4B - The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - February 2, 2004
I
Friday's game
LAKE SUPERIOR STATE LAKERS
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
Saturday's game
1
5
LAKE SUPERIOR STATE LAKERS
MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
0
4
4
SATURDAY'S GAME
MIchigan 4, Lake Superior State 0
Lake Superior 0 0 0 - 0
Michigan 1 2 1 - 4
First period-1, MICH, Nick Martens 2 (Andrew
Ebbett, Brandon Rogers) 4:11. Penalties -
Eric Werner, MICH (holding) 3:28; Dominic Osman,
LSSU (elbowing) 3:28; Matt Hunwick, MICH (tripping)
9:42.
Second period - 2, MICH, Milan Gajic 8 (T.J. Hen-
sick, Ebbett) 5:04; 3, MICH, Brandon Kaleniecki 13
(Hensick, Rogers) 10:16. Penalties - Ryan Reid,
LSSU (slashing) 3:37; David Moss, MICH (slashing)
3:37; Chris Peterson, LSSU (holding the stick) 4:56;
Ebbett, MICH (hooking) 5:10; Steve McJannet, LSSU
(Interference) 8:44; Werner, MICH (interference)
15:40.
Third period --4, MICH, David Rohlfs 5 (unassisted)
9:50. Penalties - Mike Adamek, LSSU (checking
from behind) 2:49; Eric Nystrom, MICH (roughing dou-
ble-minor) 3:27; Ryan Reid, LSSU (roughing double-
minor) 3:27; Reid, LSSU (hooking) 20:00; Hensick,
MICH (slashing) 20:00.
Shots on goal: LSSU 3-5-513; MICH 9-17-2 28. Power
plays: LSSU 0 of 3; MICH 2 of 7. Saves - LSSU, Matt
Violin (4-9-3) -33, Jeff Jakaitis -12; MICH, Al
Montoya (17-6-1) - 13.
Referee: Matt Shegos.
At: Brett Klosowski
Attendance:6,841.
FRIDAY'S GAME
Michigan 5, Lake Superior State l
Lake Superior 0 0 1 - 1
Michigan 0 2 3 - 5
First period - none. Penalties - John Booras, LSSU
(interference) 13:58.
Second period -1, MICH, Brandon Kaleniecki 11
(TJ. Hensick) 9:38; 2, MICH, David Moss 4 (Andrew
Ebbett, Jason Ryznar) 12:39. Penalties - Kaleniec-
ki, MICH (hit after whistle) 7:20; Alex Dunn, LSSU (hit
after whistle) 7:20; Matt Hunwick, MICH (hooking)
14:58; Eric Werner, MICH (hit after whistle) 16:34;
Derek Smith, LSSU (hit after whistle) 16:34; Jason
Dest, MICH (cross-checking) 19:58.
Third period -3, MICH, Kaleniecki 12 (Ebbett, Milan
Gajic) 6:16; 4, MICH, Eric Nystrom 8 (Dwight Helmi-
nen, Jeff Tambellini) 9:33; 5, MICH, Moss 5 (Ryznar,
Brandon Rogers) 10:51; 6, LSSU, Jeffrey Rainville 1
(Trent Campbell, Ren Fauci) 11:52. Penalties - Kory
Scoran, LSSU (interference) 4:10; Mike Adamek,
LSSU (roughing) 11:21; Rogers, MICH (roughing)
11:21.
Shots on goal: LSSU &4-618; MICH 7-9-13 29. Power
plays: OSU 0 of 2; MICH 0 of 2. Saves - LSSU, Matt
Violin (4-8-3) --24; MICH, Al Montoya (16-6-1) -
17.
Referee: Brett Klosowski.
At: Yost Ice Arena
Attendance: 6,829.
In new
spot Moss
excels
By Sharad Mattu
Daily Sports Writer
David Moss doesn't think it's a
big deal, but he can't deny that it
has made a difference. Since mov-
ing from center to right wing, the
junior has taken off.>
Until the change two weeks ago, '..... .
this season had been a frustrating ?
and disappointing one for Moss.
