01 Page 4-The Michigan Daily- Sports Monday - March 23, 1 Josh Dubow 'M' icers stymie Miami, 6-2 a Wolverines' penalty killing keys CCHA semifinal victory 'M' Icers stricken by Andy De Korte Daily Hockey Writer by Madeley malady by Josh Dubow. Daily Hockey Writer DETROIT - Michigan and Lake Superior met for the fifth time this season yesterday at Joe Louis Arena, and once again Laker goaltender Darren Madeley and his defense stifled the high-powered Wolverine attack. Lake Superior held Michigan to one goal in its 3-1 victory in the CCHA final. Michigan did not provide a stiff enough challenge to penetrate Madeley. Wolverine coach Red Berenson repeatedly talks about his team's need to "shoot smart," and yesterday this deficiency proved fatal for the Wolverines. Michigan's biggest problem against Lake Superior this season has been finishing its chances, and yesterday proved no different. "I think we outplayed them," Michigan forward David Oliver said, "but we couldn't capitalize on our chances. It was just one of those games. Madeley's a good goalie, but we weren't bearing down in front of the net. We made him look great tonight." "I thought we played well enough to win," Berenson said. "We didn't put some of our chances in. We either weren't as sharp around the net as we should have been, or when we wxee, Madeley or their defense made the bia' play. In the five games this season against Michigan, Madeley has posted a .941 save percentage versus his .918 against the rest of the na- tion. That Madeley's stats improve against one of the nation's top of- fenses is in part a credit to the Lak- ers stepping up their defensive ef- fort, and in part inefficiency from Michigan's offense. Madeley attributes his success to his strong defense. Despite rookie hl' defenseman Tim Hanley's constant 1at shadowing of Felsner in the Laker ifr zone, Madeley was fearful of the CCHA's leading scorer's prolific /'' - 1,1 scoring ability. "Denny is the scariest man on the Madeley ice," Madeley said. "He scares me from the time he gets on the ice. He's so big and powerful you need differ- ent tactics. If you don't make a decision he'll power over you." The problem for Felsner and the Wolverines was that they were making too many wrong decisions. While Madeley stifled some of Michigan's chances, Michigan botched many others. "I thought we overhandled the puck in their zone," Berenson said. "We were skating around instead of getting the shot. We didn't need a fancy goal, just a goal." The Lakers do not give up many transition chances, but when they did, the Wolverines could not take advantage of them. One play midway through the first period typified this. Felsner, Brian Wiseman and defensemen Doug Evans had a three-on-one against the Lake defense. However, Michigan did not even get a shot off on Madeley when a Felsner drop pass to Evans went astray. The Wolverines vaunted power play also struggled to test Madeley. On their five power plays, they were only able to muster three shots on goal. Often this season, Michigan has made good'goalies look great, or average goalies look good. But against a great goalie like Madeley, you need to take advantage of all your chances. Because Michigan didn't exploit Madeley when it had a chance, it needed to rely on lucky bounces to beat Madeley. "We outplayed them the whole game," Oliver said. "On their first two goals, the puck just bounced their way. It would of been nice to see a few of those go in for us." But to win, the Wolverines need to do more than outplay their opponents -- they need to outscore them. DETROIT - Redskin Ken House scored the first goal of Saturday's game against Michigan just 30 seconds into the contest, a feat Miami had not accomplished in four regular season games against the Wolverines. However, Miami could not keep the momentum going as Michigan answered with the first of four unanswered goals just 10 seconds later en route to Michigan's 6-2 vic- tory in its CCHA semifinal match- up. "It was really important to get the first goal, we've won about 62 (66) percent of our games when we score first," Miami coach George Gwozdecky said. "Unfortunately, it was only important for 10 seconds, but it was still good to get the goal under our belts." The goal did quickly erase Gwozdecky's fear that his team could have trouble playing through the distractions of its first-ever weekend at the Joe. Penalty killing proved to be the key for both teams as the night pro- gressed. Although Michigan staked out a 2-1 lead on a David Roberts goal early in the first period, the Wolverines couldn't capitalize on any of their three power play chances in the period and were 0-6 for the game. "The power play just doesn't work all the time," Michigan's leading power play goal scorer 'I thought we were holding on a lot tonight even if the score didn't indicate it' - Red Berenson Michigan hockey coach David Oliver said. "They kept changing up their game, and we kept adjusting, but we didn't get crisp passing, and we didn't score." Brian Wiseman generated some scoring of his own. Starting near his own red line, he took the puck end- to-end, split the defensemen at their blue line and had enough punch left to beat Miami goalie Mark Michaud low to his glove side. Michigan's own penalty killers were tested soon after Wiseman made the score, 3-1. David Roberts and Cam Stewart were able to keep the puck in Miami's zone for long periods of the three power plays Michigan needed to kill. Between shorthanded stretches defenseman Mike Stone scored with one of hockey's toughest shots - a backhand to the top of the near cor- ner of the net to the goalie's glove side over a defenseman. Miami