Michigan
11-7-1, 3-6-0
Michigan State
12-6-1, 6-4-1
Michigan Offense Stymied in 2-1 Road Loss at MSU
12/9/2022 9:55:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» T.J. Hughes scored his eighth goal of the season when he opened the scoring in the first period.
» In search of a game-tying goal, U-M won all 11 faceoffs in the third period.
» Erik Portillo made 29 saves on 31 MSU shots while shouldering the loss.
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A six-game win streak over an in-state rival came to an end on Friday night (Dec. 9) at Munn Ice Arena as the sixth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 12 Michigan State after failing to capitalize on an immense amount of possession and numerous scoring chances throughout the final two periods.
Junior goaltender Erik Portillo struggled at times early on before settling into his crease and preserving U-M's shot at getting back into the game in the third period. He finished the night with 29 saves on 31 shots faced while shouldering the loss in 57:11 of action.
Spartan goalie Dylan St. Cyr made two big stops in the first half of the opening period -- a trend that would prove to be the night's theme. First it was Rutger McGroarty who was stymied by the blocker on a clear-cut opportunity from a prime shooting spot. Then Mark Estapa dashed in on the left wing and cut in toward the middle of the ice as he approached the cage before seeing his shot pushed aside.
Six and a half minutes into the contest, Michigan (11-7-1, 3-6-0 B1G) was working the puck around MSU's zone when a Spartan forward collected an errant pass in the slot and looked to turn up the ice. As he went to move the puck, U-M captain Nolan Moyle lifted his stick to free up possession once again. Perfectly positioned to take advantage of the takeaway, freshman forward T.J. Hughes claimed the loose puck and wired a shot to the back of the net from the right circle, giving Michigan a 1-0 lead at 13:29.Â
The first penalty of the game was called on the Wolverines with 5:03 left in the first period. A post-whistle scrum brought about 4x4 action before U-M received a short power play. Just as the Wolverines began their advantage, the Spartans cycled the puck up to the blue line where a long shot from the left point beat Portillo and tied the game at one with 2:56 before the first intermission.
The rivalry game remained tied into the second period until the Spartans banged a loose puck past a sprawling Portillo at 7:46 to put the home team up, 2-1.
The Wolverines won all 11 faceoffs in the final frame and dominated possession for large chunks of the third period. Despite the consistent pressure, the team's collective effort failed to manifest in a game-tying goal.
As the clock ticked below two minutes left in regulation, T.J. Hughes danced through a number of MSU defenders before his chance at an open net rolled off his blade while falling to the ice across the top of the blue paint.
Michigan failed to register a critical second goal, and the Spartans (12-6-1, 6-4-1 B1G) held on to claim the first game of the season's series in a 2-1 decision. Shots on goal ended in MSU's favor, 31-23, but the Wolverines' perfect third period run in the circle propelled them to a 25-20 overall edge in faceoffs.
Friday night's loss marked the sixth-consecutive game that the Wolverines failed to record a power-play goal. Prior to that stretch, Michigan had scored six goals on the man-advantage through the four preceding games.
Tomorrow night, the most-played collegiate hockey rivalry returns to Ann Arbor as the Wolverines face off once again against resurgent in-state rival Michigan State. Puck drop is set for 6:30 p.m. and the contest will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network.
