Michigan matched Michigan State, highlight-reel goal for highlight-reel goal, and upped the ante with an extra power-play marker to edge the Spartans, 2-1 at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor Tuesday night.
Both Michigan center T.J. Hensick and Michigan State left wing Tim Kennedy made scoring plays in the game that are likely to find their way onto television highlight packages.
Wolverine senior Hensick followed a spinning move to free himself deep in the Spartan zone with a pinpoint shot past Spartan goaltender Jeff Lerg at 6:28 of the final period for the game winner, boosting the Wolverines past Michigan State to take a 2-1 lead in the season series between the two in-state rivals.
“The winning goal was something you can’t coach, but you can recruit,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “We had to kill off at least three penalties (in the third period) and that’s a tough way to have to play at home. But, we did it. We killed those penalties and we got the goaltending. It was a good team goal.”
“Kevin Porter found me in the slot and luckily I got in behind the defense,” said Hensick.. “He (Lerg) left open the upstairs over his glove. I’m not sure how it went in, but I just shot there and it went in. It was a good feeling. I haven’t scored in a while. It was good to get back on the scoreboard.”
Berenson’s Wolverines held off a furious charge by the Spartans over the last two minutes of the game, killing off an interference penalty to defenseman Jason Dest, eventually facing a six to four Spartan advantage with Lerg pulled for an extra attacker.
Michigan State coach Rick Comley noted “the skill of Hensick” as a difference-maker in the game.
“Great pass, then great goal, not many guys can make either,” pointed out the Spartan coach of Hensick’s contribution to the two Michigan scores. “He got it done, but it was a very hard fought game, a very tight game.”
The Michigan senior had set up an earlier goal by linemate Kevin Porter in the second stanza. The two-point night moved Hensick into sole possession of 18th place on Michigan’s all-time forward point list.
An advantage in power play minutes during the first period enabled Michigan to hold a 9-4 shooting edge after a scoreless initial twenty minutes.
The best scoring opportunity for either team, however, came just after one of the Wolverine power play chances with only five minutes remaining in the period. Chad Kolarik, breaking down the right wing, fired a bullet from the top of the right circle that rang off the post to Lerg’s right.
Kennedy’s spectacular end-to-end rush put the Spartan’s ahead 1-0 only 59 seconds into the second period.
The Spartan sophomore swept behind his own net outmaneuvering three Wolverines on his way up the ice and finished the play by shifting the puck to his backhand for a flip into the open goal past Michigan netminder Billy Sauer.
Sauer recorded 24 saves and Lerg had 26 stops in a game that included long stretches of power play time due to the 15 minor penalties whistled by referee Kevin Hall.
“He’s really come on,” said Comley of Lerg’s play in goal. “He had some bad luck down in Notre Dame on Friday, but his quality of play has really improved.”
Sauer noted that “sometimes all it takes is one game” to get a team going. “The streak started with Michigan State and we’ve had six wins since then,” he continued.
“It’s a good streak we have going,” said Sauer. “It’s a good feeling to be going into Minnesota and Wisconsin with.”
Michigan converted for a 1-1 tie on the second of two straight power play chances midway through the second period for the game’s other goal.
After sustained Wolverine pressure on Lerg, Michigan’s Hensick found Porter alone to Lerg’s left. Taking Hensick’s cross-ice pass from the opposite corner, Porter one-timed a drive past Lerg from low in the faceoff circle at 12:22.
The rare midweek game between the two Great Lake state rivals is the continuation of a hectic string of games for both teams.
Michigan (10-3-0, 7-2-0 CCHA) played at home only three days after completing a two-game sweep of Ferris State while Michigan State (6-4-1, 4-4-1 CCHA) traveled to Ann Arbor following a weekend home-and-home split pair of games with Notre Dame.
Both teams hit the road almost immediately after the Tuesday match-up to travel to the College Hockey Showcase this coming weekend, November 24-25, where each will play road contests against Wisconsin and Minnesota in their annual Thanksgiving holiday meeting with the WCHA powers.
“It’s probably the toughest week anyone is going to see in college hockey,” said Lerg. “Minnesota is known for its high-flying, high-scoring offense and Wisconsin is more defensive, so it will be tough. Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin all in their own buildings is a tough week.”
