A few minutes into the third period of Friday’s game at Yost Arena, the public address announcer had a little update to give: “In earlier action, Ohio State 21, Michigan 35.”<\/p>\n
It was a reminder of Michigan’s victory on the gridiron — way back in November — and a reminder that Michigan-Ohio State will always be a football rivalry first.<\/p>\n
But the hockey matchup has a few similarities to its football counterpart. Friday’s game was tight, physical and important for the conference standings.<\/p>\n
Michigan (13-7-1 overall, 8-4-1 CCHA) grabbed a 3-2 victory in what coach Red Berenson called “a hard-fought battle.” The two points vaulted the Wolverines to the top of the CCHA.<\/p>\n
Going into Friday’s game, Michigan sat sixth in the conference, but trailed third-place Ohio State by just one point. The Wolverines’ win moved them ahead of the Buckeyes (13-8-0, 8-5-0) and into a tie with Miami and Michigan State. Saturday is the final regular-season meeting between Michigan and Ohio State.<\/p>\n
Jason Ryznar scored the game-winning goal, and Milan Gajic and Matt Hunwick each had two points. Al Montoya made 27 saves for the Wolverines, while the Buckeyes’ Mike Betz stopped 26 of 29 shots.<\/p>\n
Afterward, Berenson praised the Buckeyes.<\/p>\n
“I thought we had trouble getting up to speed with them, in particular in the second period,” Berenson said. “We were lucky to get back in the game.”<\/p>\n
Betz said it takes a complete game to beat Michigan.<\/p>\n
“You can’t just come with effort, you have to come with effort, intelligence, discipline and everything else,” the goalie said. “It’s not just a one-dimensional thing; we have to have everything.”<\/p>\n
Betz added the Buckeyes will have keep in mind the first weekend series between the two teams this season, when Ohio State bounced back from a Friday loss to win 5-2.<\/p>\n
Michigan struck first with a power-play goal in the first period. Eric Nystrom banged in a pass from Gajic at 4:32. <\/p>\n
Ohio State went up 2-1 with two quick goals in the penalty-ridden second period. Rod Pelley put the Buckeyes on the board at 7:52 with assists from Paul Caponigri and Sean Collins. Seventeen seconds later, Dan Knapp beat Montoya glove-side. Nate Guenin and Daymen Bencharski assisted on the goal.<\/p>\n
Knapp, a Michigan native, said scoring a goal with his family in the stands was “something special.” <\/p>\n
But it wasn’t enough to give the Buckeyes the win.<\/p>\n
Michigan received a 5-on-3 opportunity with 3:28 left in the period, but couldn’t take advantage until Ohio State got one penalized player back. Gajic earned his second point of the night when he picked the top-left corner of the Buckeyes’ net. Defensemen Hunwick and Eric Werner recorded assists.<\/p>\n
“It’s nice to see a goal-scorer score a big goal, when the game is on the line and you really need a goal,” Berenson said. “And (Gajic is) a goal-scorer. That’s a top goalie (that he beat).”<\/p>\n
Shortly after the Yost announcer made his football reference in the third period, Ryznar scooped up a loose puck in front of Betz and flipped it in to put Michigan back on top. Hunwick earned his second assist of the game on Ryznar’s goal.<\/p>\n
Sophomore Jeff Tambellini continues to lead Michigan with nine goals, despite not scoring for the Wolverines since a Nov. 8 game against Ferris State. Tambellini did have two goals and three assists for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, which were held Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Helsinki.<\/p>\n
Before the game, Tambellini, Montoya and Hunwick were recognized for their participation in the World Juniors. Montoya backstopped the U.S. to its first-ever gold medal. Hunwick, a freshman, was a late addition to the American team.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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