After scoring 14 goals and 17
assists as a sophomore, expecta-
tions were high. Through Michi-
gan's first 15 games this season, he
had just two goals and six assists,
and then he suffered a high ankle
sprain on Dec. 6 against Michigan
State that kept him out for over a
month.
But since his return, Moss has
already notched three goals and two
assists in just six games.
He was particularly effective on
Friday against Lake Superior State,
when he notched a pair of goals in
Michigan's 5-1 win.
The coaches had hoped the move to
wing --alongside center Andrew Junior David Moss h
Ebbett and winger Jason Ryznar - JunioreAvdrosE
would get Moss more chances. And it
has worked wonders. Playing with a is constantly o
center who has good vision like causes the defer
Ebbett, Moss' role in the offensive to move from sid
zone is entirely different. In the past, holes to open u
when he was a center, Ebbett's current Subsequently, op
role was his. themselves.
"In their zone, (the coaches) said "The key to ou
to get more shots and just get the of them have p
puck to the net more and see what know how to
happens," Moss said. around," Ryznars
"I think Ebbett is a great play- Moss' role ha
making center. When he gets me the defensive zon
the puck in spots where I've got "Center is a li
an opportunity, I've got to just Ryznar said. "Int
shoot it." you have to doa
Puck movement has also been It's more physica
key in the line's strong play. Hav- ner. A winger ju
ing two players on the line with a and tries to block
center's mentality means the puck Moss played
LAKERS
Continued from Page 1B
corner, then moving it to sophomore Andrew Ebbett, who
found Kaleniecki in front of the net again. Kaleniecki
scored what was possibly his easiest goal of the season.
"We have it set up where T.J. usually draws it right back
to me and Gajic just kind of tries to pick that guy and it's
been working out; the goalie can't really see it," Kaleniec-
ki said. "If it's on net, it's got a good chance."
While Kaleniecki continued his scoring streak, junior
David Moss broke out of a scoreless slump. Both players,
who hail from Livonia, had two goals in Friday's win.
Scoring just once in his last 11 games, Moss had bounded
around between different lines and battled injuries earlier
in the season. After tallying 14 goals last season, he found
the scoring touch from last year, scoring twice on Friday
night. Paired with fellow big man Jason Ryznar, the 6-
foot-3 forward appeared to return to form.
"He is a different player than he was, even before he
got hurt, and I can't tell you whether it was a change to
the wing or just confidence that he's getting by scoring,
but he's starting to play his best hockey," Berenson said.
In addition to Moss starting to play his best hockey, the
Michigan defense might have had its best series of the
FILICE
Continued from Page 1B
This mix-and-match strategy has-
n't been unique to Michigan's first
line. Extensive changes have
occurred on every line because of
injuries, World Junior Championship
absences and Berenson's desire to
discover the perfect mixture.
Lately, he's found it.
"It's nice to see some momentum
and some confidence and some
chemistry starting to flow on those
lines," Berenson said. "And we're
not just a one-line team - on any
given night, any line can step up and
make the difference. We feel good
about them right now."
Each line contributed mightily
against Lake Superior State, as they
all notched at least one goal.
Recently, all 12 Michigan for-
wards have made significant contri-
butions, and the four lines have
created individual identities.
Michigan's premier scoring line -
Brandon Kaleniecki, Milan Gajic
and Hensick - has experienced
frightening success in opponents'
zones. Dubbed "the Costco Line"
because it scores in bulk, the line has
produced 10 goals in the last two
weeks. Nystrom says this trio is "as
good as any line in college hockey
right now."
After struggling at center earlier
this season, David Moss has flour-
ished at right wing - on a line with
Jason Ryznar and Andrew Ebbett -
scoring two goals on Friday. This is
Michigan's most versatile line, com-
bining the finesse of Ebbett and
Moss with the power of Ryznar.
Generously listed at 5-foot-9, 170
pounds, Ebbett expresses joy in
finding a home between two big
bodies.
"I call them the twin towers,"
Ebbett said of 6-foot-4 Ryznar and
6-foot-3 Moss.
