Treais saves Senior Night for Wolverines

By Bob Miller –

ANN ARBOR – Northern Michigan deserved better Saturday night against Michigan at Yost Arena.

The Wildcats made the long trip from their Upper Peninsula haunts and played the Wolverines nearly even for two straight nights.

For the second straight night Saturday, though, Michigan managed late-game heroics, on this night in the form of a lightning quick overtime goal by A.J. Treais to down Northern Michigan, 3-2.

On Michigan’s traditional Senior Night, it was fitting that senior captain Luke Glendening not only made the key play on the winning goal, he also scored the opening marker for the Wolverines early in the second period. Glendening, who entered Michigan four years ago as a recruited walk-on, forced his way into the starting lineup early in his freshman season and has been a reliable forward ever since.

Justin Florek had a goal and an assist for Northern Michigan to complement Andrew Cherniwchan’s highlight reel goal which tied the game, 2-2, for the Wildcats early in the third period.

“It’s frustrating,” said Northern Michigan head coach Walt Kyle. “We know we did a good job, but you have a guy turn a puck over like that late, and that’s what’s going to happen. We had one line that was minus two. They took the penalty. They gave the power play and you can’t do that. You have to learn that. When you’re playing good teams, small mistakes hurt.”

“They played hard checking hockey and I thought we were careless with the puck and they forced turnovers,” Michigan head coach Red Berenson said. “It was a weekend of turnovers and both goalies made some great saves. I think both teams were lucky at times. We were lucky they didn’t score more and they were lucky we didn’t score more.”

The significance of his team’s Senior Night heroics was not lost on Berenson.

“I know they’re dialed in every night,” said the Wolverine head coach. “But this has to be a special night. And, especially when things weren’t going well. Is it a coincidence that Luke Glendening gets a goal and an assist tonight, on senior night? I don’t think so. I don’t think it was a coincidence that Carl Hagelin saved the night last year.

“So it’s a special night for those players, and they’re the only ones that know what it feels like. The other players, they don’t get it yet. It was a big win for Michigan, it was a great play by Luke Glendening to A.J. to score the winning goal, but in the meantime it was a hard-fought game. Northern played a strong road game and they came from behind and we took that lead with a power play goal and I thought that was a huge goal and then they got that back. There wasn’t much to choose between the teams.”

Treais’ winning goal was started with an adept mental decision by Glendening who hugged the right half-boards hoping to intercept a Northern Michigan clearing pass. Glendening did just that and whipped a cross-ice pass to Treais, who fired a laser from his off-wing from the right faceoff circle on which Wildcat netminder Reid Ellingson never had a chance.

“He just didn’t have anywhere else to go,” Glendening said of the source of the intercepted pass. “He would have had to go cross-ice and that’s tough, especially in overtime. So, I just got lucky, I guess.”

“It’s pretty fitting,” continued Glendening, complimenting Treais. “The way he’s been playing is unbelievable. He has 15 goals now, so he’s tied with (Alex)Guptill at the top of that. He’s been playing well offensively, but he’s been playing really well defensively. I think he was plus two tonight and that’s huge for this team.”

Through his disappointment, Kyle noted his team’s solid effort.

“I like the way we’re playing,” said the Wildcat mentor. “We’ve got to play like that every night now. We didn’t play like that last night.”

With only one weekend left in the regular season, the victory helped edge Michigan up to second place overall in the CCHA standings while Northern Michigan remains tied for eighth with Notre Dame.