U-M Hockey Season Ends with 8-5 Loss; Johnson to NHL

By Sean · Monday, March 26, 2007 · 12:26 AM |  Share | Leave a Comment 

So you thought being shipped out West was bad? Well, there was a way to make the expereince a million times worse.

The Michigan hockey team opened its hopes of making it to the Frozen Four Saturday night against North Dakota. This game was about revenge as North Dakota beat Michigan 5-1 a year earlier in the opening round. In the same situation, Michign would look to make a different result.

Early on I truly thought the result would be different. After only one minute into the game, Michigan led 2-0 after a pair of quick goals. I actually remember saying that it’ll take more than that with Sauer in the net. Unforutnately, I was right now the money. Michigan gave up a goal but then scored again to take a 3-1 lead. This is where things went downhill. North Dakota scored 3 straight to take a 4-3 lead into the locker rooms after one period.

I was shocked at this point seeing as Michigan led and dominated the Fighting Sioux yet trailed 4-3. This was just the tip of the iceberg. The Wolverines again came out and scored a pair of quick goals. The Wolverines now led 5-4 and I thought all was well with the world again. Then the usual bad things happened and Michigan trailed 7-5. It was over from that point.

In the third period Michigan had to score two goas to make up the deficit. The referees had different plans. Throughout the game Michigan was getting called for penalty after pentaly, but the worse one came when T.J. Hensick was sent off the ice with a 10-minute misconduct after, umm, I’m not exactly sure why. I have yet to receive an explanation for why Hensick got sent away with the misconduct. When it actually happened I was watching the end of Kelvin Grady’s game, and after that the announcers never gave a reason but just mentioned that the incident happened.

With Hensick out the game was over and North Dakota went on to win 8-5 after adding an empty net goal. Let’s recap how the last week or so has gone. Michigan beats Michigan State and loses to Notre Dame to finish in 2nd place in the CCHA Tournaemnet. Despite that, U-M gets sent to Denver and MSU to nearby Grand Rapids. U-M gets absolutely jobbed against North Dakota to be eliminated after only one game. MSU is now in the Frozen Four after beating Notre Dame.

Before you accuse me of making too many excuses, I will say that Michigan played like absolute crap against North Dakota. I have never seen such weak defenese, especially from Sauer. He was worse than worse on Saturday. Also, if Michigan would’ve beaten Notre Dame in the CCHA Finals, this wouldn’t have been a problem, but it doesn’t matter now. The season is over and still things aren’t going right.

This news doesn’t come as a shock to anyone, but it still sucks to hear.

Michigan star defenseman Jack Johnson is negotiating a contract with the Los Angeles Kings today, ending speculation of whether the sophomore would forgo his two remaining years of eligibility.

Johnson confirmed his departure in an exclusive interview with The Michigan Daily this afternoon.

“I thought I was ready for a new challenge,” Johnson said. “With all my close friends, the seniors, gone now and everything, I thought it was time for me to pretty much go for a new challenge.”

Johnson will be in the Kings’ lineup on Tuesday.

From the rumors going around, Johnson won’t be the only player to leave early. Add that with the seniors leaving and things aren’t looking great for next season, at least in a star power sense of things.