This will be, for the most part, a not-quite-as-oft-updated live blog (unless this game gets less crazy …) for the NCAA West Regional game between the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux and the University of Michigan Wolverines.

8:14pm MST – Game is over; we get a rematch of the WCHA Final Five title game for the West Regional final game. 

8:09pm MST – T.J. Oshie gets the empty-net short-handed hat trick goal to put the Sioux up 8-5 and effectively kill any hope of the Wolverines to come back.

Of course, there are two minutes left in this game and anything can happen in this crazy game … 

8:04pm MST – Matt Watkins gets two minutes for tripping with 3:19 left in the third, giving the Wolverines their best chance for a comeback. 

7:55pm MST –  Kampfer probably should have gotten a call for taking down Andrew Kozek – dangerously close to a knee-on-knee hit.

7:50pm MST – Hensick got a 10 minute misconduct for something with about 11:45 left in the third – that hurts the Wolverines. 

7:45pm MST – Seen on the JumboTron – 1st Period: first 5 minutes, 4 goals. 2nd Period: first 5 minutes, 4 goals. 3rd Period: first 5 minutes, 0 goals. 

7:37pm MST – Hey, a minute in and no goals … and the fans here cheer. A few know what had been going on … 

7:35pm MST – Third period under way here in Denver. 

7:19pm MST – UND 7, UMich 5 after two. Shots 23-20 in favor of the Wolverines.  

7:14pm MST – Genoway, two for holding I think I said (stupid internet) at 16:36; Wolverine power play. UND’s Taylor Chorney also went somewhat limping off to the bench after blocking a shot.

7:13pm MST – Attendance 11,171 – ten more people than the first game. 

7:08pm MST – Sioux get a 15 second 5-on-3 – Jack Johnson gets two for not being able to stop and crashing into Lammy. 5:48 left to play in this one; Sioux still up 7-5. 

7:06pm MST – T.J. Hensick with an amazing short-handed breakaway chance, but is stuffed by Lamoureux who tossed the puck away after the save. 

7:03pm MST – Kolarik gets two minutes for hooking down T.J. Oshie on a partial breakaway at 12:27 … and somehow I missed a Robbie Bina hooking call about a 1:10 earlier so we have four-on-four hockey here. 

6:56pm MST – Summers, two minutes for contact to the head roughing … and surprise, surprise, T.J. Oshie scores one for the Sioux – knocked in a Bina rebound. 7-5 Sioux. 

6:50pm MST – Sioux goal scored by Rylan Kaip off a centering pass from Chris Porter at 4:53 – 6-5 UND.

As noted by someone else up here in the press box, this game seems to have had more lead changes than a basketball game.

6:46pm MST – Sioux back on the power play – Summers, two minutes for … something that the announcer didn’t even bother announcing. This time, Robbie Bina takes only five seconds to score a goal to re-tie the game – his shot from the point makes it five-all (T.J. Oshie on the face-off-winning assist).

Random: Are we going to see a team get to double digits in this one?? 

6:40pm MST – Goaltender Philippe Lamoureux took a penalty for slashing right at the end of the first period and, somehow fittingly, Michigan re-ties the game – T.J. Hensick from Kevin Porter and Matt Hunwick … and then re-takes the lead – Lammy in the corner tries to pass the puck; however, Cogliano intercepts it for the easy empty net goal.

For those keeping track at home, yes, the Wolverines have started off both periods with two goals in the opening minute. 

6:25pm MST – This game has been INSANE. 4-3 Sioux after one; shots 13-7 in favor of the Wolverines.

6:22pm MST – Matching minors – Summers for Michigan high-sticking, Miller for UND unsportsmanlike diving at 18:58.

6:18pm MST – 5-on-3 for the Sioux – Matt Hunwick went in for interference. And, as the way this game goes, Sioux goal. Robbie Bina skated down the right side on Sauer and fired it across the crease for Toews who was hugging the post – Sioux take first lead of game; 4-3.

6:17pm MST – Brandon Naurato, two minutes for roughing after the whistle at 17:24 – Sioux power play. For the curious, shots are 9-7 in favor of the Wolverines. A goalie duel this is not. 

6:13pm MST – … Sioux tie it up – T.J. Oshie backhanded it in past Sauer. 

6:07pm MST – Wolverine penalty on Jack Johnson – two for cross-checking … and once again, North Dakota scores – this time, eight seconds into the power play. Brad Miller took a shot from the top of the circle that was tipped in by Porter at 15:26 – 3-2 Wolverines … and yes, it’s still only the first.

5:58pm MST – Score is 3-1; shots are 5-5. Crazy, isn’t it? Also, just spotted an RPI jersey.

T.J. Oshie also gets a penalty for cross-checking at 10:06 of the first. 

5:50pm MST – With the way the this game is going, I’m never going to get my game stories done – T.J. Hensick walks in front of the net from the corner after fighting with Jonathan Toews and fires it past Lamoureux – 3-1 Wolverines. 

5:45pm MST – UND gets the first power play of the game – Chad Kolarik gets two for tripping at 2:27 … and the Fighting Sioux score 18 seconds into the power play – Chris Porter knocks in a rebound off a Chay Genoway shot from the point (that Chris VandeVelde first tried getting past Billy Sauer) – 2-1 Wolverines. 

5:41pm MST – Andrew Cogliano comes barrelling down on Lamoureux, who makes the initial save, but Chris Summers is able to knock the loose puck in the net – 2-0 Wolverines … all within the first minute of play.

5:39pm MST – I just finish that and Michigan gets the early lead – Kevin Porter assisted by Jack Johnson and T.J. Hensick. Completely missed how that one got scored – perhaps off a rebound?

5:36pm MST – Just about to get underway for this one – won’t be as many posts as I try to get my stories from the first game done. Still, I’ll at least keep you updated on goals, penalties and things of that nature.

Michigan’s band is here, but UND brought out neither their band nor their cheerleaders. However, the Sioux definitely have more fans in the building.

Line-up: Fighting Sioux:

Duncan-Toews-Oshie
Watkins-VandeVelde-Porter
Fabian-Kaip-Kozek
Radke-Zajac-Miller
Chorney-Lee
Finley-Bina
Jones-Genoway
Lamoureux

Line-up: Wolverines:

Porter-Hensick-Rohlfs
Summers-Cogliano-Kolarik
Naurato-Miller-Turnbull
Lebler-Ciraulo-Fardig
Johnson-Hunwick
Kampfer-Dest
Cook-Mitera
Sauer 

Saturday, March 24th, 2007 - 7:38 pm | Uncategorized