The deficit remained at one until Michael Hage tied the game at 7:14 after working the puck down the ice, into the offensive zone, and around a defenseman with a slick toe drag move before burying a low shot. Fantilli earned the primary assist while Stein secured the secondary assist.Michigan appeared to pull ahead at […]
The deficit remained at one until Michael Hage tied the game at 7:14 after working the puck down the ice, into the offensive zone, and around a defenseman with a slick toe drag move before burying a low shot. Fantilli earned the primary assist while Stein secured the secondary assist.Michigan appeared to pull ahead at 10:46 when a Gopher turnover ended up in the back of the net. Nick Moldenhauer skated in on the right flank while protecting the puck with his frame before dishing it over toward the center lane where Hallum was coming to a stop. The puck deflected off his skate and into the net, and Minnesota challenged the play for a kicking motion. Following an official review, the referees determined that Hallum’s stop constituted a kick and the goal came off the board.
The teams failed to register a game-winner in overtime before advancing to the shootout, where T.J. Hughes was the lone goal scorer to clinch the extra point, as Michigan racked up four points on the weekend.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 12th-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team scored in the third period to tie the game and force a 2-2 tie with fourth-ranked Minnesota, while winning the shootout 1-0 to earn the extra Big Ten point on Saturday night (Feb. 15) at Yost Ice Arena.
The teams exchanged power plays, but neither team found the back of the net before regulation expired.
Michigan (17-12-3, 11-9-2 Big Ten) flew out the gates for the second period to tie the game 13 seconds into the frame. U-M caused a quick turnover before Luca Fantilli secured the puck while skating south in the defensive zone and slipped a pass between his legs for Josh Eernisse to look up the ice. The junior quickly found Hughes dashing north with a breakout pass that Hughes was able to catch after working it through his skates while crossing the blue line. He got the puck onto his blade as he beat his defender, then snapped a shot past the netminder to make it 1-1 with 19:47 left in the second.
With the score still tied 2-2 after 65 minutes of play, the game advanced to a shootout. Minnesota’s woes in the skills contest continued, as Hughes scored a lone goal by coolly depositing a backhand shot into the top corner of the net to set up a chance for Stein to close the door with a third save. The netminder obliged, denying the shot from a Gopher captain to lock up a critical fourth point in the weekend series.
In the extra session, U-M put together a litany of dangerous chances as they worked to generate a game-winner, but none found the back of the net.
Graduate senior Logan Stein was terrific en route to First Star of the Game honors. He stopped 33 shots and collected his first-ever point, assisting on Michigan’s second goal.
The equalizer from Hughes extended his active point streak to 15 games, the longest streak so far this season across college hockey. Following the tally, the teams settled into a fast-paced playoff-style game. Neither side could pull ahead before the buzzer sounded to end the period.
The situation grew more complicated for the Wolverines when William Whitelaw was sent off for elbowing behind the net to hand Minnesota on a second power play at 13:55. This time, Michigan’s penalty killers stood tall to dismiss the chance.
Minnesota (21-7-4, 12-5-3 Big Ten) started strong off the opening whistle and built up a 6-0 lead in shots on goal in advance of the first penalty of the night, called on Mark Estapa to give the Gophers a power play at 5:41. The visitors took advantage of the chance by potting their first power-play goal of the weekend at 6:59 to take a 1-0 lead.
In the third period, Minnesota matched Michigan’s start from the preceding frame to produce a chance and score 13 seconds out of intermission. With the goal, the Gophers took a 2-1 lead.
Michigan will be off next weekend as the conference’s lone team on a bye before hitting the road against top-10-ranked Ohio State. The longtime rivals will face off on Thursday and Friday (Feb. 27-28), and both games will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Puck drop for Thursday is set for 8 p.m., while the regular-season finale will begin at 6 p.m.
» T.J. Hughes scored to extend his NCAA-best point streak to 15 games before winning the shootout with a backhanded tally.
» Michael Hage used a highlight-reel individual effort for a game-tying goal in the third period.
» Luca Fantilli assisted on each of Michigan’s goals to cap off a three-point weekend.
