Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena)
Score: Michigan 5, Michigan State 3
Records: U-M (11-11-6, 7-7-4-2 B1G), MSU (10-14-5, 6-9-4-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 9 — vs. Michigan State (Little Caesars Arena), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan defeated in-state rival Michigan State tonight, 5-3, at Red Berenson Rink inside Yost Ice Arena on Friday night (Feb. 8) in the rivals’ 318th all-time meeting.
“The team’s playing well and we are starting to score some goals, which we struggled with in the middle of the season,” said junior alternate captain Jake Slaker.
The Wolverines cracked the scoresheet first just 3:32 into the contest when sophomore forward Jack Becker opened up the scoring by burying a rebound off a Quinn Hughes shot from the top of the right circle to put Michigan ahead 1-0. Junior forward Will Lockwood also picked up his 11th assist of the year on the tally.
The Spartans struck late in the period on a 3-on-2 rush to tie the game at one, beating junior goaltender Hayden Lavigne with a quick wrist shot from the slot at 17:48.
At 2:52 of the second period, sophomore Michael Pastujov gave U-M a 2-1 lead when he converted a one-timer from the low slot. Slaker controlled the puck behind the net before backhanding a pass to Pastujov who was waiting on the doorstep to deposit a quick one-timer through the Spartan netminder’s five hole. Jimmy Lambert picked up the secondary assist on the marker.
Becker netted his second goal of the game, shooting the puck past Michigan State’s Drew DeRidder from the slot at 14:36 of the second period. Lockwood and Nick Blankenburg tallied assists on the goal.
“Jack (Becker) was in the right place at the right time,” said head coach Mel Pearson. “It’s good to see him get some goals, and hopefully this will give him some confidence.”
At 17:51 of the second period, Jack Summers ripped a shot from the left point that hit the stick of a falling Lockwood and was redirected into the back of the Spartans’ net to give U-M a 4-1 lead heading into the final frame.
MSU tallied their second of the game to pull within two at 4:10 of the third period.
After a long review for goaltender interference, Pastujov was awarded his second goal of the night at 12:40 in the third period to put U-M ahead 5-2. Slaker threw the puck on net after receiving a pass from junior defenseman Griffin Luce and Pastujov crashed the net to jam the rebound home while the MSU goaltender was falling to the ice from incidental contact. The goal was Pastujov’s fifth in three games after coming off a three-goal weekend at Minnesota.
Michigan State closed out the scoring with its third goal at 15:19 of the third period for a final score of, 5-3. Lavigne ended the game with 20 saves while Michigan State’s DeRidder collected 31.
“The puck went in for us tonight and we finally got some separation,” added Pearson.
Michigan extends its record in the overall series to 160-134-24, while improving to 75-44-5 against MSU at Yost.
Tomorrow night (Feb. 9), the two rivals will reunite in the Motor City for their annual “Duel in the D” matchup at Little Caesars Arena where the “Iron D” trophy will be back up for grabs. Puck drop for tomorrow’s contest will be 7:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit.
