puck and rifled a shot over Spartan goalie Dominic Vicari's shoulder with
6:52 remaining.

Early in the second period it looked like the Wolverines might be headed
for a meltdown. The Spartans began the period finishing up an unsuccessful
power play, then at 2:49 Andrew Ebbett went to the box for roughing. On
the ensuing power play, a pile up in front of the net saw Jim Slater put
the loose puck past Montoya to tie the contest. Then right after the next
faceoff, Kevin Porter took a penalty. Luckily, nine seconds later, MSU
defenseman A.J. Thelan was sent to the box and the tide started to shift
from there.

With 7:01 remaining in the second period, David Rohlfs put the Wolverines
back ahead with a breakaway goal. Off a faceoff in the U-M zone, the puck
bounced off a few sticks and Rohlfs picked it up with a step on
everyone. He put a backhand shot past Vicari to make it 2-1.

U-M would carry the lead to the third period and extended it 1:21 into the
stanza shorthanded. With U-M defenseman Brandon Rogers in the box 58
seconds into the period, David Moss stole the puck and broke down ice with
Rohlfs. Vicari made the stop on Moss, but a trailing Eric Werner picked up
the puck and fired it in for a huge shorthanded goal to put the Wolverines
ahead by a pair.

Then at 5:03, Mike Brown grabbed a loose puck behind the Spartan net and
tucked a wrap around shot past Vicari's short side to make it 4-1.

Former Wolverine recruit Bryan Lerg would score for the Spartans with 4:46
left in regulation when he was left alone in front of Montoya, got the
puck, and went upstairs. But it wasn't enough to swing the momentum one
last time as U-M's defense controlled the rest of the way.

Vicari finished the game with 18 saves for the Spartans.

As big as the win is for the Wolverines, Berenson knows the weekend isn't
over yet and the Spartans will be coming at them Saturday night. "The game
here doesn't mean a lot if you don't win Saturday, and you know both teams
will be bringing their best," he said.

The two teams will clash Saturday night at Yost at 7:35 p.m. The game will
be broadcast locally in Ann Arbor on Comcast Ch. 8.

CCHA SCORES - 11/18/04
Bowling Green 7, Wayne State 3

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
http://MichiganHockey.net/