Michigan
8-11-1, 1-5-0-0B1G
Minnesota
13-5-2, 5-1-0-0B1G
Wolverines' Comeback Bid Falls Short at No. 9 Minnesota
1/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Jan. 14, 2017
» Steven Merl scored his first goal in the Maize and Blue, and Evan Allen recorded his first goal of the season.
» The Wolverines went 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
• Boxscore 
Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Mariucci Arena)
Score: #9 Minnesota 4, Michigan 2
Records: U-M (8-11-1, 1-5-0-0 Big Ten), MINN (13-5-2, 5-1-0-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Jan. 20 -- vs. Michigan State (Yost Ice Arena), 6:30 p.m.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team was unable to avoid a weekend sweep despite a heroic comeback attempt, falling to Minnesota, 4-2, in Big Ten Conference action on Saturday night (Jan. 14) at Mariucci Arena.
After trailing 3-0 midway through the third period, freshman forward Steven Merl mounted a comeback attempt with his first collegiate goal as he took a pass from sophomore forward Brendan Warren and took a shot from the far right hashmark. Senior forward Evan Allen proceeded to cut the deficit to 3-2 at the 14:22 mark on a deflection from classmate Nolan De Jong's shot from the point.
Despite Michigan generating multiple scoring chances early in the opening stanza, Minnesota cracked the scoreless tie first with three seconds left in the period. Vinni Lettieri capitalized on a Gophers power play with shot from the top of the right faceoff circle to give the hosts an early 1-0 edge.
Michigan had its best opportunity for an equalizer near the end of the second period when Allen received a pass on the far side of the net, but his shot was stopped by Gophers net minder Eric Schierhorn.
The hosts doubled the lead with 42 seconds left in the second period on a shot from Ryan Collins from the point that made its way through a crowded front of the net, extending Minnesota's lead to 2-0.
Less than a minute into the final period, Minnesota added to the lead (3-0) as Lettieri scored his second of night on a penalty shot opportunity. Lettieri registered an empty-net goal -- his third marker of the game -- with 22.7 seconds remaining in the game to put the game out of reach for the Wolverines.
While killing a penalty, Warren was hooked on a breakaway opportunity and was awarded a penalty shot at the 13:14 mark of the third period, but his shot sailed just over the crossbar.
Freshman goaltender Hayden Lavigne stopped 24 shots in the loss.
With the loss, Michigan falls to 123-138-15 all-time against the Gophers, who are the Wolverines' second-oldest rivalry, dating back to 1923.
Michigan will return to Big Ten Conference next weekend in a home-and-home series with Michigan State. Friday (Jan. 20), the Wolverines will host their in-state rival at Yost with a scheduled 6:30 p.m. puck drop and then will travel to East Lansing on Saturday night (Jan. 21) for a 7 p.m. showdown. This will be the second time seeing Michigan State, as U-M defeated the Spartans, 5-4 in overtime, at Joe Louis Arena to claim third place in the 52nd Annual Great Lakes Invitational on Dec. 30.
Communications Contact: TJ Garske