The starting line of Nystrom,
Helminen and Tambellini has strug-
gled to score but has created numer-
ous opportunities. This is Michigan's
most experienced line, and it usually
faces off against the opponents'
finest.
And then there's the line com-
prised of David Rohlfs, Woodford
and Brown - "the banner line." Yes,
they're "outstanding," but it's a dif-
ferent meaning of "banner." This line
earns the title through its innate abil-
ity to hit hard and provide opponents
with an unwanted back-to-the-ice
view of Michigan's nine national title
banners that hang from the ceiling.
Every line is clicking, and every
forward seems ecstatic about his
role on the team. It seems that bar-
ring injury, Berenson's lineup is
basically set.
If Michigan's forwards continue to
gel and play like they have been in
the last month, one phrase will be
voiced from Ann Arbor to the rest of
the CCHA in regard to the league
title:
"NO SOUP FOR YOU!"
Gennaro Filice can be reached at
gfilice@umich.edu
>: C,
:;V
/./ A
NICK AZZARO/ Daily
as enjoyed his move onto a line with junior Jason Ryznar and
Ebbett.
Player
Hensick
Ebbett
Kaleniecki
Gajic
Tambellini
Helminen
Rogers
Nystrom
Werner
Mass
Ryznar
Brown
Hunwick
Rohlfs
Martens
Henderson
Dest
Woodford
Kautz
Burnes
Cook
Wyzgowski
Montoya
TOTALS
Montoya
Ruden
Mayhew
TOTALS
'M'
GP
26
26
26
23
22
24
26
26
25
21
19
25
24
26
19
12
25
23
6
22
19
3
24
26
GP
24
5
1
26
STATS
G A Pts +/- PIM Sht
9 21 30 8 14 85
5 18 23 9 30 62
13 7 20 10 30 91
8 10 18 5 20 61
9 7 16 -2 10 107
7 8 15 E 0 71
3 12 15 4 32 49
8 6 14 -2 40 50
6 8 14 1 26 38
5 8 13 -2 10 45
2 8 10 7 12 25
6 3 9 5 35 63
0 9 9 9 44 30
5 1 6 4 20 36
2 3 5 2 24 21
2 2 4 2 8 18
1 3 4 6 19 14
0 4 4 -4 31 31
1 2 3 3 4 8
0 1 1 7 18 14
0 1 1 7 22 12
0 0 0 -2 4 2
0 0 0 - 16 0
92 142 234 77 477 933
GA Avg Svs Pct Mins
49 2.08 542 .9171412:32
7 3.09 57 .891136:08
1 3.54 12 .923 16:56
59 2.26 611. .915 ±597AS
n the move. This
nsemen and goalie
de to side, allowing
up in the defense.
portunities present
ur line is that both
layed center and
move the puck
said.
s also changed in
e.
ttle more skating,"
the defensive zone
a little more work.
al work in the cor-
st sits at the point
shots."
wing during his
freshman year as well as in juniors,
and these experiences at the posi-
tion are a large reason the transition
has been seamless.
"He's playing very well right
now," Ryznar said. "All it took was
a week in practice. He's doing fine;
getting chances and converting."
Moss felt so comfortable on the
ice that, with both he and teammate
Brandon Kaleniecki on the ice with
two goals as the game closed on Fri-
day, he called for the puck and got it
from Kaleniecki. Moss is usually
reserved, but this time he wanted
the glory for himself.
"Kal's got enough hat tricks; I
don't have any yet," the Livonia
native joked.
season as well. In the six periods of action this weekend,
the Lakers top shot total in one period was just eight. The
Wolverines held them to under five in two periods. The
defense blocked almost as many shots on Saturday (nine)
as the number of total shots on Montoya (13).
"I thought our defense did a great job of finding the
forwards or finding each other and carrying the puck and
making good decisions with the puck," Berenson
said. "Lake State challenged us with the trap and I think it
was good for our defense, they had to learn to play
through that."
Lake Superior State (4-11-3, 6-13-5) was frustrated all
series, as Lakers head coach Frank Anzalone felt the way
to pull out a victory was to limit Michigan's offense and
get lucky on a few of its scoring chances. But Michigan's
defense closed the door on any chance of the Lakers
pulling out a victory.
