In a game that meant far more to Wisconsin than Michighan Tech,
Wisconsin wins 8 - 3. Had Wisconsin lost this game, they would in
all liklihood be eliminated from the NC$$'s. The specualation is that
now Wisconsin will go and CC will not as the result of this game.
 
WIS 4 2 2 - 8
MTU 0 2 1 - 3
 
1st period:
 
WIS Katlap 5(Doers, Buss) 5:03
WIS Granato 8 (Elick, Tucker) 7:37 ppg
WIS Refalsky (Buss)10:56 shg
WIS Mark Stroebel (Elick, Carey) 18:22 3 on 5 ppg
 
2nd Period:
 
MTU Lebel 9 (P. Mikesch) 2:31 ppg
WIS Buss (Tucker, Zent) 4:05
MTU B. Peterson 25 (Peca) 8:18
WIS Elick (Granato) 13:04 ppg
 
3rd Period:
 
WIS Moore 16:44 shg
MTU Figliomeni ( K. Peterson, Lane) 18:33
WIS Fairchild (Tucker, Doer) 18:45
 
Saves:
 
WIS Carey        7 xx xx -  7
WIS Daubenspeck xx  9 10 - 19
MTU Ram          0 xx  0 -  0
MTU Caravaggio  19  7  6 - 32
 
Powerplays:
 
WIS 3 of 9
MTU 1 of 10
 
Comments:
 
To MTU's credit, they never gave up and made the 2nd and 3rd periods
fun to watch. However, Wisconsin clearly was playing for somethiong more
the honor of the game. This was MTU's 6th game in 9 days and at times it
showed.
 
The first period belong to Wisconsin. They scored handily and often. MTU
was slow and Wisconsin took advantage of this getting men in the open
and putting Caravaggio at a disadvantage. (Ram started the game but was
replaced at the first whistle. He would come back late in the third period
to repalce Caravaggio.) Katlaps opened the scoring flurry followed
Granato's follow up of a blocked Elick shot from the left point
and the BussUs short handed breakaway that was completed by Rafelsky.
Finally, Mark Stroebel was allowed to walk in a Caravaggio on a MTU two
man down situation.
 
MTU responed the second period by playing tougher. Lebel scored at 2:31 on a
powerplay when he slapped in a shot created by P. MikeshUs fanned shot. Buss
managed to get a richochet off a skate to count (Buzzy: need I say more?)
Peterson got a nice tip in on a right wing board shot by Peca. This was folowed
Caravaggio stopping a Granato shot but allowing the puck to dribble behind him.
Elick swept in through the crease behind Caravaggio and finished Granato's
effort.
 
The late third period found Blaine Moore on a another short handed breakaway
scoring easily. Figgy then came back and put on a rare MTU burst of speed
(Figgy probably was the only person on the MTU squad that did not appear
tired) and put the puck under a sprawling Daubenspeck. Fairchild then
capitalized on a turnover in front of the MTU crease.
 
In the late season and the playoffs, MTU accomplished far more than anyone
expected. (Wasn't I wishing for the end of the season in February? And I wasn't
alone.) What was a demoralizing season was turned around. Even our 10 place
WCHA finish was turned to an advantage. (Even our pep band picked up on
this shouting "we're number 10, we're number 10.") Unfortunately, there was
enough adrenaline to get by a Minnesota team that doesnUt make mistakes. We
gave it our best; so I am proud of this team and I think we may be surprising
some folks next year. Let's go Tech! We'll be waiting for you in October.
 
Walt Olson
MTU