Good goaltending gives Blue edge in big games

COLUMBUS - Michigan coach Red Berenson knows his team is in for its share of close games this season. But after this weekend, he has a reason to think the Wolverines have a shot to win tight contests.

"We've got an NHL goalie in goal," Berenson said. "Marty Turco is keeping us in every game, giving us the chance to win the game."

On a night when Ohio State shots came in flurries, Turco responded by turning most of them away - even if he didn't know where they were coming from.

"I didn't see a lot of shots from the point," Turco said. "Fortunately, most of the time I saw where the puck was going, and I put my legs or my glove out there."

One fortunate incident for Michigan came when Turco preserved a 2-2 deadlock in the third period on a breakaway by Ohio State right wing Eric Meloche. The save enabled the Wolverines to pull out the overtime victory.

PAUL TALANIAN/Daily Bowling Green goaltender Mike Savard sprawls to cover the puck against Michigan on Friday. Savard stopped 25 of the 28 shots he faced, but still lost.

"You forget about those things when you win, but Turco made the difference," Berenson said.

Friday night at Bowling Green, Turco made another unbelievable save late in the third period to prevent the Falcons from tying the contest at three.

After facing Turco for the first time this year, Ohio State coach John Markell was first in line to applaud the senior netminder's play.

"I thought he won the game today," Markell said. "They were scrambling for their life and he came up big."

The freshman: When all was said and done over the weekend, it was one of the more reserved freshman's actions that spoke the loudest for the Wolverines.

Michigan left wing Geoff Koch sealed the deal for the Wolverines against both Ohio State and Bowling Green, tallying two game-winning goals. The goals were the first two of Koch's career, and were key to Michigan's four-point weekend.

"I'll take what I can get at this point," Koch said, following his goal Friday night.

But instead of taking what came to him yesterday, Koch forced the issue in overtime, skating through the zone and pushing the puck past Ohio State goaltender Jeff Maund for the victory.

The goal may have been all Koch could have gotten - but for the Wolverines, it was all they needed.

Coach Herr: While Michigan left wing Matt Herr remains off the ice with a groin injury, his role during games has changed over the past few weeks.

Since Michigan's 3-2 home victory over Ferris State on Nov. 14, the senior captain has been down on the bench with the rest of the Wolverines, as opposed to in the press box. Michigan coach Red Berenson invited Herr down to the ice the night of the game, and he jumped at the opportunity.

"Coach came up to me and said, 'Would you like to come down?', and I said, 'Yeah, I'd love it,'" Herr said. "It helped me get more into the game."

Now, Herr sees things from a different perspective - one he doesn't seem to enjoy as much.

"After the game, coach said to me, 'Now you know how hard it is,'" Herr said. "I sweat more on the bench than I do on the ice."

Since that game, Herr has been on the bench during road games at Ferris State in Grand Rapids a week ago, Bowling Green on Friday and Ohio State yesterday.

Roses on ice: In the wake of the Michigan football team's 20-14 win over Ohio State on Saturday, a number of dedicated Wolverine fans made the trip to Columbus yesterday to catch the hockey game - as well as gauge the reaction of the Buckeye faithful to the Ohio State loss on Saturday.

Rather than shy away from the journey into the proverbial lion's den, some members of the Michigan hockey band pressed on.

"We usually go to one or two road games a year," Kinesiology junior Michael Ball said. "We especially wanted to come to Columbus to see the reaction after (Saturday)."

And it was quite a reaction they received as the group proudly paraded around the rink with roses raised in the air.

"Oh yeah, we've been getting a lot of shit from people," Ball said. "Usually we don't like to taunt people, but it's good to be back on top."

Fortunately for Ball and his friends, the same could have been after the hockey game - at least against Ohio State.

11-24-97