Feb. 15, 1997
Top-Ranked Michigan Skates Past Irish
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Desparately needing a victory to keep itsCCHA playoffs hopes alive, Notre Dame allowed four power-play goals enroute to a 6-1 defeat to top-ranked Michigan tonight at Yost Ice Arenathis evening.
The Wolverines (28-2-3, 19-2-2) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the firsttwo periods, scoring four goals on eight power-play opportunities.Michigan, which entered the game leading the CCHA in power-playconversions, scoring on 30 percent of their opportunities, scored onthree of their first four chances. Prior to this game, Notre Dame hadonly allowed more than two power-play goals in a game once this season,against Ferris State on Nov. 15 allowing three power play goals.
The loss still leaves the Irish (8-23-1 overall, 5-18-1 CCHA) fourpoints behind Ferris State with three games remaining in the race forthe eighth and final playoff berth in the CCHA Tournament. The Bulldogs,who own the tie-breaker against the Irish, fell to Miami this evening. The fight for the final playoff berth will come to Ferris State’s three-gameseries with Alaska-Fairbanks and the Irish’s two games against WesternMichigan and season finale against Michigan State.
Sophomore Brian Urick, averted an Irish shutout, scoring histeam-high 13th goal of the season in the third period. Senior BrianMcCarthy sent a pass between the circles to sophomore Craig Hagkull. Hagkull’s shot on goal was deflected and the opportunistic Urick wasable to knock in the rebound.
Head Coach Dave Poulin decided to give goaltender Matt Eisler thenight off, going with sophomore Forrest Karr in the net. The gamemarked Karr’s first action since Jan. 3 against Miami.
The rash of injuries, which had depleted the Notre Dame defense,continued to hurt the Irish this evening. Freshman Sean Seyferth, anAnn Arbor native, did not dress due to a shoulder injury. The Irishwere still without their sixth-leading scorer, Terry Lorenz, who wasn’table to make the trip after being injured in practice earlier this week.Lorenz had played in 72 straight games prior to the injury.
Notre Dame 0 0 1 -- 1Michigan 3 2 1 -- 61st period: (M) Morrison-22 (Herr, Legg) pp, 7:13; (M)Luhning-17 (Legg, Morrison) pp, 16:36; (M) Hayes-5 (Madden, Clark),19:35. 2nd period: (M) Legg-19 (Botterill, Luhning) pp, 2:08;(M) Morrison-23 (Madden, Legg) 4-3 pp, 17:45.3rd period: (M) Herr-24 (Morrison, Peach), 2:58; (ND) Urick-13 (Hagkull, McCarthy).Shots on GoalNotre Dame 7- 4-7 -- 18Michigan 15-15-9 -- 39Saves/MinutesN. Dame-Karr 12- 13- 8 -- 33 (60:00)Michigan-Malicke 7- 4- 4 -- 15 (50:36)Michigan-Daddario x- x- 2 -- 2 (9:24)PenaltiesNotre Dame 15-30Michigan 9-18Power Play ConvNotre Dame 0-7Michigan 4-12RecordsNotre Dame 8-23-1 (5-18-1)Michigan 28-2-3 (19-2-2)Attend: 6, 590