"We're like a middleweight that has no right beating up
the heavyweight," Anzalone said. "You've just got to keep
climbing back into the ring and keep learning and grow-
ing and lifting weights and getting stronger and doing
your road work. And then maybe one day, when that
heavyweight's not expecting it, maybe you'll be good
enough to go 15 rounds at them. And if you do, maybe
you'll get a point."
CCHA STANDINGS
Team
Miami
Michigan State
Alaska Fairbanks
Western Michigan
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Northern Michigan
Ferris State
Bowling Green
Lake Superior
Nebraska-Omaha
CCHA
W L 1
13 5
11 89
11 10 :
10 9
9 8 :
10 9 C
10 10 C
8 11 :
5 10:
4 11<
4 13
Pts
28
27
23
23
22
21
20
20
17
13
11
11
Overall
W L T
16 9 3
18 7 1
1514 1
1213 1
1412 3
13 9 4
1512 0
1311 2
1312 3
7 13 6
6 13 5
6 16 4
TONY DING/Daily
Brandon Kalenleckl leads Michigan with 13 goals this season. He's scored six In the last
two weeks.
Saturday's results:
MICHIGAN 4, Lake Superior 0
Miami 3, MICHIGAN STATE 1
WESTERN MICHIGAN 3, Ferris State 2
Alaska-Fairbanks 2, NOTRE DAME 2
Ohio State 4, BOWLING GREEN 3
Northern Michigan 3, ALABAMA-HUNTsvLLE 3
Friday's results:
MICHIGAN 5, Lake Superior 1
Miami 2, MICHIGAN STATE 1
NORTHERN MICHIGAN 4, Notre Dame 3
FERRIS STATE 4, Western Michigan 1
Northern Michigan 3, ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE 2
UP NEXT
Martens game-winner a first
By Michael Nisson hockey fan might point out that the Michigan hock-
Daily Sports Writer ey team has been anything but cold.
The Wolverines have been perfect in the month of
For the second straight week, the Michigan hock- January, winning all six of their conference games
ey team won a game based on the offensive ability of by an average margin of 4.17 goals. Overall, 12 dif-
one of its defenders. ferent Wolverines have found the back of the net dur-
Junior Nick Martens notched his second goal of ing the month. Defensively, the Wolverines have
the season in Michigan's 4-0 victory over Lake given up more than one goal only once, a 3-2 victory
Superior State on Saturday. At the 4:11 mark of the over Ohio State on Jan. 9. Goaltender Al Montoya
first period, Martens beat Lake Superior State goal- also posted two shutouts last month.
tender Matt Violin with a crisp shot into the left side "In the past we have been a second-half team and
of the net. The tally was the have been able to make a move in the standings here
Wolverines' first of the night, and prepare ourselves for the tournaments," Martens
and proved to be all the offense 0 said after Saturday's game. "Everybody is excited,
the team needed to defeat the we're playing well - we're starting to feel like it's
Lakers. that time."
The score was the first TAMBELLINI'S STRUGGLES CONTINUE: While
game-winning goal of Michigan has been on fire in recent weeks, one
Martens' career. It also ended a 10-game score- of its best players has seen his struggles contin-
less streak for the junior. ue. Sophomore forward Jeff Tambellini, Michi-
"A lot of the time the play is down low and the gan's leading scorer last year, has not scored a
defensemen are open," Michigan coach Red Beren- goal in his last 12 games. The drought dates all
son said. "We get it back to them - if they can get a the way back to the Wolverines' Nov. 8 game
puck though once in a while, it's a real bonus." against Ferris State, when Tambellini scored
In Martens' case, it was a bonus. The Ann Arbor 1:34 into the third period to lift the Wolverines
native has fought for playing time with freshman to a 3-2 victory.
defender Tim Cook for much of the season. After
being scratched from the lineup last weekend against
Western Michigan, Martens returned to action on
Friday night, but he appeared rusty. He looked
uncomfortable in the Michigan zone and was beatenBE
FILE PHOTO