After taking a 3-1 lead just 10 minutes into the game, Michigan sat back and skated to a 3-3 tie with Ferris State.
Michigan picked up the extra point in the CCHA standings by winning the shootout.
However, the game could have gone very differently for the Wolverines.
Ferris State lit the lamp first with a goal just 42 seconds into the contest.
“We were ready to play,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “We give up that goal in the first minute that gets the crowd into it, but we shook that off and took control of the game.”
However, Berenson knows what his squad needs to do to string together more wins.
“We’ve got to put three good periods together, stay out of the penalty box and get our power play on track,” said Berenson.
For Ferris State coach Bob Daniels, it was a question of momentum as Ferris State’s annual Teddy Bear Toss was scheduled for tonight.
“The first 40 seconds had two penalty calls, a goal and a ton of teddy bears on the ice,” said Daniels. “It felt like a whole game in 40 seconds.”
Jason Binkley put the Bulldogs ahead by burying a rebound that got away from Michigan goaltender Steve Racine.
After that, the first period was all Michigan with goals coming from captain A.J. Treais, Cristoval Nieves and Lindsay Sparks.
The second and third goals came just 37 seconds apart and the Bulldogs managed to escape the period without further damage.
“After the first, I still felt like we had chance to get a win,” said Daniels. “I felt like we had a chance if [Bulldogs’ goaltender C.J. Motte] could keep it at three and then we had 40 minutes to get two goals.”
Ferris State cut the deficit with a goal from Kyle Bonis. The senior captain drove the net and put a wraparound through Racine’s legs for Ferris State’s second four-on-four goal of the night.
The Wolverines came close to getting a two-goal lead back as the third period started, but Motte made big saves before the Bulldogs settled down and cleared the zone.
Bonis then added his second of the night with a shot from the left corner that beat Racine high.
Both teams had opportunities that weren’t converted in the game’s waning moments.
With six minutes left, a Michigan goal was waved off because of a high stick and just over a minute later, Racine denied Bonis a hat trick with a big save after Bonis picked up a rebound at the top of the crease.
In overtime, Michigan carried the play and generated chances, but Motte preserved a vital point in the CCHA standings for Ferris State.
