Icers take three points from Ferris

GRAND RAPIDS - No one can say that Michigan hockey games aren't exciting this season.

In two overtime games this weekend, the Wolverines (4-2-1 CCHA, 7-3-1 overall) came away with a 3-2 home victory on Friday night, but gave up a three-goal lead and had to settle for a 3-3 tie in yesterday's game against Ferris State (3-4-2, 3-7-2) in Grand Rapids. In the victory, Bill Muckalt scored the game-winning goal, but no such heroics came forth in yesterday's deadlock.

The Wolverines experienced both sides of the coin in Van Andel Arena. After storming out to a 3-0 lead thanks to two goals from Bobby Hayes and another by Muckalt, it looked as if victory for Michigan was assured. But after a Ferris State three-goal flurry in the second period, the Wolverines were in serious danger of losing yesterday's game.

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Bubba Berenzweig threw his weight around yesterday.

Midway through the disastrous second, two Bulldogs - Kenzie Homer and Joel Irwin - scored goals in a span of 20 seconds. Shortly thereafter, Brent Wishart added a third to tie the score. Wishart's goal came after Michigan's Sean Ritchlin received a five-minute major penalty for slashing.

"I thought it was just a sloppy period, and obviously the penalty did not help," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "Ferris came out and played a good second period."

A scoreless third period forced overtime. At 1:47 into the extra period, Michigan's Mark Kosick was whistled for slashing. Although they were out-shot in the period, 6-0, the Wolverines managed to kill off the penalty and avoid defeat.

Friday night's game at Yost was just as exciting, if not more so. With a large television audience - Fox Sports televised the contest - and the usual Yost crowd, the stage was set for a prime-time matchup.

And Muckalt proved that he was ready to be in the spotlight.

"Our first priority is to shut them down defensively and limit their shots," Hayes said. "And then we can get it out to Billy Muckalt and go on the offensive."

The game went to overtime after the teams finished regulation tied at two. With about two minutes left in the extra period, Hayes took the faceoff in Ferris State's zone, and the Wolverines employed a different twist on their usual alignment.

"We moved (Muckalt) on the faceoff," Berenson said. "I just ... shifted him around and it worked. It's one of those things - I can't tell you it's great coaching - but it's what I would have done as a centerman to get the puck to your best shooter. That's where a faceoff can make the difference in the game, and it did."

Muckalt shot the puck from dead center right through the net to give Michigan the victory. Muckalt, who was involved in all three Michigan goals, scored the game-tying goal at the onset of the third period as a result of a 4-on-2 rush.

11-17-97