Michigan
8-2-0, 3-1-0
Michigan State
4-5-1, 1-3-0
Michigan Earns Sweep of Michigan State Behind Beniers' Two-Goal Game
11/6/2021 11:49:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Matty Beniers scored two goals to put the finishing touches on a four-goal weekend.
» Owen Power chipped in two assists to set up the Michigan's first two goals.
» Erik Portillo made 18 saves on 20 shots faced to secure his eighth win of the year.
Site: East Lansing, Mich. (Munn Arena)
Score: #3 Michigan 3, Michigan State 2
Records: U-M (8-2-0, 3-1 B1G), MSU (4-5-1, 1-3 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Thursday, Nov. 11 -- at Penn State (State College, Penn.), 8:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- For the second game in as many nights, Matty Beniers scored a pair of goals to pace the Wolverines' offense as the No. 3-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team held off Michigan State 3-2 on Saturday (Nov. 6) at Munn Ice Arena.
Erik Portillo was strong between the pipes, making 18 saves in his eighth win of the season.
Michigan (8-2-0, 3-1-0 Big Ten) is off to its best start since 2007-08, when eventual Hobey Baker-winner Kevin Porter led the Wolverines to a 22-2 start.
Michigan took an early lead for the second straight night after a long shot from Owen Power was deflected by Luke Morgan off the iron and into the back of the net just 44 seconds into the contest. Morgan had positioned himself near the crease between the dots in anticipation of a shot from Power at the point. Garrett Van Wyhe also assisted on the game's opening goal.
Halfway through Michigan's second power play, Beniers settled into the high slot and threaded a rocket through traffic to double the U-M lead at 11:31. Power and Jimmy Lambert assisted on Beniers' third goal of the weekend.
Less than two minutes after Beniers' first tally, he scored again to put Michigan ahead 3-0 and secured his second consecutive two-goal game against Michigan State (4-5-1, 1-3 Big Ten). Kent Johnson collected the primary assist for getting the puck to Beniers, while Nick Granowicz picked up the secondary helper.
After 20 minutes, the Wolverines led MSU 3-0, powered by a 12-6 advantage in shots on goal. On special teams, U-M closed out the first period 1-for-3 with the extra skater, while MSU had not earned a power play.
That changed quickly, as Steve Holtz was assessed a minor penalty 45 seconds into the second period. MSU failed to capitalize on the ensuing power play, it's first of the night.
As play carried on, the teams traded penalties, but each failed to convert until MSU's top line scored at even strength with 1:36 remaining in the middle period to make it 3-1.
MSU trimmed the deficit to one goal just 2:18 into the third period when they banged a rebound past Portillo to make it 3-2.
The final 17:42 of the game was played at a frenetic pace, with Portillo coming up with numerous key stops to keep the Wolverines ahead.
Late in the game, the Spartans' net was empty when Brendan Brisson flipped the puck down the ice toward the yawning cage. His towering attempt took several bounces before ricocheting off the post and settling in the blue paint.
Portillo pushed one last shot into the corner with his stick before time expired on a 3-2 Michigan win, putting the finishing touches on a home-and-home series sweep against their in-state rivals.
Next week, the Wolverines will travel to State College, Pa., to take on Penn State. The series is scheduled for Thursday and Friday (Nov. 11-12). Puck drop for Thursday (Nov. 11) game is 8:30 p.m., while Friday's game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start.
