U-M COMPLETES SWEEP WITH THRILLING 4-3 VICTORY

Senior forward Chad Kolarik has hit more iron than net this season,
but he picked a great time to finally find the twine.

Kolarik scored a shorthanded goal with 21.1 seconds left in regulation
to give the Michigan hockey team a thrilling 4-3 victory over Northern
Michigan.

The Wildcats, who had just scored a power play goal 19 seconds earlier
to tie the game, remained on the power play due to a major penalty to
U-M freshman Matt Rust.

But NMU coughed up the puck at the Michigan blueline and Kolarik
skated in on a breakaway. Wildcat goalie Brian Stewart got a piece of
his shot, but not enough as the puck trickled into the net.

It was a hard fought victory for the Wolverines, who one night earlier
had controlled most of the game.

U-M got off to a rough start taking a penalty two minutes into the
game. After a successful kill, NMU's Billy Smith went to the box at
8:02 for tripping and the Wolverines converted on their first
opportunity of the night.

Mark Mitera threw a wrist shot on net from the left point that beat
NMU goalie Derek Janzen, who was screen in front by Travis Turnbull.

Back to the sin bin the Wolverines would go, however. After killing
off a Chad Langlais penalty, Carl Hagelin found himself heading to the
box, and the Wildcats found themselves breaking Michigan's perfect
penalty kill and tying the game when Jared Brown ripped a one-timer
from the left circle past U-M goalie Billy Sauer.

Seconds later, it was back to the box for Michigan, but the Wolverines
managed to kill off the NMU power play and escape the period tied 1-1.

U-M's parade to the box continued 5:23 into the second period when Ben
Winnett was whistled for interference. After another successful kill,
the Wildcats finally got into a bit of trouble midway through the
period that resulted in a two-man advantage for U-M for 52 seconds.

NMU killed off the first penalty, then while still a man down, a
turnover resulted in a two-on-none breakaway for Nick Sirota and Ray
Kaunisto. Sirota carried the puck into the U-M zone and opted to pass
it across to Kaunisto, who misfired the one-timer.

The Wolverines quickly regained control of the puck and headed off in
the other direction. Kevin Porter skated in on the right side towards
the net and fired a shot that went off an NMU defender and seemed to
slowly slide towards the net, but it somehow slipped past Janzen as
players crashed the crease to give U-M a 2-1 lead.

U-M would carry the lead over to the third period, but it wouldn't
take long for the Wildcats to knot it back up. Billy Sauer stretched
out the left pad to make a tough save on Nathan Sigmund's shot from
the slot, but the rebound went to Phil Fox all alone to the right of
the net and he fired it in at 3:11.

The Wolverines were unsuccessful on a pair of power play opportunities
and the game would remain tied until 4:38 left when Ben Winnett skated
straight into the NMU zone and sizzled a wrist shot into the top
corner of the net to give U-M a 3-2 lead. NMU goalie Derek Janzen
would be pulled in favor of Brian Stewart after the goal.

With 2:01 remaining, Matt Rust would be called for a 5 minute major
and game-misconduct penalty for checking from behind, which would put
the Wildcats on the power play for the remainder of regulation.

NMU pulled Stewart with about a minute left for a six-on-four
advantage and with 40.2 seconds left, Fox redirected a pass from Matt
Siddall past Sauer to tie the game and send the players and crowd into
a frenzy.

The Wildcats remained on the power play due to the major penalty, but
19 seconds later Kolarik put ice down everyone's pants when he scored
a shorthanded breakaway goal to give the Wolverines the win.

Sauer finished the game with 18 saves, while Janzen had 15 and Stewart
had zero for the Wildcats.

The Wolverines return to Yost Ice Arena next weekend as they host
Boston University. It should be noted that Saturday's game will start
at 8:30 p.m. due to the Michigan football game.

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That's all for now...

Go Blue!

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