Michigan
Minnesota
Legg's Wild Goal Sparks Wolverines in Comeback Win Over Gophers
3/24/1996 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Munn Ice Arena)
Event: NCAA West Regional (Final)
Score: Michigan 4, Minnesota 3
Records: U-M (32-7-2), MINN (30-10-2)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, March 28 -- vs. Boston University - NCAA Semifinal (Cincinnati, Ohio)
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Sparked -- and woken up -- by one of the best goals ever scored in an organized ice hockey game, the University of Michigan rallied to defeat the Minnesota Golden Gophers, 4-3, Sunday (March 24) in an NCAA West Regional contest before 6,043 spectators at Munn Ice Arena. The victory enabled Michigan to advance to the NCAA Frozen Four for the fourth time in five seasons. The Wolverines (32-7-2) will meet Boston University at 8 p.m. Thursday evening (March 28) in Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum.
The game-turning goal, a lacrosse-like wraparound effort from junior center Mike Legg, tied the game at two goals apiece 7:06 into the second period. Up until that point, Minnesota (30-10-2) had carried the play and forced Wolverines goalie Marty Turco to hold his team in with a series of sensational first-period saves.
Legg's goal -- scored after he scooped the puck on his stick blade behind the Gophers goal, skated in front and curled it just under the crossbar and past the glove of Minnesota goalie Steve DeBus -- provided the Wolverines with a surge, and they outplayed the Gophers from then on.
Legg's scoop-and-score
It took another dramatic moment, however, followed by a lucky carom, for the Wolverines to qualify for the Frozen Four.
After the teams traded goals in the third period (Warren Luhning for Michigan, Casey Hankinson for Minnesota), Bill Muckalt scored the game-winner with 2:01 left in regulation. From behind the net, Brendan Morrison, despite being checked by two Gopher defenders, managed to sweep the puck in front to Muckalt, who deked DeBus and deposited the puck past the sprawled Gopher netminder for his second goal of the game.
In the final 40 seconds, the Gophers pressured the Wolverine net, and Michigan survived a flurry and puck deflecting off the left post.
Turco was brilliant, none more so than in the first period, when the Gophers outshot the Wolverines 13-3, the fewest shots Michigan has generated in a period this season. Turco made a fortunate glove save on Casey Hankinson with an entire half of the net open.
Michigan scored three times on five power-play opportunities, and Minnesota countered with one power-play goal in six tries. The only two equal-strength goals of the game were the final two goals.
Goal Descriptions
#1 -- Nick Checco dove after the puck in between Marty Turco and Steven Halko and chipped it in. Checco (Trebil) at 3:38 of first period (shorthanded) -- 1-0 MINN
#2 -- Bill Muckalt grabbed the puck in front after a deflection off a skate and shoveled a shot between Steve DeBus' pads. Muckalt (Morrison, Halko) at 8:32 of first period (power play) -- 1-1 TIE
#3 -- Jay Moser jammed the second rebound shot past Marty Turco during a Gophers' flurry. Moser unassisted at 11:56 of first period (power play) -- 2-1 MINN
#4 -- From behind the Minnesota net, Mike Legg flicked the puck on his stick, skated in front and wristed it in. Legg (Madden) at 7:06 of second period (power play) -- 2-2 TIE
#5 -- Warren Luhning snapped in a point-blank shot after the puck dropped at his feet. Luhning (Morrison, Muckalt) at 7:33 of second period (power play) -- 3-2 U-M
#6 -- Casey Hankinson blasted a shot from the left wing circle that sailed past Marty Turco and inside the left post. Hankinson (Larson, Zwakman) at 14:59 of third period -- 3-3 TIE
#7 -- Bill Muckalt accepted Brendan Morrison's tremendous centering pass and stuffed in a close-range shot. Muckalt (Morrison) at 17:59 of third period -- 4-3 U-M
Postgame Quotes
Michigan Coach Red Berenson
"I like our team. I think they realize as much talent as there is, it takes hard work and it doesn't come easy. The Brendan Morrisons, John Maddens and Kevin Hiltons are great players, but it takes everyone going together."
"Minnesota had the edge in the first period, but we expected that. They had the game yesterday to get their legs going. We got back in the second, and it was anyone's game in the third period."
On Mike Legg's unbelievable goal ... "It was a huge goal. That put your sense of humor to test."
"We just weren't quick enough out of the zone in the first period. We were a step behind. You'd have to ask the players. They seemed a little nervous."
U-M Junior Center Mike Legg
On his goal ... "I tried to use gravity to flick the puck on my stick. I learned the play from Bill Armstrong, who used to play at Western Michigan and now plays for the (Detroit) Vipers. He taught me how to do it. You have to be alone behind the net and I was. I gave it a shot."
Reporter to Legg: "Have you played lacrosse?"
Legg: "I've never played lacrosse."
Bill Muckalt: "I have, and I've never scored a goal like that."
U-M Sophomore Right Wing Bill Muckalt
On his game-winning goal ... "Brendan (Morrison) gave me a real nice feed, and I hung onto it and was fortunate it went in."
"We were (on the losing end) last year. I've been through it. I don't want it to happen again. There were two good teams out there, and it's sad there has to be a loser."
U-M Sophomore Goalie Marty Turco
On his first-period performance (11 saves, many on difficult shots) ... "I was trying to keep them off as long as I could. In a situation like this, we might've had the jitters. They had some sustained pressure. They also had a lot of power plays."
On Minnesota's final chance that deflected off the post ... "It caught the back of my jersey and rolled off my shoulder. It was big sigh of relief, that's for sure."
