Hirschfeld gives Miami 3-2 win over Michigan
March 28, 2010
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP)—Alden Hirschfeld scored at 1:54 of the second overtimeto give top-seeded Miami of Ohio a 3-2 victory over Michigan in the NCAA MidwestRegional final Sunday night, sending the RedHawks to the Frozen Four for thesecond straight year.
Hirschfeld picked the puck up at the top of the right circle, turned andfired it past goalie Shawn Hunwick. Pat Cannone scored two power-play goals forMiami, Curtis McKenzie had a pair of assists and Connor Knapp made 55 saves.Hirschfeld’s goal was the only even-strength goal Miami scored in the regional.
David Wohlberg had an even-strength goal for Michigan, Chad Langlais added apower-play goal and defenseman Steve Kampfer had a pair of assists. Hunwick made32 saves against Michigan’s Central Collegiate Hockey Association rival.
The RedHawks (29-7-7), who came within a minute of winning the nationaltitle last year before squandering a two-goal lead and losing in overtime toBoston University, will face Boston College (27-10-3) in the semifinals April 8in Detroit.
The loss cost Michigan (26-18-1) a chance to play for the nationalchampionship practically in its own backyard. The Michigan campus is about 45miles from Ford Field.
Knapp also had a nice pad save on a wrist shot by Carl Hagelin with a littleover 9 minutes left in the first overtime as Michigan outshot the RedHawks 20-6in the period.
The RedHawks scored first on a power play, ending a streak of nine straightgames where Michigan scored first. McKenzie was pinned against the boards behindthe net but made a nice backhanded pass out front to Cannone, who lifted thepuck over Hunwick.
The Wolverines tied it 94 seconds later, though. Wohlberg was wide openbetween the circles when he fired a wrist shot that Knapp stopped. But therebound ricocheted off Wohlberg’s leg into the crease and he knocked it in.
The Wolverines took a 2-1 lead in the second period when Langlais scored ona slap shot from the left point. The RedHawks quickly answered when McKenzieskated out from behind the net and fired a shot that Hunwick blocked. But whenHunwick couldn’t cover it, the puck slid across the crease and Cannone slammedit in for his 10th power-play goal.
Miami had a great chance to regain the lead later in the period going on thepower-play for 3:28, including 32 seconds with the two-man advantage, but theWolverines had the best scoring chance on a breakaway by Wohlberg.
Michigan had another good scoring chance in the opening minute of the thirdperiod when Miami turned the puck over in its own zone. But Wolverines scoringleader Louie Caporusso fanned on the shot. The Wolverines had anotheropportunity four minutes into the period when a shot by Lynch went over Knapp’sshoulder and rolled down his back, but Knapp and right wing Trent Vogelhuberkept it out.
Hunwick had a nice glove save on a wrist shot by McKenzie midway through thethird period as the RedHawks finally got some pressure on Michigan. But Hunwick,the CCHA tournament MVP, couldn’t keep Michigan’s postseason run alive. It wasjust his second loss in 10 games since replacing starting goalie Bryan Hogan,who sustained a severe groin injury in late February. One of his best plays wasnot a save when with 5 minutes left he used his skate to stop Cannone fromsliding the puck across the crease while Hunwick was flat on his stomach.
Cannone nearly had a hat trick, but his shot with 3 minutes left hit theright post and was covered by Hunwick.
Knapp started in goal for Miami instead of Cody Reichard, who was the CCHAplayer of the year. Reichard was pulled in the league tournament semifinal gamemidway through the third period after giving up five goals in a loss toMichigan.
