4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 8, 1999
Puck talk
'This team is really good. We just
don't play that way."
- Michigan captain Bubba Berenzweig,
after Friday night s 3-2 loss to Lake
Superior
' Michigan 2
Michigan
5
2
Key play
10:35 remaining in the second
period of Saturday's game
- Michigan defenseman Sean Peach '
power-play goal gives Michigan a 2-0
lead that they would never relinquish.
. *Lake Superior
3
a Northern Michigan
The Daily Stars
The Michigan Daily hockey wters'
picks for Michigan's three stars of
the weekend's game.
- I. JQ LAGFELD
The sophomore winger, Michigan's
leading goal-scorer, kept rolling
with two goals on the weekend.
Langfeld now has 19 goals on the
season.
- 2. ScOTT MATZKA -
FORWARD
Matzka's energy on the ice gave
Michigan a big lift He also scored
Michigan's first goal against the
Wildcats, which was his second
shorthanded goal of the season.
-3.iLL TRAINOR r
FORWARD '
The sophomore hit career highs in
assists and points this weekend. His
first career goal helped Michigan to
a 5-2 victory over Northern
Michigan.
Michigan
wms first on
road in'99
By Chris Duprey
Daily Sports Editor
MARQUETTE -The familiar demons were
lurking again Saturday night - untimely penal-
ties, a goal in the last minute of the period by the
opponent and a precarious two-goal lead.
But unlike the previous night, in a 3-2 loss at
Lake Superior, the Wolverines put a halt to
Northern Michigan's surging momentum with
execution on both ends of the ice to secure a 5-
2 win - Michigan's first road victory in 1999.
The key sequence came with just under 13
minutes to play and the Wolverines protecting a
3-1 lead. The Wildcats seemed to have six men
on the ice as they swarmed the Michigan net,
using their energy to block three attempts by the
Wolverines to clear the zone.
"They came out strong in the third," defense-
man Sean Peach said. "They had a lot to prove,
and in the first few minutes, they were all over
us.
Michigan was in dire need of a line change
and was on its heels - the same combination of
events that had been costly in past games.
Finally, goaltender Josh Blackburn was able to
freeze the puck and Northern Michigan's surge.
The Wildcats would never threaten again.
"Those are the breaks in the game - maybe
the breaks that we haven't been getting,"
Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "Our goal-
keeping, when the game was on the line, was
really going at its best."
Blue confronts
na ngroad
pro ems m the UP
A RQUETT E- Deep in the Upper Peninsula,
where snowdrifts and Indian casinos run ram-
pant, the Michigan hockey team finally took a
stand.
No more unfriendly goal posts, the Wolverines said to
themselves. After hitting the post twice the previous
night in Lake Superior and drawing more iron than a
public school drinking fountain, they would settle for
nothing less than the back of the net.
No more using the officiating as a scapegoat for their
problems, they decided. And besides Bobby Hayes,
whose ongoing love affair with CCHA officials contin-
ued with a 10-minute misconduct in the late stages of
Saturday night's game, Michigan played as if the striped
shirts weren't there.
No more taking flak from opponents, Michigan deter-
mined. If the referee isn't going to call behind-the-play *
obstruction penalties, Bubba Berenzweig decided, then
MARGARET MYERS/Oaty
Michigan won it's first road game of 1999 when It defeated Northern Michigan on Saturday night
The closest the Wolverines had come before was a 3-3 tie with Michigan State on Jan. 29.
Lake Superior 3,
Michigan 0 1
Lake Superior 0 1
Michigan 2
1 -2
2 -3
First period - no scoring. Penalties - Mich,
Huntzicker ( interference), 14:24; LS, Team (too
many men on ice), 15:25; LS, Palmer (hooking),
18:07.
Second period - 1. LS, Slukynsky 8 (Palmer) 7:43;
1. Mich, Jillson 4 (Huntzicker, Hayes), 14:16 (pp).
Penalties- Mich, Koch (cross-checking), 1:33; LS,
Cheeseman (roughing), 2:23; Mich Hayes (rough
ing), 2:23; LS, Praznik (cross-checking), 4:12; LS,
McCauley (high sticking), 9:29; Mich, Berenzweig
(high sticking). 9:29; LS, Mcauley (roughing),
9:29; Mich, Berenzweig (roughing), 9:29; IS,'
McCauley (10-minute misconduct), 9:29: Mich,
Berenzweig (10-minute misconduct), 9:29: LS, Knox
(interference), 12:15; LS; Praznik (high sticking),
13:28; LS, Vince (cross-checking), 19:56.
