Michigan
20-10-3, 12-9-2
Notre Dame
14-14-5, 9-10-4
Fantilli Scores Late to Earn Point for Michigan in Tie vs. Notre Dame
2/24/2023 10:53:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Adam Fantilli scored late to notch his 50th point, extend his streak to 12 games, and force overtime.
» Gavin Brindley was the lone Wolverine with multiple points, notching one goal and one assist.
» Although officially a tie, the Fighting Irish won the shootout to earn an extra point in the Big Ten standings.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Sixty-five minutes were not enough to decide a winner on Friday night (Feb. 24) as the fourth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team tied No. 20 Notre Dame, 3-3, to kick off the final weekend of the 2022-23 regular season inside a sold-out Yost Ice Arena.
Adam Fantilli buried a goal with less than two minutes left in regulation to tie the game and force overtime, as he becomes the first player in the nation to reach 50 points this season. He is the first Wolverine to net 50 points in a season since 2017-18 when Cooper Marody had a 51-point season.
In the shootout, UND's first shooter scored before five straight were denied to give the Fighting Irish an extra point in the conference standings.
With 37 points and one game remaining, Michigan has secured home ice for next weekend's Big Ten Quarterfinal series. Its final seed, and opponent, will be determined tomorrow night.
The first power-play chance of the night went to Michigan at 3:26. After going 0-for-12 with the extra skater in last week's series against Ohio State, U-M started the weekend with a conversion. Freshman T.J. Hughes skated back into Michigan's end to collect the puck after Notre Dame had dumped it down the ice. Hughes sliced his way through the neutral zone before dashing through the middle of the Irish penalty-kill structure to create an unassisted rush at the UND cage. With just the goalie left to beat, Hughes showed off his hands to let a few dekes loose before depositing a shot that put Michigan up 1-0 at 4:18.
The Fighting Irish notched a power-play goal of their own at 7:01 when a point shot was deflected twice while winding its way through traffic to find the back of the net and tie the game at 1.
Less than a minute later, a jam play near the U-M crease forced the puck up into the air, allowing it to flutter over Erik Portillo, under the crossbar and across the goal line to give UND a 2-1 lead.
On an ensuing rush, Jackson Hallum dashed down the right flank on an odd-man rush before dishing a perfect feed across the slot to Gavin Brindley, moving with him stride-for-stride along the left side of the ice. Brindley pounded home a one-timer from the left circle to tie it at two goals apiece at 8:55. Frank Nazar III earned the secondary assist on Brindley's 10th of the year.
The second period was played at a different pace as the sides traded chances, but neither could notch a go-ahead goal.
The Fighting Irish took a penalty for interference with 2:29 left in regulation. With Portillo's crease empty, U-M employed a 6-on-4 advantage.
Thirty-two seconds into Michigan's fourth power play of the evening, Fantilli ripped a low shot from the bottom of the left circle that found twine to send Yost into an uproar and tie the game at 3 with 1:57 left in regulation. Brindley and Mackie Samoskevich recorded assists on Fantilli's 20th goal and 50th point of the season to extend his point streak to 12 games.
Michigan's momentum nearly carried the team to a late game-winner, but a number of grade-A chances were turned aside to keep it deadlocked. As time was about to expire, Notre Dame sent a scare through the building by sending a shot off the crossbar.
The Wolverines dominated in the 3-on-3 overtime, but failed to register a much-needed fourth goal.
On Saturday night (Feb. 25), the Wolverines will finish off the regular season at Yost against the Fighting Irish. Puck drop is slated for 8 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network. Following the contest, the program will host its annual Senior Night celebration.
