At the "House That Welsh Built"
 
           1   2   3--T
Michigan   4   2   4--10
OSU        0   1   0--1
 
Scoring:
 
1ST PERIOD
 
1. UM Oliver (Stewart) 10:31
2. UM Ward (Sittler) 12:13 pp
3. UM Hilton (Wiseman, Stewart) 16:14 pp
4. UM Stewart (Roberts, Wiseman) 18:49 pp
 
2ND PERIOD
 
5. OSU Green (Choi, Peters) 2:30 pp
6. UM Roberts (Stewart) 9:27 sh
7. UM Knuble (un) 15:32
 
3RD PERIOD
 
8. UM Tamer (Knuble, Stone) 1:52
9. UM Oliver (Stewart) 2:51
10. UM Sacka (Roberts) 5:22
11. Harlock (Stone, Knuble) 19:35 pp
 
Shots
 
           1   2   3 --T
Michigan   13  9   19--43
OSU        4   9   4 --17
 
Saves
 
Michigan: Shields (13 shots, 12 saves); Gordon--0:00 of third--(4 shots, 4
saves)
OSU: Brown (22 shots, 16 saves); Slazyk--15:32 of second--(21 shots, 17 saves)
 
Referees: Shegos, Cline
Linesman: Lulich
 
This game could have been a close game if OSU had anyone who could hit water
from a pier.  I would love to see a comparison of total shots taken, because
while shots on goal decidedly favor Michigan, I would imagine that total shots
were close, at least through the first two periods. OSU had several excellent
scoring opportunities in the first and second periods, but even when facing an
open net, they could not put it in.  When their shots were on net, they hit
Steve Shields in the chest or were very weak.  I was constantly reminded of
something Bill Sangrey comments on a lot to the effect of teams that make
opposing goalies look like All-Americans.
 
Did Michigan outplay OSU tonight?  Definitely, but through the first two
periods, they did not outplay them by much.  OSU skated with the Wolverines,
but also drew a lot of penalties in the process.  3 of the 4 Michigan goals in
the first period were on the power-play.  Still, OSU had a lot of chances to
score in the first period, but missed on at least three shots where the shooter
was facing a lot of empty net.
 
OSU scored on a power-play early in the second to cut the deficit to 4-1, and
then a few minutes later, went on the power-play again.  OSU began thinking it
is better than it is, and was trying to make a lot of fancy passes in the
offensive zone.  It seemed like they just wanted to make a highlight reel kind
of goal or something.  It is an improvement to see them try to make some of
play instead of their usual "dump and pray," but when you are down 4-1, you
can't be looking for the perfect play, at some point, you have to put the puck
on net and see what happens.  Of course, OSU is also not talented enough to
complete the passes they were trying, and as peoiple with open shots passed
them up in order to make a bad pass, Michigan was just collecting the puck and
clearing it.  Finally, Cam Stewart (a great night for him 1,4--5) picked up a
bad pass and skated up the left wing for a 2 on 1.  As the defenseman committed
to him when he crossed the blue-line, Stewart passed to Roberts alone in the
middle and he got Kurt Brown to sprawl and just slid the puck around him for
a nice short-handed goal and a 5-1 lead.
 
That was not the back-breaking goal for OSU though.  Two Michigan players were
whistled for minors at the same time, and OSU was given 2 minutes of 5 on 3.
Once again, OSU had several excellent chances with men alone in front of
Shields, but the shooters missed the net almost every time.  I would imagine
that OSU got off about 8 or 9 shots on that power-play, all from people with
good, open shjots, and I think Shields made 2 saves.  When the penalties
expired, Knuble intercepted a pass at the OSU blue line just seconds after
Michigan returned to full strength and beat Brown with a slap-shot.  That was
the end of the evening for Brown, who played fairly well, but should have been
able to stop that unscreened shot from the blue line.
 
The refereeing was atrocious, but consistent.  Once again, the refs seemed to
be calling any big hit...if there was a big sound or the player hit the ice
hard, something was called.  It was interesting to see how creative the refs
got with their calls though...high sticking on one big hit where the offending
player had dropped his stick prior to contact, interference on a check of a man
carying the puck.  One Michigan player made a check fit for an instructional
video, but somehow got a roughing call out of it.
 
There was a standing-room only crowd, and a decent contingent of Michigan fans
(although MSU sent a lot more...get with it Wolverine fans!! :-).  This program
will not turn around until it changes its leadership though.  Yes, this is a
young team.  Yes, it has had injury problems, but there is no sense of
direction or purpose on the ice.  Welsh skates anywhere from 7-9 different
forward line combinations in one game and it shows as no one seems to
understand the game of his linemates.  There is no chemistry out there.  The
thing is, Welsh's system is to skate these kind of variable lines.  Even last
year when he had a couple lines that really clicked, he would still break them
up from game to game, only using the ones that worked in critical situations.
As a result, there is no flow in the OSU game, and they just do not understand
each other.  This team is not so banged up that he can't skate at least a
couple of consistent lines....heck, I am just asking that he keep one line
together through the course of just one game.
 
Anyway, someone needs to get rid of Welsh.  Please, won't you help Jerry's
Kids. :-)
 
Dave