CCHA Tournament Roundup
Sunday, March 24, 2013 (CCHA Final)
Notre Dame 3, Michigan 1
Saturday, March 23, 2013 (CCHA Semifinal)
Michigan 6, Miami 2
Notre Dame 3, Ohio State 1
Sunday, March 17, 2013 (CCHA Quarterfinal)
Ohio State 3, Ferris State 2
After three hard-fought, one-goal games, Ohio State advances, winning the final two games of the series. The series was everything you'd expect from the 4-5 seeds in the CCHA. Ohio State will face second-seeded Notre Dame in the CCHA semifinals on Saturday in Detroit. Brady Hjelle made 47 saves to stave off Ferris State, and got a third-period goal from Anthony Greco for the game winner. Ryan Dzingel added three assists. Said Greco, "I just know they were changing and we were just trying to transition and it was (Curtis) Gedig that made a good pass to Dzingel for the shot. I was just trying to go in there hard."
“All in all, I am very proud of our guys. They played a great game. I’m not upset with them or the effort at all, just the end result," Ferris State coach Bob Daniels said. "There is so much that goes into the season from your equipment managers to the trainers to the players. It’s really sad when it comes to an end, just because of all the effort everyone has put in in order to have a great year. Since everyone is invested, when you lose, it hurts.”
"I told our team it's a huge step (getting to Joe Louis Arena), we haven't been there in a while," OSU coach Mark Osiecki said. "We're still learning how to play in big games and how to win. They played for their lives today. I can't be prouder of the way our guys played. ... We were on our heels in the second. In the third period we played pretty well and pretty structured; we played harder and blocked a few more shots heading to the end and I was impressed with our wing guys playing better on the walls."
Miami 4, Michigan State 1
Miami freshman Sean Kuraly recorded the first multi-goal game of his career, while classmate Kevin Morris and sophomore forward Austin Czarnik added goals, giving their team the series win in three games. Miami was the better team, clearly, after Friday's Game 1 loss. The RedHawks will face No. 7-seed Michigan in the semifinals on Saturday in Detroit at Joe Louis Arena. "This is the first senior class to go (to the CCHA Semifinals) all four years," Miami coach Enrico Blasi said. "It's not an easy place to get to and for them to be there all four years is quite an accomplishment."
Kuraly put the 'Hawks up 2-0 with 2:07 left in the first; he swooped through the right circle and ripped a hard wrist shot. Kuraly ended a scoring slump dating back to Dec. 7. "Michigan State played a great game tonight," Blasi said. "They came at us and we got a lucky bounce on the first goal. I thought the second was a great effort by Kuraly."
Miami went with Ryan McKay for the fifth straight game, clearly establishing himself as the No. 1 starter for the playoffs. He helped Miami get through a stretch in the second period when it had to kill a number of penalties. "We got into penalty trouble in the second," Blasi said. "They came back and made a push. We got a huge power-play goal in the third. I thought we did a really good job in the third not giving them anything."
Saturday, March 16, 2013 (CCHA Quarterfinal)
Michigan 5, Western Michigan 1
And so here is Michigan, playing its best hockey of the season. Is Western Michigan also playing some of its worst at the absolute wrong time? Yes. But Michigan, after its worst regular season in over 20 years, is suddenly on fire. It has to win the CCHA Tournament in order to keep alive its impressive 22-year streak of making the NCAAs, and it's playing like a team that suddenly realized it could do that. Friday, Michigan scored some soft ones early on Frank Slubowski en route to the win. Saturday, with Slubowski better and WMU more determined to clamp down on defense, the Wolverines were able to find holes anyway. They had a four-goal outburst in the second period, including two goals from Alex Guptill, to run Slubowski from the game and take control.
"We talked about mental toughness before the game, being strong mentally and being physically loose," WMU coach Andy Murray said. "You have to credit your opponent with putting pressure on us, when they came to our building and out-shoot us the way that they did for 40 minutes of the hockey game; that's a credit to them. By the same token we take responsibility. I told the players after the game that as a coach I wish I had done more to get them to The Joe next weekend. That's my responsiblity as the coach. When we win, I believe it's the players, and when we aren't as successful I think it's the coaches responsibilty."
Western Michigan now has to sit and await its fate. Last year, it won this tournament for the first time. This year's path to a possible third straight NCAAs will be different, but still very possible, if not likely. The Broncos sit at No. 14 in the Pairwise, and the good news is, they can't lose anymore. "We had a discussion in the room, and until our players leave this campus they are Broncos," Murray said. "They are Bronco hockey players, and Bronco athletes so they have a code of conduct they need to follow and take care of themselves. We will take tomorrow and Monday off, and we'll meet with them on Tuesday. Our idea is to continue to prepare. I told our players that there has been a lot of great work here this year, and if the work that we have done earlier this season is enough then we deserve that spot in the NCAA tournament."