refused to be put away, scoring on a power-play blast from just inside the blue line to climb back to a two-goal deficit. The lack of a knock out punch caused Mich- igan coach Red Berenson the most concern. "We played well enough to win, but that won't be good enough (in the finals.) I don't think we played as well as we wanted to," Berenson said. "They were always in the game. I thought we were holding on a lot tonight even if the score didn't indicate it." The 4-2 score was as close as Miami would get. Wiseman scored by redirecting an Al Sinclair drive from the right point. Ted Kramer notched his 17th goal of the season, and second of the night, into an empty net to close the scoring. MICHIGAN 6, Miami 2 ate Joe Louis Arena FIRST PERIOD Miami 1, Michigan 0. House 25 (Blasi, Miller) :31. Miami 1, Michigan 1. Kramer 16 (Stewart, Ward) :41. Penalties - Michigan. Stiver (roughing); Miami, Wilson (roughing) 1:49. Michigan 2, Miami 1. Roberts 15 (Oliver) 3:45 (4 on 4). Penalty - Miami, Daikawa (holding) 4,09. Penalty - Miami, Michaud (slashing), served by House, 8:09. Penalty - Miami, Marshall (checking from behind) 14.00. SECOND PERIOD Penalties - Michigan, Ward (roughing); Miami Fischeor (roughing) 4:33. Michigan 3. Miami 1. Wiseman 26 (Tamer) 6:31 (4 on 4). Penalty - Miami, Mallon (hooking) 9:'01. Penaly - Michigan, Stewart (hooking) 928. Michigan 4, Miami 1. Stone 7 (Helber, Evans) 11:49. Penalty - Michn Kramer (roughing) 13:46. Michigan 4, Miami 2. Eigner 6 (Blasi, Oates) 15:01(ppg). Penalty - MichiganStone (holding) 17:06. THIRD PERIOD Penalty - Michigan, Tamer (checking from behind) 3:45. Michigan 5, Miami 2. Wiseman 27 (Sinclair, Felsner) 1023. Penalty - Miami, Wilson (interference) 13:54. Michigan 6, Miami 2. Kramer 17 (Roberts) 19:54 (eng). Scer' by perild - Mim .... .. .. 1 1 0 - 2 Michigan:.......... 2 2 2 - 6 Sht on gal Miami........... 5 9 8 - 22 Michigan........... 13, 10 8 - 31 Goaltenders- Miami, Michaud (14-11-4) 30 shots, 25 saves. Michigan, Shields (26-5-2) 22 shots, 20 saves. Power plays - Miami 1 for 4; Michigan 0 for 5. Officials - Referee, Steve Piotrowski; Linesmen. Larry Lulich and John Dobrzeleski. 01 Steve Shields makes a glove save during Saturday's CCHA semifinal matchup against Miami. He collected 20 stops in the 6-2 triumph over the Redskins. NCAA puts Michigan No.1I in West* 2 _ _ _" A _. I _. _.. by Andy De Korte Daily Hockey Writer DETROIT - Despite losing in the CCHA playoff finals to Lake Superior State, 3-1, Michigan gained the No. 1 seed in the West region of the NCAA Hockey Championships. Included for the Wolverines in the booty of a top seed are a bye in the first round of the tournament and the opportunity to play in Joe Louis Arena, where they have comprised a 5-1 record so far this season. Michigan has played at the Joe in the Great Lakes Invitational, a two- game series with Michigan State and the CCHA Championships. Selection chair Lang Kennedy said the selection committee had three levels of criteria to weigh in making its decisions. Level one was comprised of winning percentage and strength of schedule. Level two was common opponents and playoff success. In extreme cases such as choosing Clarkson over Providence, level three, the record in the last ten games, is consulted. "I hope the selection committee takes into account our winning record against Michigan," Laker coach Jeff Jackson said before the seeds were announced. "I think Michigan and us should get the byes and Minnesota should be looking back." Michigan's (31-8-3) tough schedule and the two-game sweep of Minnesota was probably enough to offset any loss of rank yesterday's loss may have caused. Michigan State will travel to Providence as the West's fifth seed as anticipated. However, because the West is acknowledged to be tougher, Spartan forward Dwayne Norris said, "it may be a blessing disguise." -wr I n DIVISION I MEN'S HOCKEY TOURNAMENT c a a Michigan's Brian Wiseman shot on goal against Miami goalie Mark Michaud in Saturday night's CCHA semifinal match. The Wolverines prevailed, 6-2, with Wiseman scoring two goals. NMU beats Minnesota for WCHA title ST ROUND 4W Northern Mich. 5E Clarkson QUARTERFINALS SEMIFINALS FINALS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP i ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Northern Michigan snuffed out Minnesota's hopes of a WCHA title for the second straight year, gaining an automatic berth in the NCAA hockey tournament. However, despite the loss Min- nesota received the second seed and a bye in the NCAA playoffs. Northern Michigan received the fourth seed in the west and opens against Clarkson Friday at Joe Louis Arena. The St. Paul arena has hosted all five WCHA Final Fours and last year's NCAA finals. "We've only lost here twice in five years, and both of those were in overtime," said Northern Michigan coach Rick Comley. "I can't explain it. We just play well here." Minnesota (33-10) can't make the same claim even though the school's campus is just 10 miles away. Since the league changed its that our guys were falling down out there. We didn't get many bad breaks. Maybe we just needed more good ones." Minnesota won the WCHA's regular-season crown by a convinc- ing 12-point margin. Northern Michigan freshman goalie Corwin Saurdiff was a big reason for this year's title. He com- bined for 80 saves in the semifinals and finals, including 18 in the third WEST REGIONAL Joe Louis Arena, Detroit First Round: March 27, 1992 Quarterfinal: March 29, 1992 1W Michigan 3W Lake Superior St. 0 0 f 6E Alaska-Anchorage 2W Minnesota I I 3E New Hampshire FINAL FOUR APRIL 2-4, 1992 KNICKERBOCKER ARENA ALBANY, NEW YORK I i i