Michigan
1-1-0
Clarkson
2-0-0
Wolverines Settle for Weekend Split in Loss to Clarkson
10/7/2017 10:50:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Michigan went 5-for-6 on the penalty kill.
» Hayden Lavigne made 16 stops in his season debut.
» The Wolverines will return to Yost Ice Arena for their home opener on Friday, Oct. 20, vs Vermont.
Site: Potsdam, N.Y. (Cheel Ice Arena)
Score: Clarkson 3, Michigan 0
Records: U-M (1-1-0), Clarkson (2-0-0)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 20 -- vs. Vermont (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
POTSDAM, N.Y. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team was unable to recover from two early goals in a 3-0 loss to Clarkson University on Saturday night (Oct. 7) at Cheel Ice Arena. The Wolverines will head into their home opener on Friday, Oct. 20, against Vermont with a 1-1 record.
"In some regards, we played better tonight than we did last night," said head coach Mel Pearson. "Some nights the puck just doesn't go into the net for you. I thought we created some great opportunities, but we got behind early, even though I thought we were the better team early on."
Clarkson jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the opening stanza. After killing off a Michigan power play, the hosts jumped on the board off the stick of Dylan Gareau at the 12:40 mark. In the ensuing minute, Terrance Amorosa converted the Golden Knights' first man-up opportunity of the contest to double their lead to two goals.
The Wolverines had a five-on-three power play in the final minutes of the first period but were unable capitalize despite being in the offensive end for the majority of the two-man advantage.
The Golden Knights increased their lead to 3-0 at 11:40 into the second period when Nic Pierog buried a rebound in front of the net off a Juho Jokiharju shot.
Midway through the third period, Michigan was granted its second two-man advantage of the game but again was unable to capitalize despite multiple shots on net. The best opportunity came on a back-door pass from junior defenseman Joseph Cecconi to classmate Cooper Marody, but an extending Jake Kielly got a leg pad on the puck to preserve Clarkson's lead.
U-M sophomore netminder Hayden Lavigne made 16 saves in the losing effort. Michigan's penalty kill unit was 5-for-6 on the night but was unable to capitalize on any of its eight power-play opportunities.
"We're going to have to continue to work on our special teams, especially five-on-threes" said Pearson. "Those are huge momentum swings in the game -- if we can score one on the power play then we're right back in it. Credit to their goalie, though. He made some huge saves, and that's what you need to do to win hockey games."
Michigan drops to 3-2-0 in the all-time series against the Golden Knights, with its last loss coming on March 15, 1962, in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal matchup in Utica, New York.
The Maize and Blue will have an off week before returning to Yost Ice Arena for the home opener -- a two-game weekend series with Vermont (Oct. 20-21). Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday (Oct. 20) and 5 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 21).