Third period - 2. LS, Bachusz 6 (Vigilante, Knox),
4:12 (pp); 2. Mich, Langfeld 18 (Koch, comrie)
10:04; 3. LS, Cheeseman 9 (Keup), 10:27.
Penalties - Mich, Ritchlin (high sticking), 3:18; LS,
Vigilante (high sticking), 19:47; Mich, Rominski
(high sticking), 19:47; IS, McCauley (10-minute
misconduct), 19:47; Mich, Peach (10-minute mis-
conduct), 19:47.
Shots on goal - Mich, 91012 -31; LS, 6613- 25.
Power Plays - Mich lof 6; LS 1 of 3.
Saves - Mich, Blackburn 6-5-11- 22; LS, Platt 9-
9-11-29.
Referee - Steve Piotrowski.
Unesmen -- John Nowosatka, Terry Schug.
At: Taffy Abel Arena. Attendance: 3,491.
Michigan 5, N.Michigan 2
SMichigan 1 1 3 5
N. Michigan 0 1 1 -2
Rt Period -1~ Mich, Matzka 6 (Koch. Jiison),
18:23 tsh). Penalties - Mich, Hayes (boarding)
:23; NM, Sandbeck (interference) 5:56; Mich,
Crozier (tripping), 15:31; Mich, Rominski (high stick-
ing), 16:40.
Second period - 2. Mich, Peach 3 (Jilson, Hayes),
9:25 (pp); 1. NM, Trudeau 18 (Vigier, Smith) 19:53
(pp), Penalties - NM, Frattaroli (slashing)t 1:55;
Mich, Ritchlin (roughing), 1:55; NM, Ruff (hooking),
-5:54; Mich, Koch (interference), 6:06; NM,
Frattaroli (boarding), 8:08; NM, Ruff (hooking).
?13:53;, Mich, Trainor (Crss checking), 19:32.
Third period - 3. Mich, Jillson 5 (Trainor, Merick),
4:02; 4. Mich, Langfeld 19 (Berenzweig, Koch),
48:56; 5. Mich, Trainor 1 (Kosick, Berenzweig).
10:33; 2. NM, Schmidt 7 (Mattersdorfer, Riipi),
19:48 (pp). Penalties- NM, Holly (roughing),
712:15; Mich, Jilison (roughing), 12:15; Mich, Hayes
(10-minute misconduct), 17:59; NM, Frattaroli (10-
minute misconduct), 17:59; Mich, Peach (high stick-
:ing), 17:59.
Shots on goad - Mich, 14-9-7 - 3b NM, 7510 - 22.
Power Plays - Mich 1 of 4; NM 2 of 6.
Saves - Mich, Blackburn 749 - 20; NM,
-Ragusett 13482 - 23, Hoey 0-0-2 - 2.
-Referee - Matt Shegos.
sUnrestren - Mark Nebel, Sean Jacques.
At. Lakeview Arena Attendance. 4,053.
~ Next
Opponents
HOME GAMES I4 CAPS
- if necessary
^ - if Michigan advances
March 12-13 BOWLING GREEN
March 14 BOWLING GREEN*
March 19 CCHA Semifinals A
How the USCHO
Top 10 fared
!nkgs anidrecoiis as of Maih t
No. 1 North Dakota (27-3-2) beat St. Goudi
State -2, 5-2.
No. 2 Michigan State (25-3-7) beat Fenis
State 4.1, lost to Ferris State 2-1.
No. 3 Maine (253-4) lost to New Hanshe
6 ,1, 4A
No. 4 New Hampsh a (24-5-3) beat Maine
~6-1,41.-
No. 5 Colorado College (23-10-1) beat.
Minnesota-Duluth 4-3. 3-2,
No. 6 Uarson (20-9-1 lost to Colgate 4-3
No. 7 Boston Colege (19-11-4) beat Boston
Unversity 3-2.
No. 8 MIchigan (t9.9-6) lost to lake
Superior 3-2, beat Northern Michigan s-2.
No. 9 Ohio State (19-12-4) lost to Bowling
Green 3-0.
No. 10 Denver (28.12-2) beat Micigan Tech
.3"L ;
Rather than ragging the puck with the 3-1
lead, Michigan took advantage of the Wildcats'
offensive frustration by turning on the afterburn-
ers. The Wolverines scored two demoralizing
goals in the next three minutes of play to stretch
its lead to 5-1 and effectively end the contest.
