Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena)
Score: Minnesota 4, #15 Michigan 3
Records: U-M (6-7-4, 2-4-4-2 B1G), Minn (5-6-4, 3-2-3-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Dec. 30 — vs. Michigan Tech (Little Caesars Arena – Great Lakes Invitational), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich — The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey fell to Minnesota, 4-3, on Saturday night (Dec. 8) on Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena in the second game of a B1G weekend series with the Gophers.
“This was a tough loss, said head coach Mel Pearson. “Those ones hurt. We told the team after the game that if we play with that effort, that conviction, that energy, and that passion, we will win a lot of games.”
The Wolverines got their first chance on net less than a minute into the game when senior forward Brendan Warren had a breakaway opportunity and was one-on-one with the Gophers’ goalie. Warren deked and tried to sneak the puck under the goalies pads but was turned away. Minnesota countered and went down ice with a head of steam and a shot from Brannon McManus got the Gophers on the board first, 1:08 into the opening period.
Minnesota used the momentum from their first goal and skated into the Michigan zone four-on-three and fired a cross-ice pass to McManus who looked as if he was going to net his second of the game before freshman goaltender Strauss Mann came up with the pad save. The McManus shot rebounded out in front of the net, setting up Sampo Ranta for a tap in to give the Gophers a 2-0 lead, 4:34 into the contest.
Senior defenseman Joseph Cecconi looked to break open the scoring for the Maize and Blue as he ripped a slap shot from the point that was redirected on net by freshman forward Jimmy Lambert. The Minnesota netminder was able to locate the redirect and make the save to keep the score at 2-0.
Michigan was able to get on the board when freshman forward Nolan Moyle blocked a Gopher shot from the point out of the U-M zone and won the battle to the puck. Moyle then found junior forward Nick Pastujov streaking down the ice and in the slot all alone. Nick Pastujov beat the Gophers netminder one-on-one with a backhanded shot that went five hole, halving the Minnesota lead at the 7:43 mark of the first period.
The Nick Pastujov goal sparked the Wolverines as redshirt sophomore forward Luke Morgan fired a shot on net that was deflected behind the Minnesota goal. Sophomore forward Michael Pastujov collected the rebound and wrapped around to find an open net as the Gophers goaltender fell outside of the crease. The Michael Pastujov goal tied the game at two apiece at the 9:26 mark of the opening period.
Sophomore forward Josh Norris nearly broke the tie when junior forward Will Lockwood found Norris through the neutral zone skating into the Gophers zone. Norris’ shot from the right faceoff circle beat the goaltender but not the post as his shot rang off the far pipe, keeping the game tied at two.
The remaining nine minutes of action in the opening period saw penalties from both teams with the Maize and Blue staying on the attack. Michigan tallied 18 shots on net in the opening frame which is the most in an opening stanza this season.
Sophomore forward Jack Becker had a chance to give Michigan the lead early in the second period when a bouncing puck found his stick in the slot for a good chance on net before the Gophers netminder made a blocker save sending the puck into the corner.
The continued pressure from the Wolverines paid off when Norris dumped the puck into the zone sending Lockwood chasing after it. Lockwood was able to beat the Minnesota defense to the puck as he fired a backhand pass from the end line that ricocheted off of the goalies stick and out in front of the net. Norris was in the right place at the right time as he came skating in from the blue line and fired a shot from the left face-off circle to beat the Minnesota goaltender’s glove, giving the hosts a 3-2 lead 6:59 into the second period.
The Michigan power play had two opportunities on the man advantage late in the period but could not capitalize. The Wolverines’ best opportunity came when Michael Pastujov’s shot was bouncing around in front of the net and created three more opportunities for the Maize and Blue that ultimately wouldn’t go.
The Wolverines took a 3-2 lead into the second intermission after outshooting the Gophers 40-19 through forty minutes of play. The 40 shots on net marks the most by Michigan this season through the first 40 minutes. The 22 second period shots on net is the most by U-M in the second period this season.
The first minute of the final period went back-and-forth as Mann was able to stop a Minnesota breakaway, creating a counter-attack for the Wolverines that was stymied on the other end of the ice. As the Gophers regained possession and skated back into the Michigan zone, Tyler Nanne took a shot from the point in front of a crowded net. Mann was able to make the initial save but Tyler Sheehy scooped up the rebound and dropped in the equalizer, 55 seconds into the period.
With time winding down in the final period, the Wolverines looked as if they had clinched the game-winner when Lockwood buried a loose puck that was under the Minnesota goaltenders pads. However, after being reviewed by the officials it was determined that a U-M player had made contact with the goalie and the goal was waved off.
The Wolverines had another opportunity minutes later when Michael Pastujov had his shot from the slot skip off of the goalie’s blocker and hit the post.
Minnesota responded from the Wolverines’ scoring chance and went on the attack. As the Gophers settled into the zone, Jack Sadek fired a shot from the point that went sliding across the ice in front of the net. Brent Gates Jr. got his stick down at the last second and redirected the shot over the shoulder of Mann and into the net, breaking the tie with 1:41 left to play.
Michigan pulled Mann off of the ice for the extra attacker with 1:10 remaining in the game. After multiple shots on net, the Wolverines were unable to even the game and send it into overtime as Minnesota came away with the 4-3 win.
The Maize and Blue tallied 53 shots on net which eclipses the season-high mark they set on opening night when U-M put 50 shots on net against Vermont. The 53 shots are the most since the Wolverines recorded 57 against Penn State on Mar. 12, 2016.
The Wolverines have reached the midpoint of their season and will have a three week break before returning to action on Sunday, Dec. 30 against Michigan Tech in the annual Great Lakes Invitational. Puck drop is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.