Notre Dame 4, Bowling Green 3
No Cinderella run for Bowling Green this year, though the Falcons gave Notre Dame everything it could handle in this series. Bryan Rust, who had the OT game winner Friday, scored twice, including a crucial penalty shot in the third period. Also, Nick Larson and Anders Lee scored solo goals to lead Notre Dame. The Irish are unbeaten in seven, and after a lot of tumult, look to have finally secured an NCAA bid. After going to overtime in Friday’s game, Notre Dame scored twice in the first period to build a 2-0 lead. “I thought we came out really well, put pressure on them and we were moving the puck out of our zone real well,” said Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson. “They (Bowling Green) are a good forechecking team and a good offensive zone team. We did a nice job against them in the early stages of the game and then a couple of penalties changed things in the second period.”
Bowling Green battled back for a 2-2 tie into the third, but during a penalty kill, were called for a penalty for closing a hand on the puck in the crease. Notre Dame could've opted for a 5-on-3 or penalty shot, but took the penalty shot, and Jackson chose Rust. “I figured Rusty is pretty good and we would still have the power play," Jackson said. "I had a couple of candidates to take the shot. I chose him (Rust) because I watch him every Thursday after practice and seen how he has performed in the shootouts.” ... Said Rust: “The backhand has been my move. I have a lot of confidence in it and I knew if I got a good enough first move in that I could pull it back to my backhand and get a good enough shot off.”
Ohio State 3, Ferris State 1
Ohio State and Ferris State will meet Sunday night for a spot in the CCHA semifinals after the Buckeyes forced Game 3. OSU scored three unanswered goals -- from Dzingel, Max McCormick and Nick Oddo. "Obviously we came out the first period and played our style very well. The team had a different look in their eyes tonight," OSU coach Mark Osiecki said. "Are we going to execute perfectly? No. But as a coaching staff we never question their will to compete and play hard. Missing a step in this sport happens but they prepare well as a team." ... Osiecki said he made lineup changes, but it was just to keep the team fresh. "Hopefully using our depth can be beneficial for tomorrow. Overall, the puck went back and forth tonight and Ferris State does a great job of stretching you out and making it a tough game." ... Said Ferris coach Bob Daniels, "Stamina is certainly an issue. I plan on seeing a lot of energy in the first period and we will have to see what will happen in the end."
Miami 4, Michigan State 1
Miami was sparked by a shorthanded goal from Austin Czarnik in the first period to force a Game 3. Czarnik scored another in the third period to seal it. It was quite interesting that Miami coach Rico Blasi went back to Ryan McKay to start Game 2 after he started Game 1. He'd been alternating most of the season with fellow freshman Jay Williams. McKay had the better numbers, but Williams' numbers were pretty good too, so it was unclear what Blasi would do. But this was McKay's fourth straight start now, so it appears the job is his. Still, Miami could go to a fresh Williams in Game 3. "I thought we came out with some intensity (in the second period)," Blasi said. "When they made it one nothing, for us to tie the game and then to go up with a short-handed goal, that was huge."
"We had no effort (Friday) night. That was the message," Czarnik said. "We started battling in the pregame skate. That really got us going there and it just carried over into the game. ... We did a good job of attacking the net today. We got pucks to the net and won battles in front of the net. That was our key focus for today and we were successful with it."
Friday, March 15, 2013 (CCHA Quarterfinal)
Michigan State 3, Miami 0
Coming off a first-round bye, top-seeded Miami was shut out by last-place Michigan State. Miami is comfortably in the NCAAs at this point, but this is not what coach Enrico Blasi wanted to see. "They out played us from the beginning," Blasi said. "They won a lot of key battles and they got a couple goals up. They did a good job blocking shots and weren't giving us second opportunities. (Jake) Hildebrand played well (in goal). They did a great job. They were aggressive." The RedHawks were held scoreless for the seventh time this season, tying a dubious single-season school record set in 2000-01 -- interesting for a team that is so good generally. Ryan McKay actually looked human in net, something that has been rare for the Miami freshman. But there was nothing he could've done is his team scored no goals.
Notre Dame 1, Bowling Green 0 (1 ot)
Notre Dame and Bowling Green played scoreless in regulation, before Notre Dame finally scored in overtime. Anders Lee forced a turnover. ND forward Jeff Costello picked it up and fed Bryan Rust for the game winner at 1:07, Rust's 13th of the season and team-best fourth game winner. “I just got on the ice in a line change and was able to get open in the slot,” said Rust in explaining his goal. “Jeff Costello was able to find me and I kicked the puck up to my backhand and was able to score. He (goalie Andrew Hammond) was playing with a lot of confidence. He was unbelievable tonight. You have to give him all the credit in the world." Hammond made 35 saves in the loss.