The luxury of playing with the lead helped
keep the momentum in Michigan's favor. Lake
Superior never allowed the Wolverines to get
ahead in Friday night's game, and the continu-
ous catch-up they forced Michigan into ulti-
mately led to the Wolverines' downfall.
"We're just playing behind too much,
Berenson said after Friday's loss. "We still feel
like we have a chance when we're behind, but
you run out of time."
The Wolverines' physical play was another
reason for their improved play Saturday.
Michigan's intensity was evident right from the
start, as Bobby Hayes, Bubba Berenzweig, and
others flattened the Wildcats along the boards.
Michigan will need its hard hitting next
weekend, as Bowling Green - a team that loves
to crash the offensive zone - comes to town.
"They play well against Michigan,"Berenson
said. "I'm sure they're looking forward to it."
I'll police the matter myself. His
second-period scrap with Lake
Superior's Blaine McCauley on
Friday night proved that the
Wolverines are done getting
pushed around.
Michigan's physical play on
Saturday put Northern Michigan
on the defensive. Hayes laid a
monster check just 23 seconds
into the opening period, and was
called for boarding - referee
Matt Shegos' cheesy way of
telling Hayes that he was playing
CHRIS
DUPREY
Dupe's
Scoop
All-around performances spur 'M'
By Mark Francescutti
Daily Sports Writer
MARQUETTE - A trip to Michigan's
Upper Peninsula wasn't the happiest spring
break vacation for the Michigan hockey
team, but this past weekend saw an all-
around performance from the Wolverines.
Defensively, the special teams and the
fourth line helped spur
Michigan to a blowout win
over Northern Michigan HOCKEY
Saturday. Notebook
Sophomore Bill Trainor .-.-.-...........
notched career highs in
assists and points, tallying his first career
goal in the process.
"I knew I would get my shot once in awhile
and I took advantage of it," Trainor said.
The winger also toughened a penalty-kill
unit that didn't allow Lake Superior or
Northern Michigan achieve success on five-
on-three advantages.
"I'm not worried about Trainor's statistics,
but he needs to help our team any way he
can," Michigan coach Red Berenson said.
"What that tells me is that he can do that
more often."
Trainor, along with junior Andrew
Merrick, was scratched for several games in
the middle of the season. Both have returned
to the lineup in the past few weeks to
enhance Michigan's fourth-line play.
Against the Wildcats, the line of Justin
Clark, Trainor and Merrick helped Michigan
by netting two goals. Clark and Trainor
helped solidify the penalty-kill unit while
Merrick filled in on shifts to give Michigan's
special teams some rest.
Merrick also helped out by stepping back
in the play to cover for a pinching Jeff
Jillson, who at times went in on the offensive
attack.
Jillson and the other Michigan defensemen
also gave Michigan the scoring boost they
needed this weekend.
The freshman notched two goals and an
assist, while junior Sean Peach tallied a cru-
cial second period power-play goal against
the Wildcats. Senior Bubba Berenzweig also
added two assists.
"When the fourth line scores essentially
two goals tonight, that's really good for your
team," Berenson said. "When your defense-
men are chipping in for your team, that's
good also."
BUBBA BATTLE: One of the defining
themes of the weekend was the physical play
of the Wolverines. Berenzweig led the charge
with a scuffle with Lake Superior defense-
man Blaine McCauley.
Referee Steve Piotrowski fell to the ice
after a collision with a Lake Superior player,
leaving the behind-the-play chippiness unsu-
pervised. As Berenzweig took the puck into
the Lake Superior zone, McCauley dragged
him down and then held him while spearing
him with his stick. Berenzweig then defend-
ed himself by going after the Lakers' defend-
er.
"He broke his stick over me' Berenzweig
said. "I got pretty upset about it. He pulled
me down and he wouldn't get off of me."
The scuffle resulted in both players receiv-
ing 10-minute misconduct penalties and two
minor penalties.
"I let it get to me and I shouldn't have,"
Berenzweig said. "I got lucky with just the
14 minutes."
Berenzweig was unhappy that his team let
the Lakers' rugged play get to them, but
Saturday night, Michigan used strong physi-
cal play to its advantage over the top-ranked
Northern Michigan offense.
GOING BOWLING: Michigan, which earned
second place thanks to Ohio State's two loss-
es to Bowling Green, faces the Falcons them-
selves in the first round of the CCHA play-
offs.
Bowling Green finished seventh in the
CCHA, but has one of the best power plays in
the nation.
