Michigan
22-7-1, 13-6-0
Michigan State
11-17-1, 5-14-0
Michigan Cruises to Victory Over MSU Ahead of Duel in the D
2/11/2022 10:55:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Luke Hughes scored twice to move into a tie with Jacob Trouba for second all-time in U-M goal-scoring by a freshman defenseman.
» Mackie Samoskevich notched his third three-point game with a goal and two helpers.
» Jacob Truscott notched his second goal of the year and collected a pair of assists for his first career three-point game.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #4 Michigan 6, Michigan State 2
Records: U-M (22-7-1, 13-3-0-0-3 B1G), MSU (11-16-1 , 4-14-0-1-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 12 -- vs. MSU (Detroit, Mich.), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A four-goal second period made all the difference for the fourth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team, as the Wolverines soundly defeated Michigan State 6-2 on Friday night (Feb. 11) inside Yost Ice Arena.
Erik Portillo was excellent in just under 54 minutes of action, rendering MSU scoreless while making 12 saves before turning over the crease to senior Jack Leavy with 6:10 left to play.
The visitors took a penalty for interference at 2:37 to give U-M the first power play of the game, but the Wolverines failed to convert on the early opportunity.
Mark Estapa took an elbowing penalty for indirect contact to the head with 8:35 left in the first period, but Michael Pastujov cleared the puck from the crease to dismiss the only grade-A scoring chance that MSU produced with the advantage.
Back out of the box, Estapa won a puck battle along the boards just across the blue line in the MSU end before popping a pass out to Pastujov. He moved toward the slot before linking up with Jacob Truscott, who was entering the zone at the left point, for a give-and-go. Pastujov blasted a one-timer as soon as the puck came back into his wheelhouse, but MSU goaltender Drew DeRidder blocked it before allowing the rebound to dribble off to the side of the net. Truscott was in the perfect position to bang home the goal with six minutes left and open the scoring for Michigan (22-7-1, 13-3-0-0-3 Big Ten). Pastujov and Estapa collected assists.
With 1:00 left in the first period, Nick Blankenburg was assessed a penalty for hooking after helping to break up a Spartan odd-man rush. The team killed off the first minute before the buzzer sounded for the first intermission.
After one period, Michigan led 1-0 held and held a 9-7 advantage in shots on goal. The Wolverines were 0-for-1 on the power play, while MSU was in the midst of its second power play of the contest after failing to capitalize on the first.
Early in the second period, veteran defenseman Jack Summers recorded a critical shot block in the slot to finish off the MSU power play. One minute into the middle frame, each team was 0-for-2 with the extra skater.
The Spartans took a tripping penalty with 9:23 left in the second stanza to give the Wolverines a third power play. After U-M won the offensive-zone faceoff, Blankenburg set up on the left half-wall and exchanged a series of passes to Luke Hughes, running point in the high slot. After collecting a feed from the captain, Hughes ripped a shot on net through traffic that kissed off the left post and into the back of the net to double the Michigan lead with 9:12 left in the period. Blankenburg and Mackie Samoskevich tallied the assists on Hughes' 11th goal of the year.
Just over three minutes later, Michigan notched another power-play goal after an MSU forward was sent off for holding. Hughes patrolled the blue line once again before dishing the puck off to Samoskevich on the right flank. The freshman dialed up a long shot that found twine to put Michigan up 3-0. Hughes and Bordeleau earned assists on the team's second straight PPG.
Seventy seconds later, Nolan Moyle sent the arena into a frenzy with yet another goal, this time from the top of the circle, to stretch Michigan's lead to 4-0. Pastujov and Truscott assisted on Moyle's fifth goal of the year.
Frustration was evident as MSU was penalized for slashing with 1:20 left in the second period to put the Michigan power play back on the ice.
Nine seconds later, Hughes dented the twine for his second goal of the night. Blankenburg and Samoskevich picked up helpers on Hughes' second power-play tally of the period.
With his 12th goal of the season, the youngest Hughes moved into a tie with Jacob Trouba for second all-time in goal scoring for freshmen defensemen at Michigan. He now trails Dean Turner, who had 13 in 1976-77, by one goal.
Michigan State (11-16-1 , 4-14-0-1-0 Big Ten) was assessed another penalty for hitting from behind just 44 seconds before the second intermission, but U-M failed to convert with the extra skater before the end of the frame.
After two periods, Michigan held a commanding 5-0 lead over their rivals, powered by a 26-9 advantage in shots on goal in addition to three goals from the red-hot U-M power-play unit.
The rest of the man-advantage came and went without incident. Back at even strength, Blankenburg turned in an exceptional effort while laying flat on the ice to keep the puck out of the net two minutes into the third period and allow U-M to carry the puck out of the zone.
Portillo exited the game with 6:07 left to play in regulation after over 50 minutes of shutout play; Jack Leavy replaced him between the pipes.
Philippe Lapointe tipped in the team's sixth goal from the top of the blue paint with 4:39 left to play. Truscott took the shot from the point to earn the primary assist while Jimmy Lambert notched the secondary.
Late in the game, Michigan State found the scoresheet twice. First, the Spartans buried a rebound goal with 4:03 left in regulation to stymie the combined shutout and make the score 6-1. Later, after Lapointe took a last-minute minor penalty for roughing with 1:26 left to play, MSU scored its second goal with 1:14 left in regulation to bump the final score to 6-2.
Michigan's four-goal win over their rivals from East Lansing marks the team's eighth victory in its last nine tries against MSU. The latest win was propelled by a 35-20 advantage in shots on goal as well as a 3-for-5 effort on the power play.
On Saturday night (Feb. 12), the in-state rivals will head to Detroit's Little Caesars Arena to finish off their regular-season series with the annual "Duel in the D." U-M will be looking for both the series and season sweep over the Spartans, in addition to the Iron D trophy. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on Bally Sports Detroit.
