'M' slides by Miami; Blackburn injured

By Ryan C. Moloney

Daily Sports Writer

DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily

Michigan didn't just skate right by Miami. The RedHawks didn't make the sweep easy.

"Exhausting."

If just one word could describe the Michigan hockey team's weekend series with Miami, two games with enough intensity to make up for a week off at Michigan Stadium, coach Red Berenson's post-Saturday press-conference adjective said it all.

Physically exhausting, mentally exhausting. Exhausting to watch, exhausting to play.

And when the dust settled on the ice, and in the stands, the Wolverines had captured both contests with the tenacious-but-snake-bitten RedHawks - 6-2 on Saturday night and 3-2 the night prior.

Despite the outward appearance of Saturday's score, the game was not secured until Jay Vancik's powerplay point shot off an Andy Hilbert faceoff skipped through Miami goaltender David Burleigh's five-hole for the 3-2 lead with 11:10 remaining in the third period.

"We're a long way from playing our best hockey," Berenson said. "We didn't have a great game either night, particularly tonight, but we found a way to win the game and that is important."

Both teams came out of the gate fairly uneven on Saturday night, so much so that the wild and uproarious second and third periods looked like film footage of two different games spliced together.

Mark Kosick netted the game's first goal, setting up in front of the crease and flipping the puck over the shoulder of the butterflied Burleigh for the powerplay goal and a 1-0 lead.

Michigan increased the lead to 2-0 at the 2:02 mark of the second period, when Josh Langfeld skated in untouched on Burleigh's left side, waited for and received a centering pass from John Shouneyia near-side, and redirected the puck by the helpless Miami goalie.

The game was competitive but impersonal until Michigan goaltender Josh Blackburn was knocked down on a rush from Miami defenseman Matt Chandler with 14:17 left in the period.

Then the kettle started to whistle.

Several players exchanged banter and the bad blood spilled over with 2:29 left in the period when Miami's Pat Leahy charged into Blackburn, knocking his shoulder into the crossbar before the net became dislodged.

Blackburn said he was focusing on the puck behind the net and did not see the onrushing Leahy, who appeared to be pushed by Michigan's Jeff Jillson. Blackburn finished the period, but was replaced in the third period by L.J. Scarpace.

"I wanted to stay in but I couldn't have made a glove side save up high. It was best for the team if I stayed out," Blackburn said.

Not a minute later, several players were involved in an altercation in front of the Michigan bench after Mike Komisarek took a baseball swing at the stomach of Miami's Danny Stewart at the end of a play.

Komisarek received a double minor for slashing and roughing. Miami capitalized at the 18:49 mark when Mike Kompon intercepted a lazy defensive clear and skated in alone on Blackburn, burying the puck underneath him to cut the lead to 2-1.

During the play, an incident in the stands was evolving between a student and a Miami parent. The student was later escorted out of the building.

The RedHawks got the early third-period goal they needed when Jason Deskins slid a backhander from the middle of the circles through the five-hole of a cold Scarpace to tie the score at 2-2 at 2:51.

A fierce, up-and-down third period commenced with Miami challenging Scarpace from every angle after Vancik's goal made it 3-2. Andy Hilbert added the insurance with 7:37 left, taking a pass from Scott Matzka near-side, skating in on Burleigh from right to left, then flipping the puck over Burleigh's glove side - all without breaking stride.

Jed Ortmeyer and Komisarek added empty-netters for the final score.

On Friday, Michigan held a seemingly commanding 3-1 lead on goals from Hilbert, Komisarek and Kosick to a goal by Deskins. Miami got a clutch goal off a face off with 2:55 left in the game from Greg Hogeboom to make things interesting, but Michigan held off the six-on-five attack for the win.