University of Minnesota Athletics
Michigan Snaps Skid Against Gophers
11/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Hockey
The nation’s leading goal scorer showed off his skills and helped Michigan erase a six-game losing streak to Minnesota as the second-ranked Wolverines handed the Gophers a 5-1 setback on Saturday in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Wolverines’ senior Kevin Porter had two goals and two assists to give him a national-best 16 goals along with eight assists through the team’s first 14 games. Porter was involved in the team’s first four goals as Michigan jumped out to a 4-1 lead through two periods.
Minnesota, which had a nine-game unbeaten streak in the College Hockey Showcase and a 14-game non-conference unbeaten streak snapped, is ranked 13th nationally and fell to 7-6-1 overall. Michigan is now 13-1 and extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 12 games since a 4-3 loss to the Gophers in the IceBreaker Invitational title game on Oct. 13. The Wolverines are the nation’s highest-scoring team, but were outshot by the Gophers 27-23. Michigan put 47 shots on goal in the teams’ earlier meeting this year.
Minnesota got off to a strong start and held a 9-7 edge in first period shots, despite being shorthanded three times during the opening frame. The Wolverines scored the lone goal of the period, however, when Chad Kolarik slammed home a rebound off a shot by Porter. Steve Kampfel also assisted the goal, which came with 2:14 left in the period. It snapped a string of six straight games in which the Gophers had scored first.
The Wolverines struck on their fourth power play chance of the game at the 2:43 mark of the second period as Kolarik ripped a shot into the upper corner of the cage that Porter and Aaron Palushaj assisted.
Porter gave Michigan a 3-0 lead at 5:22 of the second period with a shorthanded goal off a Gophers’ misplay. The senior forward stole the puck away from Minnesota goalie Jeff Frazee behind the goal and scored on a wraparound into the vacated net for an unassisted goal.
Minnesota scored its goal after a flurry of shots that were saved by Wolverines’ goaltender Billy Sauer or missed the net. The Gophers finally got the puck past Sauer when Ben Gordon attempted a shot that deflected off a Michigan defender and past the goaltender’s outstretched leg at the 13:20 mark. It was the only blemish of the night for Sauer, who had 26 saves.
Michigan extended its lead to 4-1 at 16:45 of the second period as Porter struck again, getting behind the defense and wristing a shot over Frazee. Kolarik set up the play with the lead pass and Chad Langlais also had an assist. The Wolverines scored their first four goals on 14 shots through two periods.
The Wolverines added another in the third period after some solid passing as Ben Winnett scored after Palushaj tipped a pass from Kampfer across the slot. Winnett one-timed the pass into the net at the 4:59 mark. The Gophers had several solid scoring chances on three third period power plays, but were unable to mount a rally.
Minnesota returns home next weekend to face Michigan Tech in a two-game series.
