Michigan
Minnesota
U-M Set for Series Finale at Minnesota on BTN Friday
2/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
• TV: Big Ten Network | Live Stats | Live Audio | BTN2Go
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The No. 6-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (20-4-5, 10-2-3-2 Big Ten) closes out a two-game series at Minnesota (16-14-0, 11-4-0-0 Big Ten) tonight (Friday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m. CST) at Mariucci Arena.
• With a win, the Wolverines would earn their first two-game series sweep at Minnesota since Feb. 18-19, 1977. Last night, junior forward Alex Kile notched his first career hat trick, Kyle Connor added a pair of goals, and Steve Racine made 31 saves to lead Michigan to a 6-2 win over the Gophers, U-M's first win at Minnesota since Nov. 28, 2008, a 6-3 victory in the College Hockey Showcase (was 0-5-0 in previous five games). Earlier this season, the Wolverines split a two-game series on Dec. 11-12 at Yost Ice Arena, with Michigan winning 8-3 in the opening game, followed by a 3-2 loss on Dec. 12. In the Dec. 11 contest, Kyle Connor became the first U-M freshman to record a hat trick since Michael Woodford (12/29/01).
• Beginning in 1993, the Mariucci/Renfrew Trophy was created as an award for the winner of the annual Michigan-Minnesota game or series. Should Michigan earn a win or tie tonight, the Wolverines would claim the trophy. The trophy is named after legendary coaches John Mariucci of Minnesota and Al Renfrew of Michigan. U-M has won the trophy nine out of the 20 times it has been awarded. Renfrew passed away on Nov. 10, 2014 at the age of 89.
• The Michigan-Minnesota rivalry is a battle between the No. 1 (Minnesota) and No. 2 (Michigan) winningest programs in college hockey. Minnesota is Michigan's second oldest rival, with the first meeting taking place on Jan. 23, 1923 (L, 2-0) at Minnesota. The Gophers have the most wins against Michigan than any other team in college hockey, with a 135-122-15 record against the Wolverines. Michigan head coach Red Berenson played his first collegiate game at Minnesota on Feb. 5, 1960 (L, 6-3).
• Junior forward Tyler Motte saw his 12-game goal-scoring streak come to an end last night. It was the longest goal-scoring streak by a U-M player in the Red Berenson coaching era (since 1984). Motte did record an assist to extend his point streak to 13 games, and is six points away (94 points, 46G, 48A) from becoming the 85th U-M player to hit 100 points. Junior forward JT Compher and senior forward Cristoval 'Boo' Nieves, reached the century mark earlier this season, with Compher becoming the first junior to hit 100 points since Carl Hagelin (2010).
• JT Compher (2A last night) and Kyle Connor (2G last night) are in the midst of 18-game point streaks, with Connor notching 41 points (21G, 20A) and Compher recording 36 points (10G, 26A) in that span.
• The 18-game streak by Compher and Connor is the longest at U-M since Mike Knuble's 21-game streak in 1994-95.
• In 18 games since playing together for the first time on Dec. 4 vs. Wisconsin, Michigan's top line of LW Kyle Connor, C JT Compher and RW Tyler Motte -- The CCM Line -- has been on fire. In addition to Compher and Connor's point streaks, Tyler Motte has recorded points in 16 of 18 games (21G, 15A). In the 18 games they've been togather, the trio has accounted for over half of Michigan's 95 goals (52 goals, 54.7%), and are a combined +92 in that span. Michigan is 13-2-3 since the trio was formed.
• JT Compher (+36, No. 1 NCAA), Kyle Connor (+33, No. 2 NCAA) and Tyler Motte (+31, No. 3 NCAA) lead the nation in plus/minus. They are also 1-2-3 in scoring (points per game) - Connor (1.83), Compher (1.62) followed by Motte (1.55). They are the top-3 point scorers (Connor - 53 points, Compher - 47 points, Motte - 45 points) in the Big Ten.
• U-M is the top-scoring in the nation with an average of 4.83 goals per game. No team in Division I college hockey has averaged over 4.6 goals per game in a season since New Hampshire (4.6 goals per game) in 2001-02. The last team in college hockey to average over 5.00 goals per game was Quinnipiac, which scored 5.42 goals per game in 1999-00. The last Michigan team to average 5.00 goals per game was the 1996-97 team (5.57 goals per game). U-M has topped the five goal mark in 17 of 29 games this season, the most in one season since 2008-09 (17). U-M led the nation in scoring in 2014-15 with an average of 3.86 goals per game.
• In Big Ten play, the Wolverines have 83 goals in 15 games for an average of 5.53 goals per game. Michigan's CCM line has been fantastic in conference action. Kyle Connor has 35 points (18G, 17A) in 15 games - average of 2.33 points per game. Tyler Motte has 33 points (19G, 14A) - average of 2.2 points per game, and JT Compher has 32 points (10G, 22A) - average of 2.13 points per game. They are 1-2-3 in conference scoring.
• Freshman forward Kyle Connor leads all NCAA freshmen and is No. 1 in the nation in scoring with 53 points (26G, 27A). He has the No. 1 scoring average in the NCAA at 1.83 points per game. With his scoring average, Connor is on pace to have one of the most prolific freshman years in Michigan Hockey history, as his current scoring pace is fourth in school history for freshmen, behind only Gordan McMillan (2.24 PPG in 1945-46), Bruno Baseotto (2.00 PPG in 1979-80) and Al Renfrew (1.88 PPG in 1945-46). Connor has the most points by a Michigan freshman in one season since Brian Wiseman recorded 58 points in 1990-91.
• Freshman forward Kyle Connor and junior forward Tyler Motte each reached the 20 goal mark in 22 games. This marks the fastest that a Michigan player has scored 20 goals since Kevin Porter scored 20 goals in 21 games in 2007-08, the year he won the Hobey Baker Award. Both Connor and Motte could become the first pair of Michigan teammates to reach 30 goals since Kevin Porter (33 goals) and Chad Kolarik (30 goals) both reached the mark during the 2007-08 season.
• Junior forward JT Compher added two assists on Thursday and is second on the team in scoring (11G, 36A), surpassing his previous career highs in points (31) and assists (20) earlier this season. Compher leads the nation with 36 assists.
• Steve Racine has been at his best in net over the last four weekends, with the goaltender seeing a high volume of shots (34.00 per game) over the last six contests. Racine is 4-1-1 with a 2.12 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in that span. At 15-2-3, Racine has the No. 2 winning percentage (.825) in NCAA hockey.
• Sophomore defenseman Zach Werenski is the No. 1 scoring defenseman in the Big Ten with 22 points (7G, 15A) in 27 games played.
• Michigan has outscored teams 59-22 in the third period of games this season. The Wolverines can stake a claim as the best third-period team in college hockey, as their scoring margin (+37, +1.28 per game) in the third period is tops among Division I teams.
• At 20-4-5, Michigan has its highest winning percentage through 29 games (.776) since the 2007-08 season, when the Wolverines were 23-3-3 (.845) to start the year.
