4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - March 15, 1999 Puck talk , , , ,i, , Key play I'm no different than i was in 5:29 left in the third period of Dc e.I'm no different than I Friday's game, tie score December. I'm no different than I j h g -Mc ndeeenDa nzkr wasilast ygar - Michigan defenseman Dave Hun ticker was asst Year. exits the penalty box, receives a long pass Mihigan assistant captainBobbych aned Bowling Green 2 owin Green3"Bobby Hayes and scores the game- anything to jumpstart his scoringw g G eow g rewinning goal in Michigan's victoy The Daiy Stars The Michigan Daily hockey writers' picks for Michigan's three stars of the weekend's playoff games. -1. Bop HAYs. Michigan's assistant captain found his scoring touch this weekend. notching three goals and an assist in the Wolverines' playoff sweep. - 2. DAVE HUNTZICKER - DEFENSEMAN The sophomore keyed Michigan's victory on Friday with a breakaway, game-winning goal. He also tallied three assists in a solid weekend. - 3. JQsi BLACKBURN - GOALTENDER Michigan's freshman goaltender leamed about playoff pressure over the weekend, making the saves he needed to make to help the Wolverines lock up a berth in the CCHA semifinals. - *4. JAMIE NIX - HOCKEY BAND DIRECTOR Disco Nix, who has come to sym- bolize the spirit of Yost faithful in recent years rocked the arena for the final time Saturday night. *Spedi fourth star Goal-scoring ability completes Hayes' game By Mark Francescutti Daily Sports Writer Last season everyone noticed Bobby Hayes. The junior was in the spotlight thanks to a superb offensive effort, netting 21 goals and 23 assists, and enjoying a second NCAA Championship. His high- scoring performance earned him praise and the expectations that Hayes was going evolve into the offensive star this season. But this year Hayes hasn't traveled on the path others set out for him. Taking the assistant captain position on his shoulders, he has had to switch his role and the results haven't always been perfect. The job description Hayes took on included such tasks as fending off the best offensive players in the country - Michigan State's Mike York, Notre Dame's Ben Simon and Miami's Jason Deskins. Hayes fell into a position where he does more of the grunt work, instead of lighting up the scoreboard. Sometimes Hayes dealt with frustration, like the numerous untimely misconduct penalties that kept him from contributing in ways Michigan needs from its assistant captain. This past weekend, though, Hayes enjoyed a flash of last season's offensive explosion. "I feel like the old Bobby Hayes of last year," Hayes said. "I'm not down on myself though. Maybe I had a different.role this year, maybe I did- n't score the goals. This weekend was my shot. I had opportunities and I put them in." The senior notched three goals and two assists, leading Michigan to a sweep of Bowling Green. His goal production against the Falcons gave him six goals on the season, doubling what he had in the previous 36 games. -The senior also provided his best complete effort of the season, capitalizing on several offensive chances, while at the same time doing all of the lit- tle things that gain him respect from around the league. Along with his wingers, Dale Rominski and Scott Matzka, Hayes kept Bowling Green's dangerous first line from taking over the series. The trio of Adam Edinger, Dan Price and Ryan Murphy was held to just three goals. "He had a great weekend," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We didn't talk about it during the week, but he knew he would be playing against the Edinger line and that it would be the key to this series. Bobby is a great hockey player when he is at his best, and you saw him at his best this week- end." Facing one of the best power plays in the coun- try, Michigan needed to halt Bowling Green's scor- ing with the extra attacker. Hayes and the Michigan penalty kill responded, keeping Bowling Green off guard for much of its power play time while netting two shorthanded goals. Michigan also gave the Falcons a taste of their own medicine, overpower- ing Bowling Green on the power