Michigan
9-6-0, 7-6-0-1-0-0
Notre Dame
7-7-1, 5-5-1-0-1-1
Second-Period Scoring Spree Propels U-M to Win Over Notre Dame
1/21/2021 9:59:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Owen Power contributed three assists for his first career playmaker.
» Erik Portillo made 29 saves to secure his second victory in as many weeks.
» Michigan's 5-1 win snapped its four-game losing streak against Notre Dame.
Site: South Bend, Ind. (Compton Family Ice Arena)
Score: #8 Michigan 5, #16 Notre Dame 1
Records: U-M (9-6-0, 7-6-0-1-0-0 B1G), ND (7-7-1, 5-5-1-0-1-1 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Jan. 22 -- at Notre Dame (South Bend, Ind.), 6:30 p.m.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Kent Johnson scored a pair of goals, Owen Power collected three assists and the the the No. 8-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team rode a four-goal second period scoring wave to a 5-1 victory over No. 16 Notre Dame on Thursday night (Jan. 21) at Compton Family Ice Arena.
The win ended a four-game losing skid against the Fighting Irish. It also ran U-M's win streak to three games, during which it has outscored its opponents, 14-3, in those three games.
Freshman goalie Erik Portillo started in net for Michigan (9-6-0, 7-6-0-1-0-0 B1G) in the front half of a two-game series for the second consecutive week. Facing early adversity on the road, U-M killed off back-to-back penalties in the middle of the opening period. With Notre Dame (7-7-1, 5-5-1-0-1-1 B1G) starting the night 0-for-2 on the power play, U-M settled into its game, but the contest was scoreless after one period.
Fresh out of the locker room, Michigan scored 1:12 into the second period after Owen Power received a pass at the point and ripped a shot on goal. The puck was deflected past the Irish netminder, and video review confirmed Thomas Bordeleau altered the shot's trajectory with his stick blade to beat the netminder, put the Wolverines ahead, 1-0, and extend his point streak to seven games. Brendan Brisson picked up the secondary assist on Bordeleau's marker.
After the Fighting Irish followed up Bordeleau's goal with a minor penalty, Philippe Lapointe collected his first career goal on the ensuing power play. Power carried the puck into the offensive zone on the man-advantage before Matty Beniers took the baton in the high slot and continued U-M's rush toward the Notre Dame net. Beniers maneuvered the puck into the blue paint where Lapointe was waiting on the doorstep to bang in the rebound and give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead.
Cam York scored with 3:12 left in the period off a dazzling end-to-end rush. The sophomore blueliner started the play from below the U-M goal line after a save by Portillo, skated 200 feet down the ice, wheeled around the ND net, and popped out in front where he ripped a quick wrist shot from inside the dot to put the Wolverines up, 3-0.
With 27.7 seconds left in the middle stanza, Beniers found classmate Kent Johnson skating through the middle of the Irish zone on an odd-man rush. Johnson received the puck and kept skating, patiently waiting for his opening as the Notre Dame goaltender sprawled out to make the save. With the netminder on his back, Johnson casually flipped the puck into the net for his fifth goal of the year. Luke Morgan also picked up an assist on Johnson's fifth goal of the season.
Michigan's offensive outburst resulted in a 4-0 lead after two periods. The Wolverines also outshot the Fighting Irish, 22-17.
U-M started the final frame by taking, and killing off, its third minor penalty of the evening. Halfway through the period, Power collected his third assist of the game when a shot of his was tipped in for a goal by Johnson, his second of the game. Nick Blankenburg scooped the secondary assist on the Wolverines' fifth goal.
Portillo's shutout hopes were dashed with 5:08 remaining in the game when a Notre Dame defenseman Matt Hellickson placed a precise wrist shot over the freshman's shoulder from inside the dot. With the score at 5-1, the Wolverines put the finishing touches on a decisive victory.
After the final horn sounded, Michigan earned a crucial three points in the Big Ten to boost U-M past Notre Dame and into sole possession of third place in the Big Ten standings. Portillo stopped 29 of 30 shots faced to secure his second career win.
Friday night, the Wolverines and Fighting Irish will face off for the final time in the regular season. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network.
