Michigan
0-1-1
Clarkson
1-0-1
Michigan Falls to No. 11-Ranked Clarkson
10/12/2019 11:31:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Strauss Mann stopped 26 of 29 shots he faced.
» Nick Pastujov scored his first goal of the season, his 17th career tally.
» Jake Slaker and Nick Blankenburg picked up assists on the Pastujov goal.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #11 Clarkson 3, Michigan 1
Records: U-M (0-1-1), Clarkson (1-0-1)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Oct. 18Â -- vs. Lake Superior State (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team got a goal from Nick Pastujov, but the Wolverines were unable to overcome an early deficit and fell, 3-1, to No. 11-ranked Clarkson on Saturday night (Oct. 12) at Yost Ice Arena.
The Wolverines (0-1-1) started the game with shots early and often on Golden Knights goaltender Frank Marotte over the first four minutes. Michigan's best early chance came when graduate transfer Jacob Hayhurst ripped a wrist shot off the post and junior forward Dakota Raabe barely missed on a backdoor feed from a streaking linemate. Clarkson (1-0-1) struck first for the second straight night when it capitalized on Michigan's near-misses to take a 1-0 lead on a goal by Adam Tisdale 11:46 into the opening period. The Golden Knights ended the period attacking Strauss Mann's netmouth, but Clarkson could not put another past the sophomore netminder before the first period ended. After 20 minutes, Michigan led in shots, 12-9, but trailed, 1-0.
The second stanza brought more end-to-end action with both netminders continuing their strong play. Mann made a key stop deep into the period when a Wolverine breakout over-skated the puck and left the Michigan goaltender to stand tall on a Clarkson two-on-none opportunity to keep the deficit at one. Despite outshooting the Golden Knights, 11-9, in the middle frame, the Wolverines still trailed by one goal as they headed into the locker room for the second intermission.
The Golden Knights extended their lead in the final period when a scrum in front of the Michigan crease caused a loose puck to bounce to a Clarkson forward who put the puck into the net with 16:24 left in regulation. Three minutes later, the Wolverines' power play converted on a chance to get the home side on the board when a Golden Knight player was sent off for roughing after the whistle. It took only eight seconds for sophomore defenseman Nick Blankenburg to find senior Jake Slaker at the point. Slaker fired a shot off the Clarkson goaltender that was slammed home by Pastujov for Michigan's first goal of the evening at the 6:33 mark of the third period. The score remained 2-1 until Clarkson regained a two-goal lead with 5:22 left in the game.
A Michigan boarding penalty with 4:46 left in regulation put the Golden Knights on the power play until the end of the game. Michigan outshot the reigning ECAC champions for a second consecutive night, 37-29, but could not overcome the early deficit. The Wolverines went 1-for-5 on the man-advantage while their penalty killers held Clarkson scoreless in four opportunities. Michigan cut the gap on faceoffs with a strong third period in the dot, 13-8, but lost the overall battle, 33-26.
Michigan will return to non-conference play next Friday and Saturday (Oct. 18-19), when Lake Superior State comes to Ann Arbor for a matchup of ex-CCHA foes at Yost Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. both nights, and the games will be streamed live on BTN Plus.