play, four goals to three. Hayes, the center on Michigan's first line, led Michigan's charge, blocking shots, slapping at loose pucks and checking fiercely - something that both coaches pointed to when naming Hayes as the player who turned the tide for Michigan. WARREN ZINN/Daily Michigan's Bobby "Malze" Hayes had three goals and an assist in two games against Bowling Green. Bowling Green coach Buddy Powers said Hayes was the key factor in both games. oI Michigan 3, Bowling Green 2 Bowling Green 1 1 0 -2 Michigan 1 0 2 -3 First period -1. BG, Desjarlais 10 (Schueller) 2:32; 1. Mich, Rominski 13 (Huntzicker, Blackburn), 13:26 (sh). Penalties- Mich, Van Ryn (interfer- ence), :28; BG, Valentine (slashing), 2:35; Mich, Langfeld (slashing), 2:35; BG, Murphy (elbowing), 5:05; Mich, Comrie (high sticking); 5:52; BG, Adams (holding), 8:18; Mich, Jlson (high sticking), 12:01; BG, Murphy (holding), 17:07; BG. Savard (roughing), 18:55; Mich, Comrle (roughing), 18:55; BG Jones (roughing), 18:55. Second period - 2. BG, Murphy 10 (Edinger, Price), 18:12 (pp). Penalties - Mich, Ritchlin (tripping), 3:22; BG, Mass (charging), 4:56; Mich, Jilson (interference), 10:01; BG. Adams (hooking) 14:57; Mich, Jilson (elbowing), 17:34; G Ham (rough- ing), 19:50. Third perod -2. Mich, Hayes 4 (clark, Trainor), 11:00. 3. Mich, Huntzicker 3 (Hayes), 14:31 (sh). Penalties - Mich, Huntzicker (interference), 12:20; BG, Bonvie (tripping), 12:30; Mich, Langfe2d (inter- ference), 13:56; BG, Williams (roughing), 16:30; Mich, Ritchlin (roughing), 16:30; G Williams (roughing), 16:30, Richlin (roughing, 16:30; BG, Desarlais (roughing), 16:30; Mich, Huntzicker (roughing), 16:30; BG. Desaras (roughing), 16:30; Mich, Huntzcker (roughing), 16:30; Mich, Rominski (tripping), 19:54. Shots on goal - BG 3135 -21; Mich, 115 -21. Power Plays - BG 1 of 9; Mich 0 of 7. Saves - BG. Savard 10-5-3 - 18; Mich, Blackburn 2-12-5 -19. Referee - Brent Rutherford. Linesnmen - John aDuke, John Pearson. At: Yost Ice Arena. Attendance: 6,288. Michigan 9, Bowling Green 3 Bowling Green 0 2 1 - 3 Michigan 2 3 4 -9 First period -1. Mich, comrie 18 (Huntzicker, Langfeld), 15:01; 2. Mich, Langfeld 20 (Jillson, Comre), 17:04 (pp). Penalties - G Ham (holding the stick), 5:26; Mich, Peach (interference), 92; Mich, Gassoff (roughing), 15:37; BG, de Luis (rough- ing), 15:37; BG Jones (interference), 16:48. Second Period - 1. 8G,.Day (Jones, Barlow), 3:25 (pp); 3. Mich, Koch 4 (Huntzcker), 8:09; 4. Mich, Ritchlin 10 (Kosick), 13:56; 2. G4 Price 20 (Savard), 16:18 (pp); 5. Mich, Hayes 5 (unassisted), 19:52. Penalties - BG Williams (hitting after whis- tle), 1:24; Mich, Koch (hitting after whistle). 1:24; Mich, Ritchlin (slashing), 2:01; BG, Hewson (slash- ing), 8:28; Mich, Langfeld (interference), 15:01; 8G Murphy (hooking), 16:39; Mich Peach (slashing), 16:39. Third period - 3. 8G Price 21 (Murphy), :28; 6. Mich, Hayes 6 (Ji lson, Peach), 4:27 (pp); 7. Mich, Van Ryn 10 (Kosick, Comrie), 5:06 (pp); 8. Mich, Crozier 5 (Ritchlin, Berenzweig), 7:27; 9. Mich, Langfeld 21(Comrie, Peach), 19:37 (pp). Penalties - BG, Schueller (holding), 2:33; BG Adams (slashing), 3:52; BG. de Luis (roughing), 7:27; BG Williams (roughing), 12:22; Mich, Comre (roughing), 12:22; BG, Barlow (10-minute miscon- duct), 14:59; Mich, Matzka (10-minute misconduct), 14:59; Mich, Koch (interference), 16:14; BG Desarlais (cross checking), 17:09, BG Desjarlais (tripping), 17:09; BG Williams (fighting major), 17:09; BG Williams (game disqualification), 17:09; Mich, Gassoff (fighting major), 17:09; Mich, Gassoff (10-minute misconduct), 17:09; BG. Jones (10- minute misconduct), 17:09; Mich, Hayes (10-minute misconduct), 17:09; BG, Adams (slashing), 18:40; Mich, Merrick (10-minute misconduct), 18:40. Sots ongoal - BG, 925 - 26; Mich, 14105 - 39. Power Plays - BG 2 of 4; Mich 4 of 9. Saves - BG. Savard 12-7-11- 30; Mich, Blackburn 9 k102-2 -21, OMalley x-x-2 -2. Referee - Steve Piotrowski. Unesnen - Dave Kronenberg, Butch Friedman. At: Yost Ice Arena.Attendance: 6,328. H ow theUSCHO Top10 yfared , Rankings andeos-s tF Mas me , No. 4 Norw akta 1274-32) bost to MSLJ Mankatok 3-2 ead MSU-Ma tgo 32 2 t+3dco ar ta t S-1'0-eat&ke M or 3- nd (2and.7 3,*Madnwet(25-4) eatM ass. 25-. No. ew aps ifn--eQ44-3) beat lemntack 3-2 nd No.,CoIorad Co eg123-1p-1) beat llin-Duuth 341 an tfl No.t 4 um Ciarion219-1) bit Bown 3-2 wOT an 3-1. "NO.7 Boston Clege (19114 beat *vas~. No.8 Mhigan (19-9-4) beat owlng Green 3-2 and 9-3. No. 9 Ohio state 19-12-4) beat Fenis State 3-1 and 4-2, . 