Michigan hockey advances to regional final with 3-2 overtime win over Nebraska-Omaha
Michigan hockey players wait for the outcome of a video review of Kevin Lynch’s overtime goal. The goal was ruled good and the Wolverines beat Nebraska-Omaha 3-2 in a West Regional semifinal in St. Louis on Friday night.
Tim Vizer | Icon SMI
The Michigan hockey team sat on the ice at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis for nearly 10 minutes awaiting the referee's decision.
Though it appeared Kevin Lynch had given the Wolverines the game-winner in overtime of their NCAA tournament game against Nebraska-Omaha Friday night, there was no definitive camera angle that could prove it.
Finally, official Chip McDonald skated to center ice and pointed at the face-off circle, signaling a Michigan goal and giving the Wolverines a 3-2 victory.
Lynch said he became more confident the goal would count as the wait grew longer.
"I wasn't sure if it went in or not. I know it went in off of a defenseman. I wasn't sure if it crossed the line," Lynch said in a post-game press conference. "I figured the longer they reviewed the better it was for us. Coach just had us stay focused and keep our heads in the game while we had to wait. I was pretty confident that it was going to go our way."
A replay of the goal was never shown at the arena, but the Omaha World-Herald reports that Nebraska-Omaha was told that a single high-definition replay showed the puck crossing the line behind goalie John Faulkner.
Lynch's goal 2:35 into overtime, a rebound after Greg Pateryn's shot from the point, capped Michigan's eighth come-from-behind win of the season and the third time they've erased a two-goal deficit.
The Wolverines (27-10-4) play Colorado College, an 8-4 winner over top seed Boston College Friday night, in the West Regional final on Saturday (9 p.m., ESPNU)
Nebraska-Omaha (21-16-2) scored a short-handed, breakaway goal on its first shot of the night. Just 95 seconds into the first period, Rich Purslow went five-hole on Shawn Hunwick to give the Mavericks an early 1-0 lead.
Alex Hudson added a goal at the 8:18 mark and Michigan went into the first intermission down 2-0.
The Wolverines caught a break early in the second when Nebraska-Omaha was whistled for boarding barely a minute in. Louie Caporusso netted his 11th goal of the season on the ensuing power play.
"When we were down 2-0, we didn't get down on ourselves. We had the patience and persistence to keep ourselves in this game. We've been here before," Caporusso said.
"I guess when you're tested as many times as we are, you learn from game to game that we have confidence in ourselves game and when were down 2-0, I wasn't concerned about our game."
Lynch tied the game at 2-2 at the 8:36 mark with a one-timer from the left side off of a pass from Chad Langlais. Langlais dug a dump pass out of the corner, then weaved backwards through the Maverick defense before slotting the puck to Lynch.
After a scoreless third period, Michigan successfully killed a boarding penalty on Matt Rust that it was issued just 17 seconds into overtime.
The game winner was the 11th goal of the season for Lynch, who had a goal disallowed in Michigan 3-2 double overtime loss to Miami in last year's regional final.
After allowing goals on two of the first four shots he faced, Hunwick stopped the next 25 he faced for his 20th win of the season.
"The first two goals caught me by surprise. It wasn't because of effort," Hunwick said. "The competition they threw at us was fast and got caught on the back of my skates. I trusted my guys to bring us back. I never lost confidence in them. I knew it was going to take more than two goals to get by me, but I wasn't going to let it happen."
Next up is a Colorado College (23-18-3) team that eliminated defending national champion Boston College behind two goals and two assists from freshman Jaden Schwartz.
Comments
Stephen
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 3:41 a.m.
Two last comments guys then it's time to let this go: first of all, congrats on beating CC and making it to the Frozen Four. Secondly, the guys on this website have been reasonable and for the most part respectful. I've read plenty of other sites where the Michigan fans are whining, conspiracy theorist poor winners. Thanks guys.
Stephen
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 3:25 a.m.
#1 - I always "believed" the goal was a good one - just didn't like how they went about it. #2 - the far end-boards camera on hi-def, with a zoomed-in & enhanced still shot makes it pretty conclusive. However, the refs only had access to that angle, not the zoomed-in & enhanced parts which, IMHO, makes it impossible to be conclusive.
Sparky79
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 4:06 p.m.
Looks conclusive to me! <a href="http://img199.imageshack.us/f/goalo.jpg/" rel='nofollow'>http://img199.imageshack.us/f/goalo.jpg/</a>
Jeff Gaynor
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 1:24 p.m.
"There was reasonable evidence to believe the puck had completely crossed the goal line." - this led to a video review. "the on-ice referees determined through conclusive video evidence that the puck had completely crossed the goal line" - therefore a goal.
