Hayes returns, leads charge through messy game

COLUMBUS - It was nice for the Wolverines to get some Hayes back into the lineup.

No, not hazing, the torture that has made some fraternities famous, but center Bobby Hayes's return to the ice.

The senior, who served his mandatory one-game suspension Thursday night for a game disqualification, came back with some much-needed leadership to give the Wolverines an extra boost.

"It's good to have Bobby Hayes back. He's one of our top players," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "When crunch time comes, Bobby is on the ice for us."

Well, crunch time felt like the entire 65-minute battle between Michigan and the Buckeyes last night.

DAVID ROCHKIND/Daily Justin Clark and the rest of Michigan hockey team limited Ohio State's power play attack on Saturday. The Wolverines snuffed out all eight of the Buckeyes' power play opportunities in the 1-1 tie.

But unlike at some points this season, Hayes helped Michigan in the area it needed the most help - offense.

"I though I created a little more offensively than usual," Hayes said. "We got several chances to win tonight."

As usual, Hayes slowed down one of the Buckeyes' top players, Chris Richards, who scored the only goal in Michigan's earlier loss to Ohio State.

Nearing the end of the second period, Hayes stoned Richards, who had an open slot on to the left of Michigan goalie Josh Blackburn, preventing Ohio State from knotting up the score.

"I wasn't playing their top line tonight, but I played against Richards on their second line, and he's a pretty good player," Hayes said.

Hayes also helped lead a penalty kill that had a little more work than usual.

With ice chips and bits causing more hazards than Michigan roads' potholes, both teams struggled on the power play.

"Power plays are all passing, make three or four passes and you get a good shot," Hayes said. "But tonight we had to hold the puck a little longer."

Michigan had a few opportunities early, but as the ice deteriorated, the man-advantage just seemed to mean that one less player missed passes or fell down.

Due to the large number of penalties called by referee Roger Graff, power play time didn't mean much, as both teams failed on all of their chances.

Ryn-less: Without sophomore defenseman Mike Van Ryn out with a calf muscle injury, the other Michigan defenders had a little tougher job in stopping the Buckeyes.

Berenson inserted Kevin Magnuson in Van Ryn's place, and he along with the rest of the defense stoned the Buckeyes for much of the game.

"I'm so proud of my defense tonight," Berenzweig said. "We did a great job, and I'm happy with Blackburn's play."

The young netminder was on top of his game all night, making some spectacular saves when he needed to. Blackburn held the Buckeyes to only one goal after giving up three or more in the past five games.

The Michigan defense helped Blackburn's cause, blocking several shots and keeping the lanes clear for its goalie to work.

"We had a good talk with the defense about blocking shots and how, if you're not sure you're going to block it, just get out of the way," Blackburn said. "I'm not going to let it in from the point."

Gus Macker Hockey: For about a minute in the second period, Michigan and Ohio State battled 3-on-3 thanks to Graff and his incessant penalty calling. Due to the size of the Value City Arena rink, players should have been in for a marathon of endurance hockey, but due to the sketchy ice, it looked more like pee-wee hockey than a spread-out finesse war.

"You don't see (3-on-3 hockey) very often," Berenson said. "Sometimes it gets very exciting, sometimes nothing happens, and tonight nothing happened. But again, bad ice means the puck bounces over your stick."

Berenzweig said that while they sometimes the Wolverines practice three on three, last night's action wasn't as open as he thought it would be.

"We actually do a little 3-on-3 in practice just in case it happens," Berenzweig said. "But (tonight) it wasn't as open as I thought it would be. Usually you see people getting breaks right and left."

It still tired at least one Wolverine out.

Jeff Jillson could barely skate to the Michigan bench after the wide-open skating marathon.

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