Michigan 6, Michigan State 2

Finally, a reason to cheer!

Michigan rebounds from Friday's loss with a 6-2 pounding of Michigan
State, snapping the Spartans nine game unbeaten streak (4-0-5) against
the Wolverines. T.J. Hensick and Kevin Porter each had four points,
while Billy Sauer turned aside 34 shots on goal. And talk about
turning the tables, tonight it was the Wolverines who surged ahead
with four goals in the second period.

Hensick got the Wolverines off to yet another fast start as he beat
MSU goalie Jeff Lerg just 17 seconds into the game.

Tim Kennedy would tie the game with 2:11 left in the opening stanza
after a Sauer turnover behind the net, but the deadlock would be
shortlived as Porter would score 32 seconds later on a nice setup by
Hensick to put the Wolverine back ahead heading into the first
intermission.

The Wolverines would extend their lead 5:42 into the second period
when Tim Miller scored a shorthanded goal.

But during the remainder of the power play, Jack Johnson would take a
penalty giving the Spartans a brief two-man advantage and it would
take Kennedy 14 seconds to capitalize on it. But that wasn't all as
his goal came on a delayed penalty to Jason Dest, thus keeping the
Spartans on the two-man advantage for another 1:46. However, the
Wolverines penalty kill unit came through to keep the one goal lead.

Later in the period, Andrew Cogliano would start a three goal scoring
burst for the Wolverines in a 5:10 span to pull away. Cogliano would
beat Lerg with 7:49 left in the second period to make it 4-2. Porter
would add his second goal of the night 2:44 later on the power play
off another feed from Hensick, and Jack Johnson scored 2:26 later to
make it 6-2.

The Spartans all but conceded the game at the start of the third
period by replacing Lerg with backup Bobby Jarosz, though the
Wolverines would give them several chances and Sauer had to be sharp.
The Spartans had four power play opportunities during the third
period, but the special teams came through for U-M for a change and
Sauer turned away all 13 shots faced during the final 20 minutes of
regulation.

A strong effort tonight by the Wolverines, which has been rare this
season. If you had to nitpick one area of improvement, it's still the
fact they're taking too many penalties. U-M had four power plays,
while giving the Spartans eight chances, four of which came during the
final period.

Michigan continues their homestand next weekend when they host
Nebraska-Omaha. The big question will definitely be whether or not
they can build off tonight's momentum and put together a complete
weekend.

-----------------

That's all for now...

Go Blue!

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