Michigan
2-0-0
Lindenwood
0-4-0
Michigan Secures Season-Opening Sweep of Lindenwood
10/8/2022 10:25:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Adam Fantilli and Seamus Casey each scored their first collegiate goal.
» Fantilli and Gavin Brindley won a combined 25-of-34 faceoffs (73.5%) to lead the Wolverines.
» Rutger McGroarty had the biggest hit of the night in addition to a game-high six shots on goal.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A pair of Wolverines notched their first career goals on Saturday evening (Oct. 8) as the seventh-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team knocked off the Lindenwood Lions by a 3-1 score and secured the weekend sweep at Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Area.
Freshmen Adam Fantilli and Seamus Casey scored their first career goals in the win, and junior goaltender Erik Portillo turned aside 16 of 17 shots that he faced to earn his second victory of the season. Fantilli also finished with an assist for his second straight multi-point effort.
A seismic open-ice hit from Rutger McGroarty electrified the crowd inside Yost Ice Arena eight minutes in, but the home team failed to capitalize on the early momentum despite racking up nine of the game's first ten shots on goal.
The Lions (0-4-0) opened the scoring for the second straight night with 4:55 left in the opening period after a lapse in coverage surrendered a breakaway at the Michigan blue line. A nice deke and chip beat Portillo to put the Wolverines down by one.
Shortly after Lindenwood returned to even strength following a Michigan power play, the remnants of the top Michigan unit remained on the ice and created a hard-earned goal when Adam Fantilli ripped a hard, low shot from the right dot toward the blue paint that was deflected between the post and the netminder's pad by Dylan Duke to tie the game with 2:09 left to play. Standout blueliner Luke Hughes also assisted on the Wolverines' first goal of the night.
After one period of play, Michigan (2-0-0) held a notable advantage in shots on goal (16-3) and faceoffs (13-4), but the game remained deadlocked at one goal apiece as the teams returned to their respective rooms.
The Wolverines had a golden opportunity to take over the game after a pair of penalties were called in succession on the Lions. With 9:13 to play in the second period, U-M embarked on an extended five-on-three power play. Thirty-six seconds later, Fantilli popped the back of the net with a rocket from the left hashmark to push Michigan ahead, 2-1. McGroarty earned the primary assist while Mackie Samoskevich continued his hot start by picking up the secondary.
U-M carried a 2-1 lead into the dressing room after two periods, fueled by a 33-10 lead in shots.
The Floridian freshman duo of Casey and Gavin Brindley teamed up to score Michigan's third goal of the night 5:19 into the final frame after Casey caused a turnover in the neutral zone. Brindley collected the puck and carried it into the zone before dropping the puck off for his classmate, Casey. The blueliner took one extra stride into the middle of the ice before ripping a perfectly-placed top-shelf shot from the slot to put U-M up, 3-1, which ended up as the final score.
The Wolverines put the finishing touches on the team's first two-game series sweep of the season by outshooting the Lions, 41-17, and dominating the faceoff circle, winning 39 of 55 draws. Fantilli and Brindley won a combined 25-of-34 faceoffs (73.5%) to lead the Wolverines, while McGroarty led all players with six shots on goal.
Next week, the Boston University Terriers will visit Yost Ice Arena for a high-profile two-game non-conference series, with games being played on Friday (Oct. 14) and Sunday (Oct. 16). Puck drop for Friday night's contest is set for 7 p.m., while Sunday's game will begin at 5 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on B1G+.
