The hard way

Call them Cardiac Kids. Call it heart-attack hockey. Or just call it exciting.

The Michigan hockey season had some of the closest shaves of any team in any season. Michigan could have easily lost any one of the 21 one-goal games this season.

Fortunately for them, the Wolverines took 16 of those 21 - including the NCAA championship game - and tied one other game. Each of the last three games came down to a single score.

Basically, the season could have gone either way. Here's a breakdown analysis of 21 not-so-easy ways to win a national championship:

1. Oct. 10 - Michigan 4, Minnesota 3

MARGARET MYERS/Daily Bobby Hayes and the rest of the Michigan hockey team played 21 one-goal games this year - and won 16 of them, including the national championship game.

In the season opener, the Wolverines upset the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis after falling behind by two goals.

Minnesota coach Doug Woog previewd the entire Michigan season: "One play here, one play there, the score could be a lot different."

2. Oct. 17 - Colgate 2, Michigan 1

At Yost Ice Arena, Michigan's 36-game unbeaten streak at home was snapped.

3. Nov. 1 - Michigan 4, Alaska-Fairbanks 3

After Michigan fired away to a 4-1 lead, the Nanooks surged back, only to fall short in front of their home crowd.

4. Nov. 8 - Northern Michigan 1, Michigan 0

A scoreless game turned Northern Michigan's way with about 4:30 left to play in Marquette.

The Wildcats - picked to finish 10th in the CCHA - were surprising everyone early, including the Wolverines.

5. Nov. 15 - Michigan 3, Ferris State 2 (OT)

Bill Muckalt's goal off a faceoff gave Michigan the dramatic come-from-behind overtime victory at Yost.

6. Nov. 16 - Michigan 3, Ferris State 3

The very next day, the Bulldogs and Wolverines tied at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. Although outshot in the extra period, 6-0, the Wolverines held on and came away with a tie.

7. Nov. 22 - Michigan 3, Ohio State 2

Long before the Buckeyes started their Cinderella run, they were already giving the Wolverines fits. After Geoff Koch's overtime goal gave the Wolverines the victory in Columbus, Berenson said: "We knew we'd be a heart-attack team, and I guess we proved that tonight."

8. Nov. 28 - Michigan 4, Minnesota 3

The Wolverines rallied from a 2-1 deficit and handed the Gophers another loss in the first game of the College Hockey Showcase at Yost.

9. Nov. 30 - Michigan 3, Wisconsin 2

In the second game of the Showcase, the Wolverines upset the sixth-ranked Badgers at Yost.

Marty Turco made a crucial save late in the final period with the Wisconsin goalie pulled to give the Wolverines a weekend sweep. It was becoming clear that close games were going to be a recurring theme.

"Heart-attack hockey - we're playing it every week," Berenson said.

10. Dec. 12 - Michigan 2, Western Michigan 1

The Wolverines edged out the Broncos at a neutral site - Grand Rapids. The Wolverines found out that it would be difficult to defeat the lowly Broncos when not at Yost.

11. Dec. 27 - Michigan 3, St. Lawrence 2

At Joe Louis Arena in the first round of the Great Lakes Invitational, the Wolverines outshot St. Lawrence, 47-17. They needed a late Josh Langfeld goal for the victory.

12. Jan. 10 - Michigan 4, Western Michigan 3 (OT)

Bubba Berenzweig's overtime goal propelled the Wolverines to victory over the last-place Broncos.

Said Berenzweig about beating the cellar-dwellers: "The thing is, this is probably the most exciting goal I've ever scored in my life."

13. Jan. 24 - Miami (Ohio) 4, Michigan 3

The Wolverines were swept away by the seventh-ranked RedHawks in Oxford.

The Wolverines scored with 58 seconds left in the game, but were unable to muster a fourth goal.

14. Jan. 31 - Michigan 5, Notre Dame 4 (OT)

With the Wolverines leading 4-1 at Yost, Berenson put in backup goalie Gregg Malicke in the third. The defense collapsed and Malicke allowed three goals sending the game into overtime. Fortunately for the Wolverines, Greg Crozier recorded a hat trick, including the game-winning goal in overtime.

15. Feb. 27 - Ferris State 2, Michigan 1

At Yost, the Bulldogs finally broke through against the Wolverines with a late third-period goal, virtually ending Michigan's chance at a regular-season conference title.

16. March 7 - Michigan 1, Notre Dame 0

A first-period goal by Muckalt was all Turco needed in the season finale.

17. March 14 - Michigan 2, Norte Dame 1 (OT)

Heart-attack hockey? This was it - Michigan was on the verge of elimination in the first round of the CCHA playoffs after losing Game 1 to the Irish. The Wolverines were rescued by a Bobby Hayes goal with just a minute left in the first overtime.

18. March 15 - Michigan 4, Notre Dame 3

To cap off the weekend and win the first round of the CCHA playoffs, Michigan rallied from two goals down to win on a Scott Matzka goal.

19. March 27 - Michigan 2, Princeton 1

In the first round of the NCAA West Regional at Yost, the Wolverines needed a fluke goal by Mark Kosick to hold off the upset-minded Tigers.

20. March 28 - Michigan 4, North Dakota 3

It this game wasn't at Yost, Michigan might not have been able to rally. But as it was, the Wolverines rallied from two goals behind - twice - and upset the defending national champion in the NCAA West Regional finals.

21. April 4 - Michigan 3, Boston College 2 (OT)

At the FleetCenter with the NCAA championship on the line, the Wolverines trailed 2-1.

Fighting an antagonistic crowd of more than 18,000 fans and a team that hadn't won a national title since 1949, Kosick scored to send the game into overtime. Langfeld's overtime score gave Michigan its second title in three years.

04-09-98