Icers win twice - one big, one small

In the blink of an eye, the Michigan hockey team's weekend could have ended in bitter disappointment - even after a blowout road victory on Friday night.

The Wolverines (16-4-1 CCHA, 22-6-1 overall) pulled out a 5-4 overtime victory at home over Notre Dame (8-10-3, 13-13-3) Saturday night, after crushing the Irish, 7-2, in South Bend on Friday.

What turned out to be an exciting finish for Michigan fans on Saturday was nearly a disaster for the Wolverines, who held a 4-1 lead heading into the final period.

Michigan left wing Greg Crozier won the game in overtime with his third goal of the night on a slap shot from the right point.

"It was kind of a broken play," Crozier said. "I just picked up the puck and saw three of the Notre Dame guys going to the net, and I saw the goaltender come out.

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Freshman defenseman Josh Langfeld and the rest of the Wolverines made an impact on the Irish this weekend, as they swept the home-and-home series.

"I just tried to shoot the puck as hard as I can."

With a comfortable three-goal lead in hand, Michigan coach Red Berenson pulled starting goaltender Marty Turco at the start of the third period in favor of backup Gregg Malicke, who had seen action in just five games this season. And with the lineup change, the Wolverines began flirting with disaster.

"I think Malicke came in and had a strong period, but he didn't get the support," Berenson said. The comeback "had nothing to do with Malicke, that was just poor play in front of him.

"It was breakdowns defensively, and the penalty killing was horrendous."

Malicke started the period strong for Michigan, stoning a breakaway attempt by Notre Dame center Ben Simon just minutes into the thrid.

But with a high-sticking penalty on forward Scott Matzka at 6:59, Michigan's penalty-kill woes began. The Irish put in their first man-advantage goal of the game on a one-timer by left wing Dan Carlson on a cross-ice feed from right wing Brian Urick.

Down two goals, the Notre Dame resurgence was in full swing, as the Irish added a second goal just seconds later. Notre Dame right wing Matt Van Arkel skated behind the net and poked in a shot behind Malicke to bring the deficit to one goal with 10 minutes to spare.

With the defense continuing to slip, Michigan forward Scott Matzka was whistled for a high-sticking penalty at 14:57 to give the Irish their third power-play opportunity of the period.

The penalty - a questionable call, Berenson said - was the final push Notre Dame needed to complete the comeback, as defenseman Mark Eaton knotted the score at four from the point.

But with four minutes left in the contest, the Irish weren't about to concede an extra period. Notre Dame had Michigan on it's heels, and it pressed harder.

Urick took the puck on a rebounded shot and put it in the net, seemingly giving the Irish a 5-4 lead with just 23 seconds left in the game.

But the goal was waved off, as referee Matt Shegos claimed the whistle was blown before the rebounded shot reached Urick, hence calling the play dead.

The break the Wolverines received forced an overtime frame, where Crozier stepped into the spotlight.

Criticized this year by Berenson for his lack of production, the maligned junior completed the first hat trick of his Michigan career with a slapshot from the right point which squirted through the five-hole of Notre Dame goalie Matt Eisler.

"He's a player that we've been waiting for and waiting for and since his freshman year he has not scored the way that we've hoped he could score," Berenson said. "Personally I don't think there should be a big difference between Billy Muckalt and Greg Crozier, but there's been a big difference."

Although Saturday night's performance left Berenson with questions, Friday night's game was relatively straightforward, as Michigan got out to an early 4-1 lead and never looked back.

After going down 1-0 on a goal by Notre Dame left wing Jay Kopischke, Michigan walk-on Krikor Arman tied things up with his first career goal - in his first shift for the Wolverines. Minutes later in the first period, Arman added another goal, to the disbelief of the Wolverines.

"I said to myself this week, 'He's not any better or any worse than about five or six of our forwards.' So we put him in a game," Berenson said. "And he's not."

In addition to Arman, Michigan center Bobby Hayes tallied two points, scoring a goal in the first period and adding an assist in the third on a goal by right wing Bill Muckalt.

JOHN KRAFT/Daily Michigan's Matt Herr had a goal and an assist this weekend in a pair of games against Notre Dame.

02-02-98