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Ann Arbor, MI- Teams are rated #1 for a reason. Eastern Michigan experienced that Penn State is a team that is just playing unrealistically outstanding. Oh btw, Penn State won the hockey game 7-4 in front of a loud, vocal crowd for BOTH sides!!! I have a ton to say about both teams in this game, so just be prepared. =)

The first period of this game started off terribly for Eastern Michigan. Penn State started off the game flying with THREE goals in 8 1/2 minutes. The first two goals of the game were rather disappointing for Eastern because they weren't very solid goals. The Penn State player would shoot the puck, and the puck would just squirm right by Sam Horton. I'd assume that it was mostly caused due to a huge amount of nerves and emotions being shot through him. The third goal was also very flukish for PSU. The Penn State crowd was clearly enjoying themselves. However, Penn State continued to take some stupid penalties early on, and EMU took advantage on a goal scored by R. McNamara. When this happened something amazing happened in the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, the EMU crowd was leaping, screaming at the top of their lungs, with the EMU Fight Song blaring in the background. "Take That PSU." You could tell that the players were gaining some momentum from hearing the roar of their own crowd. 1 minute later, EMU was shorthanded and Dane Dresch found a way to sneak by the rest of the PSU team and scored another goal for EMU. The EMU crowd went beserk again! I remember clearly telling my grandfather: "This will be quite a game." EMU then was pressing for the tying goal, but couldn't do so. The EMU crowd celebrated louder than I had heard in 3 years of going to Hockey at the Cube, when they were losing by a goal to #1!

The second period of the game started off the same exact way that the last two years have gone for EMU. Eastern has the momentum going into the period and Coach Battista takes 5 minutes over the break to get PSU their adjustments properly aligned for the next period. Eastern Michigan and Penn State before entering the locker room for the second period had a slight scuffle and Eastern Michigan's Robert McNamara got a 2 minute penalty for Charging. Before Eastern Michigan was settled in for the second period of the game, Penn State striked 1:01 in with a Power Play Goal. Then, in front of the net of Eastern Michigan's goal, an Eastern Michigan player turned the puck over and Penn State shoots the puck past Horton for a second goal and a three goal lead. Eastern Michigan got back in the game briefly 11 minutes later on a Power Play Goal scored by Kellermeyer. The EMU crowd was back into the game, and EMU was back in the game. However, the devastating death blow was shot at EMU with 17 seconds left in the Second Period, as Zuck finished off his Hat Trick at the most inopportune time for Eastern Michigan. The EMU crowd was out of the game and the PSU crowd was going nuts again. However, that didn't take long to change.

I will be quite honest, Hell broke lose at the end of the second period. An Eastern Michigan player was thrown in front of the Penn State bench with 5-6 Penn State players beating up the player, and I believe I even saw a coach of PSU push at the EMU player as well. This was happening as the EMU team was leaving the ice. The EMU players stopped to talk to the Referee Brian Chessman about what was happening, the EMU crowd was going nuts. Then, the most irrate and idiotic thing I have ever seen in the world happened. Two absolute idiots from Penn State University decided to taunt the EMU crowd. What the hell ever happened to playing fair and playing with some dignity and honor? The EMU Hockey Band then started to flick off the Penn State players as they were leaving the ice. Please note, I do not condone this is any manner, but it was deserved. What really made me irate was that the Penn State coach Joe Battista was continually whining about something. It was going to be an amazing period of hockey. Two misconduct penalties were given, one to Dane Dresch, Eastern Michigan's leading scorer and one to Hirsch. What a fair trade right? Hirsch scored 1 goal in his 19 games. No offense to his ability, but I think EMU got jipped. Perhaps I got the entire thing wrong, but from my stand point that was what I saw. Please inform me of any mistakes.

The third period of the game started off again very interestingly. Penn State with their amazing adjustments scored a goal 1:31 in. However, it took Penn State 5 minutes to get on the ice after the break went? Eastern Michigan was then shut down for most of the rest of the period to win the game. Mike McNamara scored a goal 9:41 in to cut the lead to 3 goals, but Graham was just in a groove for Penn State University, played amazingly to stop EMU from doing anything. Penn State won the game and celebrated at the center ice at the Cube for the third year in a row.

