The score of the game reflects more of what happened in the last 10 minutes
of the game, rather than the whole game.  Michigan game out as strong as I've
seen them all year and controlled, though not dominated, the entire first
period, outshooting MSU 12-4 and taking a 1-0 lead on a hard-worked
well-deserved goal by Madden from Luhning and Halko.  It was the first of 4
power play goals UM would have tonight.  It took all the way until the 17:42
mark to score.  At this point it was a very, very good hockey game.
 
UM made a horrible crossing pass in front of Turco, MSU intercepted it and
nailed up top to tie the score at 1-1 at 7:55 of the second period.  At
12:49, I wrote down that MSU had taken the momentum away from UM and was
playing better.  At 15:59, the game changed as MSU was now at a two man
disadvantage.  15 seconds later Muckalt scored and 37 seconds after that
Muckalt scored again.   Legg got an assist on the first one and Herr and
Halko got assists on the second.  At this point, with both teams playing such
tight defense, I knew the game was over.  It was amazing how quickly a game
could turn especially when I felt that MSU had taken the momentum.
 
In the third, Madden scored at 5:21 (Shock and Herr) and then Luhning scored
at 10:48 (Sloan & Morrison).  Then MSU, (no flames intended), just quit.
 Legg scored at 15:39 (Madden and Rominski); Herr scored at 16:10 (Hilton &
Luhning); Shock scored at 17:05 (Morrison).  What was surprising was that MSU
outshot UM in the last 10 minutes (despite what I just said about them
quiting, they quit on defense but not on offense).
 
At the very end of the game, minor pushing, shoving, "hugging" occurred for
over a minute to the right of UM's goalie, Turco.  When it was finally over
and MSU started to organize for the line hand-shake, Turco raised in stick
and arm in the air to get UM to gather around him first at the net.  When the
crowd gave him a roar for raising his arms, he pumped them a couple of times.
 Turco is such a quiet, unassuming, (almost seems like he doesn't care what's
happening) that it was very surprising and nice to see at the same time.
 
Though no stars were announced, we gave it to the three M's - Marty (Turco),
Muckalt, and Madden with a special note on Herr who has played 2 very good
back to back weekends.
 
This game makes me start to think that UM can do a lot better than I've been
thinking.  It's still a long way to the CCHA and the NCAA but tonight was a
very good step.  Now it's on to LSSU for two next weekend and let's win
there.  (does anyone know where I "re-wrote" that quote?)
 
Steve Bartley
 
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