Oct. 7, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The University of Michigan hockey team used an
early power-play goal and two "near-power-play" goals later in the game to
keep its distance from host Notre Dame before holding on for a 5-3 victory
over the Irish in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association opener for both
teams, Friday night at the Joyce Center Fieldhouse.
Michigan jumped ahead early on a man-up goal by freshman left wing
Geoff Koch while junior right wing Josh Langfeld converted a pair of goals
just seconds after Irish penalties had expired. Sophomore Josh Blackburn
made 18 saves while helping stop six of seven Notre Dame power plays. The
Wolverines enjoyed a 27-21 shot advantage, including 15-5 in the opening
period.
The Irish cut UM's lead to 2-1 early in the second period, on the
99th career point from senior center Ben Simon (who has 32 goals and 67
assists in 105 games). Notre Dame then crept within a goal twice more,
including a shorthanded score by freshman center Connor Dunlop that
produced a 4- 3 game with 12 minutes remaining.
The victory was Michigan's first win over Notre Dame by more than a
one-goal margin since a 7-2 game in the first meeting of the 1997-98 season
(the last eight games of the series had included five one-goal wins by UM,
a 4-2 Irish win, a 3-2 ND win and a 2-2 tie).
The Wolverines struck quickly by cashing in their first power-play
chance of the night, after Irish junior defenseman Ryan Clark was whistled
for a roughing penalty. Junior right wing Scott Matzka tracked down the
puck near the left boards and slid a quick pass to freshman left wing Mark
Mink, who then zipped a pass through the slot. Koch was in perfect position
at the far right post and beat Irish sophomore goaltender Jeremiah Kimento
for the 1-0 lead (2:11).
Notre Dame killed off UM's third power-play of the night and Irish
junior left wing Jay Kopischke had just exited the box when Langeld gave
the visitors a 2-0 lead midway through the second period. Sophomore center
Mike Comrie brought the puck up the ice and dropped a pass to sophomore
defenseman Jeff Jillson, who then fed Langfeld for a quick goal at the left
side of the crease (10:38), just four seconds after Henning had released.
The Irish capitalized on a 5-on-3 chance in the opening moments of
the second period. Junior left wing Dan Carlson sailed an outside shot wide
of the left post but freshman right wing Michael Chin quickly tracked down
the puck behind the boards and slid a pass into the slot. Simon was in
position and lifted the puck over Blackburn's left shoulder for a 2-1 game
(00:24).
Before Notre Dame could produce the equalizer, Michigan stretched
back to a two-goal cushion. UM freshman left wing John Shouneyia centered
the puck in transition, from behind the Irish goal, and several Notre Dame
players failed to control the puck. Freshman right wing J.J. Swistak was
trailing on the play and pounced on the bouncing puck before quickly
beating Kimento for a 3-1 lead (3:22).
Notre Dame again battled back, when Clark brought the puck up ice
and dropped a pass to junior Ryan Dolder-who again centered the fourth line
after playing right wing for most of the previous two seasons. Dolder
launched a shot from the left circle, beating Blackburn with a low shot to
the glove side (7:12).
Michigan answered once again, with another near-power-play goal.
Just one second after a hooking penalty on Irish sophomore Brett Henning
had expired, Langfeld knocked home a shot from the left side of the crease
courtesy of crisp passes around the horn by Jillson and junior center Mark
Kosick (10:13).
The Irish cut the lead to one goal for a third time, as Dunlop
skating free and ticked towards the inside of the left circle before
beating Blackburn with a knee-high shot to the stick side (7:35).
Notre Dame pulled Kimento in the final minute and had several
chances during a furious exchange in front of the Michigan net, including a
couple of shots from close range by Henning and another potential
game-tying chance for junior right wing Matt Van Arkel.
Comrie iced the game with 14 seconds left to play, firing into the
open net.
NOTES: Dolder now has three goals and one assist in eight career games
versus Michigan (he has six goals and three assists in 54 games versus all
other teams) ... the last Notre Dame freshman to score in a CCHA season
opener was right wing Brian Urick in 1995 (he had four goals in a 7-4 win
at Alaska Fairbanks) ... Simon has 10 points (3G-7A) in 13 career games vs.
the Wolverines.
NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH DAVE POULIN: "We lost a lot in the first period ...
penalties was clearly one. They are an opportunistic team, they scored four
power-play goals the other night, they created all their shots off the
power play, and they scored. And actually, they got credit for one, there
were three power play goals, two of them were just as time came back on.
These are power-play goals. Penalty killing was not good at all, we were
caught in-between all night, we hesitated, and it was sort of reflection of
the way we played. You know some of it, yes, first CCHA game jitters, you
know, playing a good team, but ... I haven't seen some things like that in
a while, it's just I was really disappointed. ... We couldn't get over the
barrier, but we weren't doing the things to get over the barrier. We
weren't doing the little things that were necessary ... (on one-on-one
battles, we were beaten to the puck all night. ... I told them I was
disappointed after the game, because I was. And they should have been too.
It was simply a case of going out and not performing. You know you're
gonna have flat nights, you're gonna get beat some nights, that's fine. I
don't think overall it was a great game, period. It wasn't a game those
two teams are capable of playing. I think you are going to see a better
hockey game tomorrow night."
MICHIGAN 2 2 1 - 5
NOTRE DAME 0 2 1 - 3
1st: MICH 1. Koch 1 (Mink, Matzka), PP, 2:11, MICH 2. Langfeld 1 (Jillson,
Comrie) 10:38.
2nd: ND 1. Simon 1 (Chin, Carlson), PP, 00:24, MICH 3.
Swistak 1 (Shouneyia) 3:22, ND 2. Dolder (Clark, Henning) 7:12, MICH 4.
Langfeld 2 (Jillson, Kosick) 10:13.
3rd: ND 3. Dunlop 1 (unassisted), SHG,
7:35, MICH 5. Comrie 1 (Vincik), ENG, 19:46.
Shots: MICH 5-15-9-3/27, ND 5-11-5/21.
Saves: MICH (Blackburn) 5-9-4/18,
ND (Kimento) 13-7-2/22.
Power Play: MICH 1-7, ND 1-7.
Penalties: MICH 7 for 14:00, ND 7
for 14:00.
