(From watching the game on ESPN Saturday.)
 
FIRST PERIOD
============
Great defensive period by both teams as no one had the advantage.  Would
have been fitting for this period to be scoreless but Bill Muckalt would
not allow that to happen as he took a nice, short, quick, shot and put it
pass Ryan Bach (Red Wing prospect) for a 1-0 Michigan lead.
 
SECOND PERIOD
=============
CC's period.  Forget the Michigan penalties.  Even at even strength, CC
was impressive.  (Note that Colin Schmidt scored on a wrap-around
(cannot think of a better way to describe it) with the stick to give them
a 2-1 lead.)  As much as CC dominated, Michigan would not let CC have
the game.  After that Geronazzo goal that tied the game at 1, Michigan would
kill all three of their shorthanded situations.  Bad moves by Luhning and
Frescoln in the first place as both played like chumps this period
especially the former.  The penalty killing was impressive; however, as
Michigan held CC to an average of one shot a power play.  Turco came up
big this period with great saves on the Tigers.  He and the penalty
killing were the keys from preventing a second period disaster for
Michigan.  To say Michigan did not play well would not be right, there
was bright spots to take into the third period.
 
THIRD PERIOD
============
One more game where the third period would be Michigan's.  Yes, they just
barely outshot CC 10-9 but they were the better team.  If you think
about, when each team introduced a different style, the other would be
able to adapt to it looking impressive at times as the inferior team.
Second period was physical, and the third was more skating.  Lots of
coincedental minors due to mainly frustration, tiredness, and want to win
more than anything else.  Great play by Halko to get the puck to bounce
from Bach into Legg's direction and Legg put it in to tie the game.  100
career points for him.  Not as impressive as the goal against Minnesota
of course, but a much more significant goal.  Even period the rest of the
way with both goalies coming up big and some good defense.
 
OVERTIME
========
Turco had to make a great save for his only OT save.  Watching the
Michigan goal unfold was great as Crozier took a shot that bounced off a
CC player that was down on the ice.  Then, Muckalt fired a shot at Bach
that bounced off his pads and was loose; and Morrison took the puck and
slammed it into the net as anyone that wore Maize and Blue celebrated the
win and National Championship #8.
 
CONCLUSION
==========
Tremendous championship game by both teams as either team could have won
it.  Colorado College took their game to the level of Michigan's and
played very well especially defensively.  The Swansons, who were hot in
the Lowell and Vermont games, were quiet; but will be very dangerous
players to play against in the next three years.  Michigan always seems
to play well (as Red Berenson has said many times before) against the
great players of opposing teams.  True in every NCAA Tournament game as
Bonin, Drury, and the Swansons all were held scoreless against Michigan.
(Can only have 10 Hobey finalists, but will be future Hobey finalists
possibly as early as next season.)  (Morrison and Geronazzo each had a
goal and an assist but Morrison's was the game winning and championship
winning goal.)  That is great defense coming up in a big game.  This was
the best defensive Michigan team in the last four years (maybe longer).
CC is once again going to be extremely tough next season (a definite
contender); and depending on Morrison and Botterill possibly bolting for
Jersey and Dallas respectively, Michigan will be anywhere from very good
to awesome once again.
 
==========================
Kenneth M. Baker
University of Michigan '96
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
==========================
 
**********************************************
Michigan Wolverines - 1996 National Champions
8 Time National Champions
1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996
**********************************************
 
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