Michigan
13-12-2, 8-9-2-1B1G
Wisconsin
13-13-4, 7-9-3-1B1G
Wolverines Hold on in '90s Night Thriller Against No. 18 Badgers
2/3/2018 12:11:00 AM | Ice Hockey
» Jack Becker recorded three points (1G, 2A), recording his first career game-winning goal.
» U-M's special team units went 6-for-7 on the penalty kill and capitalized on two power play chances.
»Tonight's victory marks the third straight win for the Wolverines at Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #20 Michigan 5, #18 Wisconsin 3
Records: U-M (13-12-2, 8-9-2-1 B1G), WIS (13-13-4, 7-9-3-1 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 3 -- vs. Wisconsin (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 20 University of Michigan ice hockey team defeated No. 18 ranked Wisconsin, 5-3, on Friday night (Feb. 2) at Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena. The victory marks the third straight home win for the Wolverines.
Wisconsin opened up the scoring early in the first period, cracking the scoreboard just 3:33 into the game. The goal came off of a quick pass from the right corner to the center of Michigan's defensive zone, where Wisconsin's Trent Frederic snapped his shot into the net.
Michigan was able to draw a Wisconsin penalty at the 10:55 mark and quickly took advantage of the opportunity when freshman defenseman Quinn Hughes passed to fellow defensive partner junior Joseph Cecconi at the blue line. Cecconi entered the zone and got a powerful shot off into the top left corner past the Wisconsin goalie (11:49) to tie the game at 1. Shortly thereafter, junior forward Cooper Marody entered the zone and sniped a shot top-shelf left, which put Michigan up, 2-1, at the 14:10 mark.
With 2:53 left in the first period, senior defenseman Sam Piazza made a blue-line to blue-line pass to freshman forward Jack Becker, who quickly chipped it off to sophomore forward Jake Slaker. The alternate captain slid the puck between the netminder's pads for his 11th goal of the season, giving U-M a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
The second period started off with a quick pace and after going 3-for-3 on the penalty kill, Michigan answered with a goal by Becker at the 14:43 mark. His fifth goal of the season came after a pass in the corner from sophomore Adam Winborg, which sent Becker up the left side of the offensive zone where he snapped a shot off despite being surrounded by three Badgers.
Wisconsin's best opportunity in the second period came at the 6:53 mark, when Linus Weissbach received a cross-crease pass but the shot was denied by sophomore goaltender Hayden Lavigne.
The Badgers refused to let the game slip away and came out strong in the third period. Wisconsin scored at the 8:07 mark off a shot from the right side, making it 4-2. The Badgers continued to threaten the lead late into the third period, when their extra attacker, Ryan Wagner, scored a power-play goal off a one-timer from Weissbach with 4:16 remaining in the contest.
Michigan did not back down and continued to play strongly in the defensive zone to hold the lead. The Wolverines' hard work finally paid off when freshman forward Dakota Raabe scored an empty-netter with 1:00 remaining on the clock to secure the 5-3 victory.
The two teams will be back in action Saturday night (Feb. 3) to close out the season series. Puck drop is slated for 7:30 p.m. The contest will be an ALS Awareness Game in honor of former Wolverine Scott Matzka '01, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2015. To learn more about Matzka's story visit www.ScottMatzka.com.
Slaker, Raabe and Lavigne at the post-game presser. #GoBlue https://t.co/RSSbDjSjVC
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) February 3, 2018
