Feb. 15, 1997
Top-Ranked Michigan Skates Past Irish
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Desparately needing a victory to keep its
CCHA playoffs hopes alive, Notre Dame allowed four power-play goals en
route to a 6-1 defeat to top-ranked Michigan tonight at Yost Ice Arena
this evening.
The Wolverines (28-2-3, 19-2-2) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first
two periods, scoring four goals on eight power-play opportunities.
Michigan, which entered the game leading the CCHA in power-play
conversions, scoring on 30 percent of their opportunities, scored on
three of their first four chances. Prior to this game, Notre Dame had
only allowed more than two power-play goals in a game once this season,
against Ferris State on Nov. 15 allowing three power play goals.
The loss still leaves the Irish (8-23-1 overall, 5-18-1 CCHA) four
points behind Ferris State with three games remaining in the race for
the eighth and final playoff berth in the CCHA Tournament. The Bulldogs,
who own the tie-breaker against the Irish, fell to Miami this evening.
The fight for the final playoff berth will come to Ferris State's three-game
series with Alaska-Fairbanks and the Irish's two games against Western
Michigan and season finale against Michigan State.
Sophomore Brian Urick, averted an Irish shutout, scoring his
team-high 13th goal of the season in the third period. Senior Brian
McCarthy sent a pass between the circles to sophomore Craig Hagkull.
Hagkull's shot on goal was deflected and the opportunistic Urick was
able to knock in the rebound.
Head Coach Dave Poulin decided to give goaltender Matt Eisler the
night off, going with sophomore Forrest Karr in the net. The game
marked Karr's first action since Jan. 3 against Miami.
The rash of injuries, which had depleted the Notre Dame defense,
continued to hurt the Irish this evening. Freshman Sean Seyferth, an
Ann Arbor native, did not dress due to a shoulder injury. The Irish
were still without their sixth-leading scorer, Terry Lorenz, who wasn't
able to make the trip after being injured in practice earlier this week.
Lorenz had played in 72 straight games prior to the injury.
Notre Dame 0 0 1 -- 1
Michigan 3 2 1 -- 6
1st period: (M) Morrison-22 (Herr, Legg) pp, 7:13; (M)
Luhning-17 (Legg, Morrison) pp, 16:36; (M) Hayes-5 (Madden, Clark),
19:35.
2nd period: (M) Legg-19 (Botterill, Luhning) pp, 2:08;
(M) Morrison-23 (Madden, Legg) 4-3 pp, 17:45.
3rd period: (M) Herr-24 (Morrison, Peach), 2:58; (ND) Urick-13
(Hagkull, McCarthy).
Shots on Goal
Notre Dame 7- 4-7 -- 18
Michigan 15-15-9 -- 39
Saves/Minutes
N. Dame-Karr 12- 13- 8 -- 33 (60:00)
Michigan-Malicke 7- 4- 4 -- 15 (50:36)
Michigan-Daddario x- x- 2 -- 2 (9:24)
Penalties
Notre Dame 15-30
Michigan 9-18
Power Play Conv
Notre Dame 0-7
Michigan 4-12
Records
Notre Dame 8-23-1 (5-18-1)
Michigan 28-2-3 (19-2-2)
Attend: 6, 590
