Michigan
U.S. NTDP U-18 Team (ex)
Michigan Scores Two Late Goals to Defeat USNTDP in Overtime
2/2/2022 10:17:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Senior Jack Summers scored with 3:08 left in regulation to tie the game with a rebound goal.
» Jimmy Lambert notched the game-winning goal from the top of the crease 1:59 into overtime.
» U-M is now 16-4 against the U.S. National Team Development Program in 20 all-time meetings.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #3 Michigan 4, USNTDP 3 (OT) - exhibition
Records: U-M (21-7-1), USA (24-9-2)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 11 -- vs. Michigan State (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
• PDF Boxscore
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- A pair of seniors linked up in overtime to propel the third-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team past the U.S. National Team Development Program 4-3 on Wednesday night (Feb. 2) in an exhibition matchup on Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena.
Erik Portillo, Noah West, and Jack Leavy each surrendered one goal while playing one period apiece. Portillo finished with 12 saves while West had eight and Leavy had seven.
Coming out of a media timeout after the halfway point of the opening period, Jimmy Lambert won an offensive-zone faceoff back through his legs for Jay Keranen, crashing toward the dot. The utilityman took one more stride toward the slot before firing a quick snap shot that zipped below the goalie's glove to find the back of the net and open the scoring with 9:49 left in the first period.
Later in the period with just over three minutes left, Dylan Duke carried the puck into the zone on a rush down the right flank before button-hooking in the circle and sending a contested pass back to Jacob Truscott in the high slot. As soon as Truscott corralled the off-kilter pass, he rocketed a clever feed through the heart of the zone to Johnny Beecher's wheelhouse. Beecher's one-timer snapped in and out of the net from the right dot to double the Michigan lead to 2-0.
With 1:02 remaining before the first intermission, the NTDP found the scoresheet when future Wolverine Frank Nazar III finished off a bang-bang play in front of the crease by burying a goal and cutting the deficit to 2-1.
After one period, the Wolverines held a 2-1 lead fueled by a 15-13 lead in shots on goal. Portillo exited the contest with 12 saves in his 20 minutes of work, with West taking over in the second perios.
Lambert was sent to the box for slashing with 6:21 to play in the second stanza. A bit under a minute after the initial penalty was assessed, Jake Gingell was penalized for hooking to create a five-on-three advantage for the NTDP. Rutger McGroarty, future Michigan forward, played a key role in setting up a smooth tic-tac-toe goal to beat West backdoor and knot the game at 2 with 5:14 left in the second period.
Following the game-tying goal, the Wolverines were able to kill off the remaining penalty and keep the game tied until the culmination of the second period.
With 20 minutes left to play, the game was tied at 2 but U-M had extended the lead in shots on goal to 27-21. The NTDP was 1-for-2 with the man-advantage while Michigan had been unsuccessful in their lone opportunity. West finished his period with seven saves amid a solid performance despite surrendering one power-play goal during the five-on-three penalty kill.
Leavy led the Wolverines out of the locker room to start the third period in net, but Nazar dulled the excitement by notching his second goal of the game just 56 seconds later to pull the NTDP ahead, 3-2.
National Team Development Program alum Thomas Bordeleau nearly cashed in on a grade-A scoring chance when the puck popped out to his blade, alone in the low slot above the blue paint, but he pushed the subsequent shot wide just past the NTDP goaltender's blocker.
Freshman Mark Estapa made an impact with his physical play throughout the night, but was sent to the box for roughing at 5:32 of the third period to put the visitors back on the power play. Two minutes later, the Michigan penalty killers finished the job and Estapa roared out of the box to bring the Wolverines back to full strength.
Seven seconds after the halfway point of the third period, Keranen drew an interference penalty while hustling around the NTDP's net to earn Michigan's second power play of the evening.
While attempting a re-entry from the neutral zone, the Wolverines fumbled the puck to give up a shorthanded two-man breakaway. After a pair of slick passes forced Leavy down, it was his outstretched leg staying taut with the post to deny a fourth NTDP tally with a key save.
In search of a tying goal, Ethan Edwards led a breakout before passing as he crossed the blue line and collapsed into the middle of the ice to drive down the slot. He received a pass back as he dashed toward the right post of the net. Just before he looped behind the goal frame, Edwards slipped a gorgeous backhand pass through the crease to create a scoring chance, but Luke Hughes' quick strike was turned aside by an impressive sprawling effort from USA's goalie.
With 3:09 remaining in regulation, Mackie Samoskevich carried the puck across the center-ice logo and into the U.S. zone. After dashing toward the half-wall on his off-hand, the left-handed right-winger zipped a shot through traffic and on net. The puck was kicked out by the NTDP's goaltender to create a rebound opportunity that bounced right to the tape of Jack Summers as he approached the crease from the left flank. The senior defenseman made no mistake, netting the third goal to pull the teams back to even. Truscott picked up the secondary assist, while Samoskevich collected the primary.
As regulation closed with the game tied at 3, Michigan led 36-30 in shots on goal but continued to work diligently to create the all-important game-winning goal.
The Wolverines dominated the short overtime session, putting two shots on net to the NTDP's zero in 1:59 of three-on-three play. When two U.S. skaters were turned around in their own zone and ran into each other near the left dot, Pastujov collected the puck and took advantage of the newfound netfront space to thread a pass from the corner to a wide open Lambert in front of the blue paint. The senior brought the puck to his backhand before roofing a shot behind a flattened NTDP netminder and delivering the exhibition win to Michigan.
Of the six NTDP alumni who suited up for the Maize and Blue, four found the scoresheet. Beecher recorded Michigan's second goal of the game, while Truscott contributed two assists and Duke and Pastujov each chipped in one apiece.
With the win in extra time, Michigan moves to 16-4 all-time in 20 meetings with the NTDP.
Next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 11-12, the Wolverines will battle in a pair of games against their in-state rivals from Michigan State. Friday night's (Jan. 11) game will take place at Yost Ice Arena, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. On Saturday (Jan. 12), the teams will travel to Detroit for the annual "Duel in the D" at 7 p.m. inside Little Caesars Arena with the "Iron D" trophy on the line.
