Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #15 Michigan 2, Minnesota 2
Records: U-M (6-6-4, 2-3-4-2 B1G), Minn (4-6-4, 2-2-3-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Dec. 8 — vs. Minnesota (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena), 8:00 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The No. 15-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team tied the Minnesota Gophers, 2-2, on Friday night (Dec. 7) on Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena in the opening game of a Big Ten Conference weekend series. The Wolverines were able to pick up the extra point in the B1G standings when sophomore forward Josh Norris scored with 12 seconds remaining in the extra overtime.
“We’ve been in the situation before which is good for the next time we get it, said Michigan head coach Mel Pearson on Michigan’s fifth overtime game in its last six contests. “We’ve learned to manage the puck in 3-on-3 which is also good for us.”
Michigan got on the board early into the first period Norris skated into the zone and dropped off the puck behind him to line mate junior forward Will Lockwood, who ripped a shot from outside the right circle, beating the Gophers goaltender to give the Wolverines a 1-0 lead 6:55 into the opening period. Lockwood’s goal marked his fifth goal of the season, while sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes was also credited with an assist, extending his point streak to ten games that dates back to Nov. 3rd.
“We get a lot of shots and for the most part outshoot every team we’ve played,” said Lockwood following tonight’s contest. “We need to bear down at the net and take advantages of those opportunities. We also need to find ourselves around the net more to get those rebound opportunities.”
Minutes later, freshman defenseman Jack Summers was called for interference which put the Wolverines penalty kill to work. The PK was successful, keeping their lead at 1-0 midway through the first period. The Wolverines and Gophers went back and forth throughout the remainder of the period and the Maize and Blue took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.
Minnesota would even the game at one goal apiece when they fired on a shot on net causing a scramble on the rebound that was eventually poked in by Sammy Walker. The Gophers used the momentum of their first goal and skated into the Wolverines zone three-on-two and fired a shot on net that was redirected into the corner. Minnesota was able to collect the rebound and sail a pass across ice to Rem Pitlick who gave the Gophers a 2-1 lead at the 13:27 mark of the second period.
The Wolverines would respond late in the period when sophomore forward Michael Pastujov stopped Minnesota from clearing the puck out of the zone and found redshirt sophomore forward Luke Morgan in the slot for his second goal of the season, sending Michigan into the locker room with a 2-2 tie at the second intermission.
U-M got their first chance on the power play when Minnesota was called for hooking seconds into the final period, but were unable to break the tie despite multiple chances in the offensive zone.
Junior forward Jake Slaker tried to beat the Gophers netminder glove side late in the third period but just missed and sent a shot off of the post, keeping the game tied at two with minutes remaining.
After sixty minutes of play, the Wolverines and Gophers were still tied at two goals apiece sending the game into overtime. Tonight’s overtime contest marked Michigan’s fourth straight home game in overtime and five out of their last six that has been sent to extra time.
Freshman goaltender Strauss Mann made a sweeping save midway through the first overtime to keep the Wolverines alive. Penalties from both teams late in the period would have U-M and Minnesota playing four-on-four for the last minute and a half of overtime.
The extra five minutes of five-on-five hockey could not produce a winner so the game officially finished as a 2-2 tie. The two teams then played three-on-three to decide which team would pick up the extra point in the Big Ten.
With the two penalties carrying over into the second overtime, the two teams played 4-on-4 until Norris fired a shot at the Gophers goalie who would come up with the save and freeze the puck, forcing the teams to play 3-on-3 for the remaining 1:54 of play.
Slaker had a good look on net late in the second overtime that would ricochet off of the goaltenders mask, keeping the game tied at two with time winding down. With just seconds remaining in the second overtime, the game looked as if it was headed for a shootout until Hughes used the boards to get a pass around the Gophers defenseman which found Norris streaking down the right side for a breakaway.
Norris skated in from the right circle and beat the Minnesota goaltender five hole for the double overtime game winner, giving the Wolverines the extra B1G point.
“Quinn (Hughes) made a good play and banked it off the wall,” said Norris. “I’ve been practicing that move on our goalies so I’m glad it worked out.”
The Wolverines return to Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday (Dec. 8) to take on the Gophers in game two of the weekend series. Puck drop scheduled to start at 8 p.m. and will be televised on Big Ten Network.