"I thought the second period was their best, but they were good all night," BG coach Chris Bergeron said of Notre Dame. "They blocked a lot of shots, and made it difficult for us in all three zones. They're a team that exposes you if you don't take care of things, and too many times tonight we didn't, and ultimately it cost us. ... You turn the puck over to people you turn it over to -- we've been preaching the longest time, you don't give people things, especially teams like Notre Dame who can create on their own without you giving them things. Unfortunately, it's a lesson we learned the hard way."
“I thought we were a little rusty early in the game,” ND coach Jeff Jackson said. “We slowly started getting our game legs back in the second period. That’s pretty typical when you have the bye week. I thought things started to change when David Gerths’ line got going. They picked up the forecheck and got the cycle going and created some scoring chances.”
Ferris State 4, Ohio State 2
Ferris State was one of three lower-seeded teams to get wins in the CCHA on Friday. Justin DeMartino scored twice as FSU rallied for the win, getting the GWG early in the third period. FSU then had to hold on. "I would prefer we keep trying to push and find another goal," FSU coach Bob Daniels said. "We have had a fault this year of getting a lead early and trying to milk it the whole way home; I would rather not play that way.”
"It went back and forth, the game changer was us being on a power play and taking a penalty which showed a lack of discipline on our part," OSU coach Mark Osiecki said. "This team has always responded to adversity; the undisciplined errors we have to correct. Ferris State played like they've been through this before and have been through a lot of playoff battles." ... Said OSU forward Tanner Fritz: "There was a different feel tonight but it’s tournament play and things happen so we need to respond accordingly.”
Michigan 4, Western Michigan 3
Michigan jumped out to a 2-0 and 3-2, with Western rallying each time. WMU scored two goals in 62 seconds, early in the second period, to tie it 2-2. But each time Michigan pulled away, and ultimately held off WMU in the third. Michigan continues to plays its best hockey here, and after a dismal regular season, but its standards, things are starting to get very interesting. Remember, Michigan has a 22-season NCAA Tournament streak on the line, and must win the CCHAs to get in this time. ... Michigan's star defenseman was better than WMU's bevy of top-notch D-men. Jacob Trouba was extra-stellar, scoring twice, including the game winner in the third.
Meanwhile, WMU goes to the brink, hanging by a thread for the NCAAs, which turns Saturday into a must-win game. Coach Andy Murray wasn't thrilled with goalie Frank Slubowski's night, or the night of the officials. "I think we've seen Frank better. I think he is an honest player and would say the exact same thing," WMU coach Andy Murray said. "We didn't like the two goals we gave up. We gave up a couple of great transition opportunities. I really liked the effort in the game tonight. ... We need to be better. I think there were a couple things with the referees that were not as good as they need to be, just like how I need to be a better coach."
"We gave them a few too many scoring chances," WMU defenseman Danny DeKeyser said. "It's tough to win games when you let the other team score four goals. They were putting a lot of pucks on net. We just have to drive to the net hard and clear rebounds tomorrow."
Sunday, March 10, 2013 (CCHA First Round)
Michigan State 4, Alaska-Fairbanks 3
Michigan State suffered through a rough regular season, but despite traveling to Fairbanks for the second time in three weeks, managed to dig down and find a way to win this series in three games. Alaska scored twice in the final two and a half minutes of the game, but couldn't come all the way back. It's a disappointing end for the Nanooks, who were certainly eliminated from NCAA tournament contention now.
Bowling Green 7, Lake Superior 0
After losing Game 1, Bowling Green looked like the superior team in every facet over the next two games, especially Sunday, where it just cruised to the win. Andrew Hammond is back and healthy in net again, and he got the shutout, and the Falcons are feeling confident that this is truly a program on the rise. Why can't they go into Notre Dame and win another series and make it back to The Joe, like last year? Ryan Carpenter led the way with his 18th goal, and Dan DeSalvo scored twice. "We challenged them hard after the game. Friday, we didn't really answer the bell, they were ready to play and we weren't. Our guys played tonight like we've been in this game before, and we have been in this game before -- on the road, in the playoffs. The guys that we challenged Friday are the ones that really stood out tonight."
Saturday, March 9, 2013 (CCHA First Round)
Michigan 6, Northern Michigan 2
Alaska-Fairbanks 4, Michigan State 1
Bowling Green 6, Lake Superior 3
Friday, March 8, 2013 (CCHA First Round)
Lake Superior 2, Bowling Green 0
Michigan 3, Northern Michigan 2
Michigan State 2, Alaska-Fairbanks 1 (1 ot)
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