Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Event: CCHA Quarterfinal Playoffs
Score: #3 Michigan 6, Western Michigan 1
Records: U-M (28-10-0, 20-8-0-0 CCHA), WMU (14-20-7, 9-13-6-2 CCHA)
Attendance: 6,887
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 20 -- Next opponent TBD (Detroit, Mich.)
Boxscore | Notes & Quotes | Photo Gallery | Video Report
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 3-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team dominated Western Michigan with a 6-1 victory on Saturday night (March 14) at Yost Ice Arena to sweep the CCHA quarterfinal series, 2-0. Sophomore Aaron Palushaj(Northville, Mich.) gave the Wolverines a one-goal lead less than two minutes into the game. U-M padded its first period lead with tallies from Brian Lebler(Penticton, B.C.) and David Wohlberg(South Lyon, Mich.). Palushaj'ssecond goal late in the middle frame answered WMU's lone goal. Two third-period goals ensured Michigan a trip to the CCHA semifinals for the 20th consecutive season.
U-M tallied three goals in the first period in a manner eerily similar to last night's game with a marker in the first three minutes of play and another with less than three seconds remaining in the period. As in Friday's contest, Michigan kept WMU from scoring and added two goals of its own in the final frame.
The Wolverines opened the scoring with an early marker from Palushaj 1:53 into the first period. Matt Rust(Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), stationed to the right of WMU goaltender Riley Gill along the back boards, backhanded a centering pass toPalushaj. The sophomore forward batted the puck out of mid-air into the net, beating Gill on Michigan's fifth shot of the contest.
Michigan tacked on another goal 52 seconds later, marking the ninth time U-M has scored two markers less than 60 seconds apart this season. At 2:45 in the first stanza, Brandon Burlon(Nobleton, Ontario) made a crisp pass to Brandon Naurato(Livonia, Mich.) from the point. Naurato ripped a shot from above the right faceoff dot. Lebler grabbed the rebound and flicked the puck past Gill to give the Maize and Blue a two-goal lead.
With three seconds remaining in the opening period, Wohlberg gave Michigan its fourth straight contest with three goals in a single frame. Tim Miller(Davisburg, Mich.) brought the puck from behind the goal and then dished a backhander from the left post to Louie Caporusso(Woodbridge, Ontario), who one-timed a shot from the low right slot. Wohlberg snagged the rebound and squeezed the puck between Gill's left skate and the right goal post.
The Broncos did not register a shot in the first frame, marking the first time this season that the Wolverines have held their opponent without a shot during a period. Despite two minutes with the man advantage late in the period, Western Michigan was unable to muster a shot on goal thanks to the Wolverines' stifling penalty kill. By the end of the first, Michigan had already rattled off a team season high 21 shots at Gill. WMU notched its first shot of the game eight seconds into the second period.
With 8:57 remaining in the second, goaltender Bryan Hogan(Highland, Mich.) stood tall in the crease stopping Max Campbell's initial shot as well as Greg Squire's rebound attempt. The ensuing scrum resulted in coincidental penalties, plus an additional two minute instigating penalty for Campbell. The chippy play continued throughout the middle frame with a total of 18 penalty minutes for the period.
Western's Patrick Galivan brought the Broncos within two goals at 13:56 in the second stanza. Defenseman Kevin Cannauton carried the puck up the left side of the ice, beating a Michigan defender to dish a pass to Galivan from the left faceoff circle. As Galivan crashed the net from the right side, the senior forward deposited the puck into the wide open net.
Palushaj padded Michigan's lead with his second goal of the night with 24.1 seconds left in the second period. Caporusso snuck past WMU's defender Chris Frank as he entered the Bronco zone. The sophomore pushed the puck forward to Palushaj, who corralled the pass at the left faceoff dot. He wrapped around the WMU net and attempted to throw a centering pass to Caporusso. The puck never reached his linemate as it deflected off a Bronco's skate and went into the net. Carl Hagelin(Sodertalje, Sweden) earned an assist on the play.
Rust made it 5-1 at 14:11 in the third period. Palushaj slid a pass up the neutral zone to Rust, who rushed up the slot and deked twice before launching the puck over Gill and setting a career-best, four-game goal streak. Captain Mark Mitera(Livonia, Mich.) was credited with an assist on the goal.
Miller handed the Wolverines a five-goal lead at 12:17 in the closing frame. Senior Travis Turnbull(Chesterfield, Mo.) carried the puck from the middle of the left faceoff circle to mid-slot before firing a shot at the WMU netminder. The puck bounced off Gill and went flying to Miller, who wristed a shot from the bottom of the left faceoff circle.
With 10:39 remaining in the game, head coach Red Berenson swapped goaltender Hogan out for senior Billy Sauer(Walworth, N.Y.) with U-M comfortably in the lead.
With a series sweep over the Broncos, Michigan will head to Joe Louis Arena next weekend (Fri-Sat., March 20-21) for the CCHA Championship. U-M's will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent at either 4:35 p.m. or 8:05 p.m. on Friday. Game time will be decided by the CCHA office. A third-place game (4:35 p.m.) will precede the title game (7:35 p.m.) on Saturday.
Tickets through the U-M Athletic Ticket Office go on sale Sunday (March 15) on MGoBlue.com. They can also be purchased in person or over the phone -- (734) 764-0247 or (866) 296-MTIX (6849) -- beginning Monday morning (March 16).
Contact: Matt Trevor (734) 763-4423