Last year at this time of the year, I wrote on the hockey101.com forums a very simple response after the OT loss. It was simple, I gave Penn State a ton of respect for their fans being extremely well-behaved, for having a good team that showed a lot of dignity on the ice, a head coach who seemed fired up to coach and was just a high class organization. Well, it looks like a certain posse of Penn State players decided to forget that fact and start to show a lack of class by attacking an EMU player as the team was going to the locker room, and then taunting the crowd. Ridiculous. The coach, whining to the referee for some reason. For what? 

Penn State has a well coached hockey club. They were always in the right positions on the ice, they passed extremely crisp, their coach pulls the right buttons during the intermissions. It seemed like Penn State had 10 guys on the ice against Eastern Michigan's 5. One other thing I liked about Penn State was how they didn't give the goaltender Sam Horton a chance to breathe. Penn State would bring 4 guys to attack the net, beautiful.  Penn State would also sacrifice their bodies for the team, by saving their goalie a lot of wear and tear. This is a wonderful team that definitely earned the #1 seed in the nationals. To be honest, if this team plays perfect out at the Nationals every evening of the tournament, I don't know how they will get beat. However, there are holes in this Penn State team. To beat Penn State you need to do three things:

1) Let Penn State lose their control and get you fired up. You'll get free Power Plays, and you must take advantage of them. Don't lose your own composure as well.
2) Play an aggressive game of hockey, go after them and be patient. Get in front of the net, and swarm in front of Graham. Graham is a fantastic goalie, but no goalie can stop everything.
3) Strike Early. Do NOT let Penn State get control early on in any period of the game. Win the face-offs and strike, strike, strike!!

Eastern Michigan put up a great fight against Penn State but did a lot of stupid things to prevent them from winning this game. Eastern Michigan wasted two 5v3's by taking a stupid penalty in frustration. Eastern Michigan also started every period off in this game very slow, thanks to Penn State. Eastern turned the puck over right in front of their net, and did a lot of dangerous things directly in front of Horton. 

I would also like to compliment every last Eastern Michigan student, parent, player or fan that was there. It was a wonderful atmosphere to hear the Eastern Michigan crowd that intense for this game. It was really cool sitting in the middle of all of the Eastern Michigan fans in which when EMU scored a single goal would just go absolutely nuts. Heck, we had people standing behind, we had the EMU Band. It was the best atmosphere I've ever seen at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube in three years. I just wonder EMU can't do this every time.. Perhaps it was the time at 4:30 in the afternoon. Who Knows? I just loved it.

I would also like to wish Sam Horton a lot of credit for doing everything in his power to keep Eastern Michigan in this game. You played absolutely wonderful, and I especially admired the way in which despite giving up those three early goals how you maintained your composure to play a very good game, despite the 7 goals given up. 

It was a wonderful game, but it was not nearly as good as the past two years because of the lack of class from the Penn State hockey players and their coach. I would like to salute the Penn State fans for being well-behaved and motivated throughout the game. Although, I will admit the "We Are.. Penn State" chant was a bit weak. =) I really hate to say it, and I mean this, but I am rooting against Penn State at the Nationals because of their lack of class on the ice. They tarnished a very entertaining and emotional game. 

To get this off of my back, the only reason I am whining about the Penn State taunting the EMU fans is very simple, it is really a lack of class and respect. I think any ordinary fan would understand my perspective on this, it's ridiculous. 

Looking Ahead:
Eastern Michigan will try to get back to the winning track after a rough second half of the season for two vital games against Kent State on the road. They will come back to Michigan for the final two regular season games of the year against Michigan-Dearborn, Friday at Dearborn, Saturday, Senior Night at the Cube. 

The next two weeks will determine Eastern's position in the CSCHL Tournament out in St. Louis. I have a hunch that good things will happen out there. The National Tournament is in Laurel, MD being hosted by Towson University.

Until next time, Go Green.

B
Reasoning: The offense caught a rhythm at different times throughout the game, and at others completely lost it. Penn State's defense did a wonderful job stopping EMU. The offense had the plays and the opportunities but just couldn't take advantage of it. 

B
Reasoning: The defense played an average game. The Penn State offense just made so many wonderful plays. EMU didn't seem to sacrifice themselves as much as possible, but they played well enough.

C
Well, 10 Power Plays... 3/10... They didn't really take that much of an advantage of the power plays that Penn State presented. The penalty kill only could manage stopping PSU twice. Better luck next time.

B+
Horton played well despite the seven goals.

B
Reasoning: EMU played a decent game and gave PSU a battle. Penn State's players tarnished the game, and tarnished the grade.

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