Michigan Rallies Past Minnesota to Win B1G Tournament

Saturday, March 19

St. Paul, Minn.

7:00 PM CT

Michigan

24-7-5

Minnesota

20-17-0

Michigan

Minnesota

Michigan Rallies Past Minnesota to Win B1G Tournament

3/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey

Box Score

March 19, 2016

» Zach Werenski, who had four points (G, 3A) on the night, scored the game-winner on a late third-period power play to break a 3-3 tie.
» Kyle Connor was named Most Outstanding Player after notching a four-point night (G, 3A).
» Michigan earned its first-ever Big Ten championship in hockey and its 10th conference tournament championship in program history.
» Michigan finished the night 3-for-4 on the man advantage and went 6-for-9 on the weekend on the power play.
» Connor, JT Compher, Werenski and Steve Racine were named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.

• Boxscore | Photo Gallery
• Kornacki Postgame Feature: The Stories Behind Ice Hockey's B1G Tournament Title

Site: St. Paul, Minn. (Xcel Energy Center)
Event: Big Ten Tournament (Final)
Score: #7 Michigan 5, Minnesota 3
Records: U-M (24-7-5), MINN (20-17-0)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, March 20 -- NCAA Selection Show (ESPNU), Noon

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Trailing by a goal in the third period, the No. 7-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team blitzed Minnesota with three straight goals to earn the school's first-ever Big Ten championship in ice hockey with a 5-3 win over Minnesota in the conference tournament final Saturday night (March 19) at Xcel Energy Center.

Freshman forward Kyle Connor, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, had a goal and three assists, including the game-tying goal early in the third period. Sophomore defenseman Zach Werenski (G, A) notched the game-winner on a late power play in the frame, and junior forward Tyler Motte sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final minute.

Senior goaltender Steve Racine made 30 saves to earn the win in net.

Connor tied the game at 3:28 of the final frame, his 25th straight game with a point. Junior forward JT Compher fired a quick cross ice pass to Connor alone in the slot. Connor got Minnesota goaltender Eric Schierhorn (30 saves) to commit, skated around the goalie and fired into an open net to tie the game at 3-3.

Later in the period, Minnesota's Jack Glover was called for holding at 14:42, putting the Wolverines on their fourth man advantage of the game. Werenski took a pass from Compher and fired a quick wrist shot from the high slot over the shoulder of Schierhorn at 15:27 to give Michigan the 4-3 lead.

Motte's empty-net goal at 19:37 sealed the win, and the Wolverines mobbed Racine once the final horn went off.

In a fast-paced opening period, Racine was sharp early, before play settled. He made a good early stop on Tommy Novak's wrap around at 4:42 and made a shoulder save on Steve Johnson's wrist shot from the left circle at 8:40.

Michigan capitalized on its first power play after Minnesota's Ryan Reilly was called for boarding junior forward Max Shuart at 9:32.

Motte gave Michigan an early lead on the ensuing power play on a great second effort at 10:27. Connor found him alone at the goal mouth, and he jammed his own rebound over the shoulder of Schierhorn for his 30th marker of the season.

In the second period, Michigan's power play went to work again after a hooking call on Minnesota's Justin Kloos in the opening minute of the frame. Compher had trouble with the initial pass from Werenski but skated behind the net and jammed in his own rebound on the short side at 1:31.

The Gophers answered at even strength on a rush up ice as Vinni Littieri skated behind the Michigan net and quickly found Leon Bristedt in front at 6:35. Bristedt found the top corner on a one-timer to cut the Michigan lead to 2-1.

At 10:21, Minnesota's Jake Bischoff scored on a wraparound after Kloos appeared to interfere with Racine, knocking him off balance and out of the crease. The play was upheld after a short review, and the game remained tied at 2-2.

Michigan took its first penalty of night at 15:19, a slashing call on freshman Cooper Marody. The Gophers converted on the man advantage to take their first lead of the night as Kloos fired in a one-timer off a feed from Novak at 16:50. But the Wolverines responded with a championship-winning effort in the third period.

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