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Coming in to the Great Lakes Invitational, the Michigan hockey team knew they needed a nearly flawless game just to even have a shot at beating Colorado College and advancing to the championship game. But the undermanned Wolverines, who were missing four top players to the World Junior Championships and another regular a one-game suspension, eventually lost control, and the game, 6-1 to the Tigers.
The Tigers got out to a quick start, immediately going on the offensive and showing their quick speed and skill. The Wolverines banded together and kept them off the scoreboard.
But late in the period, walk-on Chris Fragner took a horrible (as in VERY obvious) checking from behind major penalty, ending his first career game early.
With about 30 seconds left in the opening period, Jimmy Kilpatrick threw a shot on net from the blueline that was tipped by a U-M player and through a screen that beat goalie Billy Sauer over his right shoulder. Sauer had no idea the puck was ever coming.
Things got much worse in the second period as the Wolverines first gave up a shorthanded goal to Joey Crabb. Adam Dunlap lost control of the puck in his skates in front of the net, Crabb picked it up and beat Sauer high glove side.
Later the Tigers would go on the power play and it would take just eight seconds for Crabb to go top shelf again to put CC ahead 3-0.
Late in the period on another CC power play, Brian Salcido ripping a one-timer from the right faceoff circle through the arms of Sauer to go ahead 4-0.
Michigan took another penalty shortly thereafter, but also got their best scoring opportunity when Andrew Ebbett went in all alone on a breakaway but was denied by CC goalie Matt Zaba.
The Wolverines play a totally undisciplined period of hockey, which pretty much cost them any shot at the game. Jason Bailey hooked down a guy, T.J. Hensick slashed down another player, and Matt Hunwick went to the box for roughing. All three penalties were totally unnecessary, just plain stupid penalties, and all by guys who should know better.
The Wolverines started senior goalie Noah Ruden in the third period.
U-M came out with a little more jump and finally got on the scoreboard when Brandon Naurato slipped the puck in the far post on a bad angle shot.
But the Tigers would strick back quickly on a bad break for the Wolverines. Matt Hunwick's stick broke on his clearing attempt and the puck went right to Brett Sterling, who walked in and beat Ruden.
CC would add one more shorthanded goal late in the period by Trevor Frischmon.
The Tigers put up about 45 shots on goal and pretty much dominated the undermanned Wolverines. U-M played well for about the first 17 minutes until the Fragner major penalty and slowly lost it from there.
The Wolverines will face Michigan Tech in the consolation game tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 p.m. That game can be seen on Fox Sports Detroit.
That's all for now...
Go Blue!
Jason
Michigan Hockey Net
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