V
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 12:43 p.m.
>And there's even more burden of proof on the video when the video judge wants to overturn the on-ice ref's initial decision. The video judge is the on-ice ref who made the initial decision.
Stephen
Sun, Mar 27, 2011 : 1:33 a.m.
yeah, you're right. After re-reading what I wrote it wasn't the most brilliiant statement... was thinking NHL. More reason to doubt that a ref will overturn his own call.
Stephen
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 6:14 a.m.
The rules say there has to be conclusive video evidence that the puck crossed the line entirely. And there's even more burden of proof on the video when the video judge wants to overturn the on-ice ref's initial decision. I don't see that kind of evidence anywhere, including that silly still shot from the far-end end boards camera. If UNO scores that way and the rules committee guy says the refs, in direct contradiction to the on-ice call, had a "reasonable belief" that the puck crossed the goal line you'd be belly-aching too! Either they saw it realtime or on the video replay or they didn't. Simple as that.
GoBlue2009
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 2:21 p.m.
We got screwed against Miami last year. That's how things work. Karma.
ypsimi
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 10:58 a.m.
Re-read your own comment Stephen. The officials on ice had a reasonable belief that the puck had crossed the goal line, thus they went to a video review. "Following video review the on-ice referees determined through conclusive video evidence that the puck had completely crossed the goal line..." Therefore all rules were followed just as you point out. Although you didn't see it cross the goal line, the people making decisions and watching hi-def replays did.
icegoalie
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 4:22 a.m.
Hey Stephen!!! GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!! You like it and you know it! Better worry more about the Broncos tomorrow than spending your time here hating on Michigan...just sayin' Go Blue!
Stephen
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 6:18 a.m.
Funny guy icegoalie! :-) I'm not hatin' on the Woverines, I'm hatin' on the refs, the NCAA & USCHO... and the Broncos! Can't stand 'em. It comes down to the refs policing themselves and the NCAA & USCHO circling the wagons. I don't care who won, but regardless of the sweaters on the ice, you gotta admit that they bent the rules big time.
Stephen
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 4:05 a.m.
From the USCHO's web site: "Steve Piotrowski, the secretary-rules editor of the NCAA ice hockey rules committee, issued a statement after the game: "The officials' initial on-ice call was no goal. There was reasonable evidence to believe the puck had completely crossed the goal line. The play was stopped at the next non-advantage situation to allow an opportunity for the on-ice referees to review the video. Following video review, the on-ice referees determined through conclusive video evidence that the puck had completely crossed the goal line and exited the net by way of the goalie's leg pad."" "...reasonable evidence to believe?" Seriously?? C'mon guys - the rule is 'conclusive video evidence'. You don't make calls based on a "belief".
Sparky79
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 1:40 p.m.
Um, did you actually READ the statement or are you interpreting it the way you want it to read? The statement says, "There was reasonable evidence to believe the puck had completely crossed the goal line." The next line of the statement says, "The play was stopped at the next non-advantage situation to allow an opportunity for the on-ice referees to review the video." Get it yet? (A) There was a belief that the puck may have crossed the line so (b) they stopped play at the next non-advantage situation so they could review the play. It does NOT say they BASED the goal off a "belief." It clearly states late in the statement that the goal was based off "conclusive video evidence," not a "belief" the puck went in. The officials did exactly what they were suppose to do. The puck looked like it might have went in, so at the next stoppage they reviewed it. During the review they felt they had conclusive video evidence to award Michigan a goal and they did. The end.
BigWolverine13
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 3:50 a.m.
The laws of physics are not "probably" correct; they are always correct. The goal was quite certain.
Stephen
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 3:01 a.m.
As a hockey fan/player/coach & DU fan, I have no dog in this hunt except for the integrity of the game. That was lost when the refs ignored the rules and awarded the Wolverines that OT goal. From all the TV angles available, there was NOT ONE that provided undisputable proof that the puck crossed the line. Yes, common sense and physics say it probably did, but you don't count goals that "probably" go in. The standards for overturning the goal ref's initial decision are very high and the video replay didn't meet those standards.
GoBlue2009
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 2:19 p.m.
That long angle from the other end certainly showed it across the line.
RudeJude
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 2:46 a.m.
That picture really captures the excitement of the victory, lol.
BornInA2
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 1:53 a.m.
Go Blue, M Icers! No mention at all in this article about the ten minute review of the game-winning goal? The basketball gets more press on a day when their season is over and the Icers are in the heat of the playoffs. Anyway, the refs made the right call at the end, unlike last year. CC shelling BC right now, looks like they might be our next opponent...
azwolverine
Sat, Mar 26, 2011 : 1:52 a.m.
Go Blue!!! Red and his boys just get it done!