Spartans mount late comeback, tie Wolverines 2-2

The Michigan hockey team controlled Michigan State for 57 minutes and
33 seconds tonight at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines were leading 2-
0, had over 30 shots on goal, and appeared to be on their way to
another victory over their rivals.

Then a bad clearing attempt in the Wolverine zone went to Ethan
Graham at the point and he fired a shot that deflected off Drew
Miller in front of the net and went over the shoulder of U-M goalie
Al Montoya to make it 2-1 with 2:27 remaining in regulation.

With a minute left and Dominic Vicari pulled from net, the Spartans
were applying the heavy pressure. Twice the Wolverines cleared the
puck, but unfortunately both times icing resulted, and U-M failed to
win both big faceoffs in their zone.

With the clock winding down, five seconds left and the puck behind
the net, David Moss tried to tie it up along the boards. The puck
squirted loose, Jim Slater grabbed it, threw it in front right on the
stick of Miller, and he snapped a shot past Montoya to tie the game
with 1.3 seconds left. The Michigan fans went silent in disbelief
while the Spartans and their fans celebrated like mad.

In overtime, both teams had their chances, but neither could convert.

The Wolverines got off to another fast start this week. Charlie
Henderson put U-M on the board early in the opening period when he
grabbed the rebound off Jeff Tambellini's blast and wrapped the puck
around Vicari.

Tambellini made it 2-0 later in the first period on the power play
when he sent a blast from the left circle that beat Vicari over his
right shoulder.

The game was very similar to last Saturday's contest against Northern
Michigan. The Wolverines pretty much dominated at the start, kept
the flow going in the second period while limiting the Spartans
chances, and seemed in control in the third. The Spartans looked
very flat until those final minutes, and the end result left the
crowd at Yost stunned.

Vicari finished the game with 39 saves, while Montoya turned aside 23
for the Wolverines.

With the tie, Michigan loses another critical point in the race for
the CCHA regular season title to Ohio State, which beat Lake Superior
tonight. U-M is now only two points ahead of the Buckeyes.

The Wolverines and Spartans wrap up the weekend series tomorrow night
at Joe Louis Arena. That game is on Fox Sports Detroit.

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

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