March 22, 2008

Final Stats  l Notes | Quotes | Tournament Central

DETROIT, Mich. - Junior netminder Billy Sauer backstopped the No. 1-ranked Wolverines to a 2-1 victory over third-ranked Miami, making 27 saves in the contest as U-M claimed the 2008 Mason Cup Saturday (March 22) at Joe Louis Arena.

Never trailing in the game, Michigan captured the eighth CCHA title in program history with the victory and its first Mason Cup since 2005. The Wolverines garnered both the regular-season and postseason championships for the sixth time as well.

Freshman forward Ben Winnett garnered the game's first quality scoring chance when he snagged a long pass and skated in alone on junior goalie Jeff Zatkoff. Winnett deked twice, but his wrister was blockered aside by the MU netminder.

Miami was given back-to-back power-play opportunities but could not muster a single shot on goal in the four-minute span.

With time winding down in the opening period, Miami had two chances to put the puck in the net, but Sauer stymied both attempts to keep the game scoreless. With Sauer on the opposite side of the net, senior left wing Ryan Jones wrapped the puck around the back, but the U-M netminder dived across the goal mouth to deny the shot. The rebound trickled out of the crease, where it was flicked back toward Sauer by freshman forward Pat Cannone. Sauer sprawled out to make the save, keeping the disc under his pads and out the net.

Freshman forward Aaron Palushaj's ninth goal of the 2007-08 campaign allowed Michigan to pull out to a 1-0 lead. Junior defenseman Mark Mitera chipped the puck up to Palushaj, who relayed it on to freshman Matt Rust. The center gained the zone and waited for Palushaj to catch up to the play, then slid a perfect pass across the front of the net that Palushaj one-timed behind Zatkoff at 7:38.

With the man advantage, Miami poured on the shots, registering four in the two minutes. Cannone grabbed a loose puck and fired a shot on Sauer at point-blank range, but the Wolverine goalie shut the door on the attempt. Junior right wing Brian Kaufman scooped up the rebound, but his chance ricocheted off the post.

Senior center Kevin Porter came within inches of pushing the Maize and Blue's lead to a pair of goals. Porter stole a pass off the stick of junior defenseman Alec Martinez and, shorthanded, raced in alone on Zatkoff. The captain snapped a shot, but the chance was negated by a quick flick of the MU goalie's wrist.

Despite being outshot by a 21-12 margin after two periods of play, Michigan carried the 1-0 lead into the locker room.

Off the faceoff, junior forward Brandon Naurato gave the Wolverines a 2-0 lead at 10:00 of the final period. Junior center Tim Miller won the draw cleanly in the Miami zone, pulling the puck between Miami senior forward Nathan Davis' legs. Miller then slipped a pass to Naurato, who stuffed the puck home for his seventh tally of the season.

Miami ended Sauer's shutout bid at 19:21 with an extra-attacked, power-play goal by Martinez. Senior defenseman Mitch Ganzak dished to Martinez, who rifled a shot that found the back of the net to cut Michigan's lead to 2-1.

With the win, Michigan improves to 31-5-4 on the season, while Miami sits at 32-7-1.

Honored with CCHA Championship All-Tournament team recognition were Tim Miller (Michigan), Matt Siddall (Northern Michigan), Ryan Jones (Miami), Alec Martinez (Miami), Mark Mitera (Michigan) and Jeff Zatkoff (Miami). Miller also earned All-Tournament MVP honors with his 2-2-4 line in the two-game span.