Michigan
9-4-0, 2-3-0
Minnesota
9-4-0, 5-2-0
Shorthanded Wolverines Drop 5-2 Decision to No. 2 Minnesota
11/17/2022 10:45:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Dylan Duke scored two goals to tie the game twice before Minnesota pulled away.
» Seamus Casey assisted on both of Duke's goals for his third collegiate multi-point game.
» Johnny Druskinis and Tyler Shea made their NCAA debuts for the shorthanded Wolverines.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Dylan Duke scored twice for his first-career multi-goal game, but it wasn't enough to overcome a severely-undermanned lineup and an emotional week off the ice for the No. 3 ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team, as the Wolverines fell to No. 2 Minnesota by a 5-2 score on Thursday (Nov. 17) inside Yost Ice Arena.Â
Six U-M skaters missed the contest due to an illness that has been impacting the program; the Wolverines even turned to freshman netminder Tyler Shea, who made his collegiate debut, to fill out a spot as a forward due to the lack of available skaters.
Junior goaltender Erik Portillo stopped 36 shots, while ceding five goals to the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota (9-4, 5-2 B1G) opened the game's scoring 5:41 into the evening with a laser of a wrist shot from below the left dot that found space in the top-shelf of Michigan's net.Â
At the first media timeout, shots were 10-2 in Minnesota's favor. At 10:51, a Golden Gopher was penalized for interference and gave U-M's power-play unit its first opportunity of the series, but the home team's jumbled-up units failed to capitalize on the early chance.
Several minutes later, the Wolverines (9-4, 2-3 B1G) returned to the power play for a second time and made the opportunity count exactly halfway through the advantage with 3:21 left in the first period. Operating at the right half wall on a 5x4 advantage, Seamus Casey weighed his options while allowing classmate Rutger McGroarty to settle into space across the ice in the left circle. As McGroarty approached the left dot, Casey sent a perfectly-placed pass onto his tape, which he quickly redistributed back across the crease to a patiently-waiting Duke. Duke buried the backdoor one-timer to even things up and electrify the crowd inside of Yost.
After one period, the game was tied at one despite Minnesota's edge in shots on goal, 13-8.
Michigan started the middle frame with more energy than the first, but momentum was stunted when Philippe Lapointe was penalized for tripping at 5:25 and the visitors went on the power play.
Halfway through the ensuing penalty kill, Eric Ciccolini had an open break at the Gopher net. Just after he released a shot on goal, Ciccolini was pushed awkwardly into the endwall and remained down on the ice. Minnesota's Logan Cooley was assessed a major penalty for cross-checking but was allowed to remain in the game after serving five minutes for the infraction. Ciccolini immediately went to the dressing room. While playing 4x4, the Gophers buried a second goal to reclaim a one-goal lead at 7:17.
Shortly after the Minnesota tally, Michigan embarked on an extended power play. The group struggled to find its groove until a lengthy possession in the Golden Gopher zone when Luke Hughes put a firm shot on net that created a rebound. With the puck fluttering in mid-air, it was Duke once again who was johnny-on-the-spot, perfectly positioned at the corner of the crease to bat the puck into the back of the net and tie the game at two with 9:21 left in the second period. Casey picked up his second assist of the game by earning the secondary helper on Duke's second marker of the night. The effort marked the first multi-goal game of Duke's career.
Eighty seconds later, Minnesota struck back with another goal to pull ahead once again, 3-2.
Michigan's third power play of the evening came with 4:44 left in the second period, but the team failed to convert before returning to even-strength.
The tables were turned with 59 seconds left when it was Minnesota who were sent to the power play following a minor penalty for tripping on a U-M forward. The Gophers failed to capitalize before the period ended, but carried just over one minute of power-play time to the third period.Â
With 20 minutes left in regulation, Minnesota held a 3-2 lead as well as a 30-20 edge in shots on goal.
Prior to the start of the third period, Michigan was handed a bench minor penalty for a protocol violation after failing to return to the ice on time; Shea was tabbed to serve the penalty. Playing with a 5x3 advantage, Minnesota converted 38 seconds into the period to extend its lead to 4-2.Â
The teams exchanged power plays as the third period opened up, but neither side scored before returning to even-strength. Two seconds after the teams returned to five skaters per side, another snipe beat Portillo to put the Gophers ahead, 5-2, with 14:21 left to play.
Minnesota put the finishing touches on the three-goal victory to take three points in the Big Ten standings. The final tally for shots on goal (41-31) and faceoff wins (35-25) also went the Gophers' way. Michigan's vaunted power play ended the night with a success rate of 2-for-5, while Minnesota finished the night 1-for-5.
Tomorrow evening, the No. 3 Wolverines and No. 2 Gophers will meet once again at Yost Ice Arena. The game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network, with puck drop scheduled for 6 p.m. Â