1o Dwner (202- )beat Michigan Teh 2-t anud 4. "Hayes played the game with a purpose," Bowling Green coach Buddy Powers said. "He was the key factor in both games this weekend." Hayes also was at the forefront of the brawl that erupted near the end of Saturday's game, when he and Bowling Green's Dennis Williams got into a scuffle. Hayes, though, turned the fighting job over to Michigan's known bruiser, Bob Gassoff, who in turn 'handled' the situation. Blackburn stands tall in senes . By Mark Francescutti Daily Sports Writer The Michigan hockey team has some- times taken a key factor for granted in the past several seasons - its goaltending. But that factor, combined with a stingy defense, helped save the Wolverines from the dangerous Bowling Green offense this past weekend. HOCKEY Freshman Josh Notbok Blackburn made N ebook the necessary stops ----------------- when his team needed him most to prevent a Michigan collapse. "We got great goaltending from Blackburn this weekend." Bubba Berenzweig said. "He did a great job." In Friday night's game, Blackburn faced an onslaught in the second period, when Bowling Green had more than seven minutes of power play time. "Their power play dominated that period," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "We took some untimely penalties that we can't take." Blackburn kept the game within a goal, until Bobby Hayes and Dave Huntzicker scored to win it for Michigan. But the goalie's heroics continued on Saturday when he faced another second period in which Bowling Green tried to charge back. His best save came when the Falcons' Chris Bonvie was in the slot and primed to score, with only an empty net in front of him. , But with a desperate flinging of his body, the freshman took a puck in his arm, inciting a round of "Temptation" from the Michigan Hockey Pep Band. "I was kind of laying down, and he had it in the slot," Blackburn said. "I just kind of jumped out at it and got it in the shoulder - with a bruise to prove it." The save, followed by a Bobby Hayes goal at the other end, crushed the hopes of the Falcons, and they left the ice for the second intermission with hanging heads. "We basically had almost the whole empty net and (Blackburn) stopped us," Bowling Green coach Buddy Powers said. "And right after that, they score. The whole complexion of our team changes. If it's 4-3 we have the momentum. It goes 5-2 and we're in a bigger hole." Berenson was impressed with Blackburn's ability to treat the playoffs like any other game. "Well, we like to think that the play- offs are no different than the regular sea- son;' Berenson said. "He's just playing and that's the best way to do it." Blackburn fought through the fresh- man jitters and a lackluster second goal that took a weird bounce off the boards, to prove that having a freshman in goal won't be a detriment in the playoffs. "I was a little nervous - there's a lot more riding out there," Blackburn said. "Technically it's just a another game, but there's something a little more special. "I felt I played pretty solid. I made some mistakes that cost me a couple goals, but overall it was a good week- end." BRAwLlN': With Michigan racking up a huge 8-3 lead, trash-talking and frus- tration led to a barrage of scuffles and penalties in the last five minutes of the game. As both teams tried to change lines, one altercation occurred when Bowling Green's Dennis Williams came after Hayes. After both pushed each other around, sophomore Bob Gassoff entered the fray and pummeled Williams, who was lay* ing down on the ice. Both players received game disquali- fications, meaning that Gassoff will not be in the lineup for next week's semi- final matchup with Ohio State. Williams- will miss the