Michigan 1 - Ferris State 1 (Shootout Win)
Record: 13-18-3 (9-15-3 CCHA)
"So all year we have been complaining about goals against and our goalies. I think it is pretty clear tonight that our goalie won us the game -- he was the difference in the game. Good for Steve Racine, good for our team, and good for our seniors."
- Red Berenson
I would like to start this post by thanking our seniors for everything they have done the past four years at Michigan.
Tonight was one of the slowest, scrappiest, dirtiest, worst officiated games I have seen in a long time and by some stroke of luck Michigan left Yost with a win.
The game started out the way it finished last night, with a penalty and that's how it would stay for the rest of the game. A Kevin Lynch goal at 7:59 in the first was all the action that we would see for almost twenty more minutes. The officials called this game so tight the pace grinded to a halt, even a 10 minute misconduct to Jacob Trouba couldn't speed things up for Ferris State.
The difference in the game was Steve Racine standing on his head. Other than a soft goal halfway through the second period Racine had the best game a Michigan goalie has played all season, that's a statement I made last night but his performance was nothing short of spectacular. Ferris put the pressure on late getting some great breakaway chances but Racine shut the door, in the shootout stopped all three FSU shots to send the seniors out with a win.
Thoughts
This wasn't a typical game for Michigan so this section will be together. This has to be one of the best games Michigan's blueline has played all year, as well as our best game all around defensively. It gives fans something to think about for next year and we still could have a lot of hockey left to play this season. We have reached the point everyone expected us to be at to start the year, and the point no one expected us to be in two weeks ago. As cautious as I am to say this, things are looking up in Ann Arbor.
Next Game: NMU at Michigan March 8th, 9th and 10th