CCHA SEMIFINALS:  (Joe Louis Arena, Detroit)
 
                         1st 2nd 3rd OT
#4 Lake Superior State    0   2   2  1  -- 5
#1 Michigan               0   2   2  0  -- 4
 
Lake Superior State advances to the CCHA finals against the winner of
Bowling Green & Michigan State (currently underway).
 
Comments:
 
Overall, except for the first two minutes of the second, the last ten
minutes of the third and the overtime, this was an incredibly boring
game.  Michigan didn't seem to have any energy in their legs, neither did
Lake State for the first period.
 
Referee Steve Piotrowski called Lake State for two minors within the last
30 seconds of the first, giving Michigan a 5-3 powerplay at the start of
the second.  Michigan took advantage of the opportunity, scoring twice in
the first 1:30 or so.  Nothing else happened until towards the end of the
second when Lake State tied it up with two quick goals.
 
The first ten minutes of the third were again rather boring, as it seemed
both teams were too worried about defense and neither gave any attempts
at scoring.  Michigan's Al Sinclair was given a minor penalty around the
twelve minute mark.  Lake State looked to take advantage of teh power
play but gave up the puck in their own zone to Michigan's John Madden.
Madden passed the puck to Ron Sacka, who was standing at the side of the
net.  Sacka had the empty net and didn't waste the opportunity.  Up 3-2,
Michigan had some spunk in them for the first time all game.  This was
ruined when Lake State tied the score at three just before Sinclair's
penalty ended.
 
Then the fun began.  Lake State scored within the last 3-4 minutes,
making the score 4-3, seemingly locking up the win.  Michigan pulled
Turco with a minute on the clock but couldn't get a good opportunity on
the net.  With time waning and the Lake State fans beginning to
celebrate, Michigan's Mike Knuble found himself on the point intercepting
a Lake State clear attempt.  Knuble turned and fired a wobbly, slow
moving shot that hit the back of the net with 0.4 seconds on the clock.
 
In overtime, Michigan's Blake Sloan got caught pushing the net off its
moorings.  During the ensuing powerplay, a Lake State (I didn't catch who
scored it, sorry) shot got deflected in front of the net for a picture
perfect game winning goal.
 
Once again, Lake Superior proves that they are one team you never want to
meet in the playoffs.  Watching them play today really drives that fact
home, and I must predict that Lake will beat either Michigan State or
Bowling Green...they need to to be able to defend their championship!
 
 
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 |_  \    /  _|  Roger L. Spurgeon                 <[log in to unmask]>
  | \ \  / / |   MarkeTech Systems         <[log in to unmask]>
  | |\ \/ /| |
 _| | \  / | |_  MICHIGAN HOCKEY -- CCHA REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONS
 |__|  \/  |__|    CCHA PLAYOFFS THIS WEEKEND: #3 MSU v. #2 BGSU AND
    Go Blue!       #1 MICHIGAN v. #4 LAKE SUPERIOR IN THE SEMIFINALS
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"It is in the shadows of others that people live."      -Irish Proverb