Blue hockey Showcases its talents on road

MADISON - As many University students returned to Ann Arbor after a weekend of turkey and stuffing, the Michigan hockey team was attempting to stuff Wisconsin yesterday and close out a two-game road trip that gobbled up the Wolverines' Thanksgiving vacation.

But despite many chances, the Wolverines couldn't manage to put the biscuit in the basket on the power play, and it cost them a point in the overall standings as they served up a tie with the Badgers, 1-1.

Wisconsin coach Jeff Sauer emphasized after the game that the Badgers were in sore need of a point, after losing to Michigan State on Saturday and falling below the .500 plateau.

DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily Freshman Mike Comrie scored a key goal against Minnesota on Friday night.

"We needed to win or tie today," Sauer said. "If we lose that game today, it takes an awful lot of stuffing out of us."

The Badgers managed to keep pace with Michigan thanks in large part to Wisconsin goalie Graham Melanson, who stopped 30 of 31 shots, including a backdoor attempt during a Michigan two-on-one break late in the third - a shot that would have put Michigan up 2-1.

Michigan goalie Josh Blackburn also received a healthy helping of shots, saving 21 of 22 in his 12th start for the Wolverines.

The only goals of the game came in the second period, and both were scored at full strength. Michigan captain Bubba Berenzweig put his team up early in the second when center Mark Kosick drew the defense toward him deep in the zone and kicked it out for Berenzweig at the point.

Unbothered by the Badgers, Berenzweig wristed a shot to the lower right corner, sending the puck through the Michigan screen, through Melanson and through the pipes.

But Wisconsin was able to answer back in similar fashion later in the period, when junior forward Dustin Kuk set up freshman blueliner Dave Tanabe for the game-tying goal.

And although both teams had finished scoring for the day, both saved room for a little roughhousing in the second period as well.

With the puck deep in the Michigan zone, a fracas erupted between Michigan's Greg Crozier and Dale Rominski and Wisconsin's Luke Gruden and Tim Rothering.

Crozier and Gruden escaped with 2:00 minutes each, while Rominski and Rothering

both received 4:00 for roughing.

As those penalties were being served, Michigan's Bobby Hayes had his helmet

torn off in a skirmish and was prompted to retaliate. His attempt to carve a

fleeing Badger landed Hayes a 5:00 major, but Wisconsin was unable to convert.

Throughout the game the Michigan power play was also given ample opportunity to

convert, but despite many scoring chances, the Wolverines could finish.

Berenzweig expressed frustration with what is becoming a recurrent problem on

the Michigan power play.

"We couldn't bury the puck, just like usual," Berenzweig said after the game.

But despite the impressive play from both goalies, the game could have ended in

a 2-1 Michigan victory if referee Mike Schmitt had not waived off a first

period goal because of a questionable high stick. The coaches, who both saw the

play, were split on the validity of the call.

"I knew it was a good goal," Michigan coach Red Berenson briefly stated. But

Berenson seemed more concerned about the team's power play woes than the

officiating.

"You walk out of here thinking we should have put our chances in, but you have

to give their goalie some credit."

Although the tie with Wisconsin may not have lived up to Michigan's

expectations, the weekend was not a total wash.

On Friday, the first day of the College Hockey Showcase, the Wolverines

traveled to Minneapolis where they feasted on Minnesota. A 3-2 victory over

the Golden Gophers prompted a little holiday cheer on the day after

Thanksgiving.

Freshman Mike Comrie toasted his sixth goal of the season, while Berenzweig and

Crozier also added to their season totals. The Michigan power play went

one-for-six on the night, and Blackburn played all 60 minutes saving 29 of 31

shots.

11-30-98