U gets bad bounces, thin defense vs. Michigan

Lon Horwedel, AP

Minnesota goalie Alex Kangas swatted the puck away from Michigan winger David Wohlberg during the first period.

The Wolverines were dominant as the Gophers were shut out for the fourth time this season.

By JAMES DOWD, Special to the Star Tribune

Last update: November 28, 2009 - 2:16 PM

ANN ARBOR, MICH. — Having outshot Minnesota 13-5 in the first 18 minutes of play at Yost Ice Arena, it was only a matter of time before Michigan drew first blood on the opening night of the 16th annual College Hockey Showcase.

And once sophomore David Wohlberg found the back of the net with a fluky backhand shot while crossing the goal line, the floodgates were open, and the Gophers fell 6-0 in front of a crowd of 6,729.

The Wolverines (6-7-0) dominated from beginning to end, outshooting the Gophers 32-24, holding Minnesota (4-8-1) scoreless on seven power-play chances and equaling their highest scoring output of the season.

Junior goaltender Alex Kangas made 26 saves, with the majority of the goals coming as the result of tough bounces and sloppy defensive play.

"I thought that [Kangas] made some good saves," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "The first one they put in off of his shoulder and behind him, one went off our skate again, or stick again -- that's kind of how it has gone. We have to score some goals, too, but defensively, in front of him, we gave up far too many odd-man rushes and our [defensemen] got caught up the rink."

Michigan junior Carl Hagelin was the primary beneficiary of Minnesota's lackluster defense, twice splitting the Gophers' blue-liners to score breakaway goals -- once late in the second period and then again, while shorthanded, at 6:58 of the third period.

Sophomore defenseman Brandon Burlon and junior forwards Louie Caporusso -- whose goal deflected off of Minnesota's Cade Fairchild --and Ben Winnett also scored for the Wolverines.

Michigan goalie Bryan Hogan stopped all 24 shots he faced.

"I'm disappointed," Lucia said. "We didn't give ourselves a chance to win tonight. We looked like we had a plate full of turkey in our bellies the way we played. We were sluggish, and we're not a good enough team to come out and play sluggish."

The loss marked the Gophers' fourth consecutive defeat and the fourth time this season that they have been shut out.

Minnesota's offensive struggles have Lucia focused on helping his team get off to quicker starts because scoring just 2.5 goals per game doesn't afford the Gophers much of a margin for error.

"I think once you score a couple, we're not a high-scoring team," Lucia said. "That's the fourth time we've been shut out this year in 13 games, so if you get down by three or four, you're not going to come back and win that game."

After winning six consecutive matchups with Michigan, including four in the College Hockey Showcase from 2003-06, the Gophers have now fallen to the Wolverines in the showcase contest three years in a row.

The U will complete the tournament Saturday night with a game against No. 7 Michigan State at Munn Ice Arena in East Lansing, Mich.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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