Michigan won the season series, sweeping
the Falcons 3-0.
a little too rough with the Wildcats.
As the game went on, though, it was Michigan who
was left standing after most of these collisions. The
Wolverines finished their checks and played with a new
level of intensity, as if it were their last game of the
season.
Maybe that's the key. Michigan has tremendous suc-
cess when it plays with its back to the wall, as evi-
denced by the two-game thrashing of Miami the preN i-
ous weekend. Other times, when there's nothing tangi-
ble to play for, the Wolverines ease up on the throttle
and it costs them.
With every game from now on having playoff signifi-
cance, Michigan doesn't need to worry about finding
motivation to play well. If the season ended today,
Michigan would probably earn an NCAA berth.
Winning its first-round series against Bowling Green in
two games, especially since it's at home, could be the
final push the selection committee needs to include the
Wolverines in the bracket.
Beating out Ohio State in the regular season and
securing second place was huge, since now it's the
Buckeyes, and not Michigan, that is on the NCAA hot
seat.
The Buckeyes have checked in and out of the U.S.
College Hockey Online Top 10 all season long, and,
considering their recent slide, won't be looked upon
favorably if they lose to a tournament prospect like
Michigan at Joe Louis Arena - or worse yet, if they
don't make it out of the first round at all. Ohio State's 0
first-round opponent, Ferris State, has broken a few
hearts already this season.
These weekends are getting bigger and bigger.
Fortunately for the Wolverines, the big time is when
they come to play.
- Chris Duprey can be reached via e-mail at
cduprey@umich.edu.
ICers spilt games up north
YOOPERS
Continued from Page 18
Ragusett.
Matzka's tally was Michigan's fourth shorthand-
ed goal of the season, but more importantly gave
Michigan its first lead on the road since a 3-3 tie
with Michigan State on Jan. 29.
"For them, having to play from behind, as we
have known, it's tough" Berenson said. "When they
got down, they had to take some chances, and we
got some outnumbered rushes."
Michigan struck again in the second period, again
on special teams, when defenseman Sean Peach
found a hole in the Northern Michigan defense
from the point and lofted the puck past Ragusett,
giving Michigan a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats sliced the Wolverines' lead to one
with seven seconds left in the second thanks to
Roger Trudeau's 18th goal of the season on the
power play.
But the third period belonged to Michigan. While
Northern Michigan continued to control the puck in
the Michigan zone, costly mistakes led to Michigan
netting three more goals from Jeff Jillson, Josh
Langfeld and Bill Trainor, turning the game into a
blowout.
The blowout was needed, as the Wolverines fell to
Lake Superior 3-2 on Friday night.
Michigan outshot the Lakers in the first two stan-
zas, and racked up 31 shots, but was unable to find
the net before it was too late.
"It was a game when every goal counted and we
just couldn't put our chances in," Berenson said. "I t
don't think we are going to score nine goals every
night, but when you get 31 shots, you should score
more than two."
Michigan's power play continued its improved
play, especially in the second period when
Michigan received more than six minutes with the
man advantage. Jillson put the puck on net, deflect-
ing off a Lake Superior player and past Jayme Platte
to knot the game at one.
But while Michigan dominated much of the first
and second periods, it sputtered in the third.
"I thought we were a sporadic team," Berenson
said. "We had a few good chips in the first two peri-
ods. I can't tell you we had a good concentrated
effort.'
Langfeld answered Michigan's pleas for a come-
back on a play like Lake Superior's goal. The
winger received a long pass from Koch and easily
beat Platt one-on-one.
But the Michigan momentum ended 23 seconds
later when Ben Keup picked up a Michigan turnover
and centered it to a cutting Jeff Cheeseman, who
slapped the puck past Blackburn and handed
Michigan its 10th loss of the season.
NATHAN RUFFER/Daily
The Wolverines lost to Lake Superior at home this season, and again to Lakers in the Soo this past
weekend, 3-2.
Final CCHA Standings
1999 CCHA Tournament
rr
Team
Michigan State
Michigan
Ohio State
20
17
17
ti
CCHA
T
7-
3 5
0 3
Pts
47'
39-
37
GP
30
30
30
w
26
Z0
19
OVERALL
L T
4 7
10 6
14 4
17
The Second Season
After enduring an up-and-
down season, Michigan's drve
to defend its national title
begins Friday night against
Bawling Green. The best-of
three series starts Friday and
OP
37
36
37
tir
2 Michigan*
I Michigan State
** *