first conference game of next season. "It's one thing to be beaten on the scoreboard," Berenson said. "I didn't like' my players retaliating. It's not worth it." Bowling Green's Mike Jones came off the bench during the fight, but was no given a game disqualification because, he left the bench as part of a line change. "Their team showed no class tonight,' Hayes said. "It was an embarrassment to their team and to the league." REF CHATTER: For one of the few times this season, the Wolverines had some kind words for the referees. Brent Rutherford, who officiated Friday night's game, received many compliments about his tight control and consistent penalty calling. "I think Rutherford did a great job out there," senior Dale Rominski said. "Playoff hockey can get out of control, and he set the standard right off the bat. It was most of the consistent refer- eeing I think we've seen all year." Steve Piotrowski, who had to handle the game-ending brawl near the end of Saturday's game, also received acknowledgment from a few Michigan players. MARGARET MYERS/Daily If Josh Blackburn was nervous about his postseason debut, he sure didn't show it. Blackburn earned the victory in both games with his stellar play. Blue scoffs at Falcons' tempers SWEEP Continued from Page 1.B mano-a-mano with Bowling Green goal- tender Mike Savard. Like money in the bank, Yost began to rock - and when Rominski beat a flailing Savard for the goal, it erupted. A goal from Hayes and another short- handed breakway - Hayes to a streak- ing Huntzicker - sealed the deal Friday night, 3-2. That set the stage for the sea- son's final game at Yost, and the Wolverines went out on top. "We're a better team than we were a few weeks ago," Berenson said. "We started on the roll against Miami and then we accomplished something up north." And now Michigan is rolling to Joe Louis Arena for the CCHA semifinals. The Falcons, though, took exception to that inevitibility late in Sautrday's game. With Michigan up 8-3, the fans taunt- ing the hapless visitors and their season all but over, the birds got dirty. Scrappy play in the Michigan zone escalated quickly into a melee in front of the Michigan bench. Bowling Green's Dennis Williams and Mike Jones - who appeared to come off the bench to join the brawl - both were assessed 10- minute majors, as were Michigan's Scott Matzka and Bob Gassoff. Bowling Green's Desjarlais also ended up with a double-minor for tripping and cross checking. Merrick was later assesed a misconduct after being slashed by Bowling Green's B.J. Adams, who was sent to the box. Williams and Gassoff were also assessed fighting majors and disquali- fied. Williams will sit out the first game of the 1999-2000 season for the Falcons. Gassoff will be ineligible as the Wolverines take on Ohio State in the next round Friday night. They Meet Again Michigan and Ohio State have survivedntheir first-round tests, and will meet in the CCHA semifinals Friday at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit The puck drops at 8:30 p~m. Tickets for this weekend's semifi- nal matchup are available from Ticketmaster and the Joe Louis Arena box office. Tickets are $7.50 and up. Information about a bus taking students to and from the Joe will be announced this week. Regular Season Results Date Result Location Jan. 2 Ohio St. 1,ich. OUColumbus Jan. 23 Mich. 1, Ohio St. Colurnbus Feb. 6 Ohio St.3, Mich. 2 Ann Arbor MARGAREI MYERS/Daily Down by a large margin in the final period of its season, Bowling Green tried to knock the Wolverines out in another way - with its fists. 1999 CCHA Tournament Other top seeds all headed for JLA." r" ' .4w From staff reports Northern Michigan did the unthink- able yesterday night - it won its sec- ond game in a row at the Joyce Center, I Michigan State 2 MIhigan against the Lakers, Michigan State got all four goals from its top line in the shutout victory. Freshman Adam Hall scored the first two, followed by Mike deficit to take a 3-1 decision over Ferris State in the series' deciding game. The Bulldogs carried that 1-0 lead into the third period, but Ohio State's Mi e ~IAL.L.....