Michigan
17-13-3, 10-11-2
Minnesota
20-8-5, 13-6-4
Second-Period Penalties Costly as Michigan Falls at Minnesota
3/1/2024 11:46:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Garrett Schifsky scored his 15th goal and put up a team-high four shots on goal.
» Rutger McGroarty opened the scoring for U-M; Frank Nazar III picked up the lone assist.
» Michigan went 0-for-1 on the power play while Minnesota finished 3-for-5.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- A penalty-filled second period cost the 16th-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team on the road on Friday (March 1), as the Wolverines fell to the eighth-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers by a 6-2 score to cement their spot in fourth place in the Big Ten Conference heading into tomorrow night's regular-season finale.
Tied at 2-2 after the first period, Minnesota (20-8-5, 13-6-4) went 3-for-3 on the power play in the middle frame to gain a 5-2 lead at the end of 40 minutes. The Gophers' four-goal win was fueled by a strong power-play performance (3-for-5) as well as a 29-21 advantage in shots on goal. The Wolverines put together a strong third-period showing in the faceoff dot to end the night tied at 28 wins apiece.
Goaltender Jake Barczewski made the 125th start of his collegiate career in addition to his 30th as a Wolverine. The netminder made 13 saves on 18 shots that he faced while shouldering the loss in two periods of action. He took a hit to the head in the second period that required a visit from the trainer, and Noah West took over for the final 20 minutes.
Sophomore Rutger McGroarty opened the scoring for Michigan at 4:11 when he curled back above the left circle and unleashed a shot that deflected off a crashing Golden Gopher to bounce into the back of the net and make it 1-0 in Michigan's favor. Frank Nazar III recorded the lone assist on McGroarty's fourth tally of the season, and the early marker gave U-M (17-13-3, 10-11-2) the first goal of the contest for the 26th time in 33 contests.
Senior defenseman Steven Holtz was whistled for slashing at 7:11 while working for position in front of the crease. Minnesota's power-play unit took the ice for the game's first man-advantage. A series of full-ice heaves by Michigan's penalty killers prevented the Gophers from getting set up before they picked up a penalty of their own to even things up at 4x4 for 22 seconds.
Holtz exited the box shortly thereafter, and U-M embarked upon its initial power play. The team threatened with a number of dangerous one-time attempts, but failed to add a second goal before the team joined the hosts at 0-for-1 on the power play.
Barczewski came up big for the Wolverines just before the period's media timeout when he used his chest to stymy a dangerous opportunity from the slot.
Minnesota scored to tie the game in transition with 7:32 remaining after Seamus Casey was hit and thrust into the far post while defending a Gopher's center-lane drive. Coach Brandon Naurato challenged the play for a major penalty, but the maneuver was unsuccessful.
The Golden Gophers took a 2-1 lead with 4:37 left in the opening frame when a forward skated hard to the slot and banged a rebound through Barczewski's legs.
With less than one minute left to play in the first period, the Wolverines collected a turnover in Minnesota's zone. McGroarty applied pressure along the wall and poked the puck into open ice for Garrett Schifsky, and the native Minnesotan made no mistake as he ripped a shot to the top shelf to tie the game at two. Schifsky's 15th tally of his freshman campaign forced the game into a tie for the first intermission.
Casey was penalized for tripping at 7:02 in the second period to give Minnesota a second power-play attempt. A bit over halfway through the chance, an intelligent shot from a low angle near the goal line beat Barczewski to give the home team a 3-2 lead with the power-play goal.
On a mid-period rush in transition, a Golden Gopher skater made incidental contact with Barczewski's head while driving to, and then past, the net. Minnesota challenged the play with 7:07 remaining but the officials determined the puck did not cross the line.
For the second time in the second period, Casey was sent off with a minor penalty at 14:01. Once again, Minnesota's power-play unit cashed in to make it 4-2 at 14:30.
Not long after, Michigan was assessed a bench minor for unsportsmanlike conduct at 15:34 to hand the Gophers a fourth power-play chance. Late in the ensuing advantage, Minnesota made it 5-2 with 2:53 to go before the second intermission.
West entered the game for U-M in the third period and performed admirably, making 10 saves on 11 shots in the third period to keep the deficit in check.Â
Minnesota extended its lead with a sixth and final goal to make it 6-2 with 9:09 left to play.
Sophomore defender Tyler Duke was called for slashing with 6:13 left in regulation. The official initially called for a penalty shot, but Minnesota chose to take the two-minute power play instead with the Gophers looking to preserve the four-goal lead as time dwindled down.
Schifsky continued his strong performance by soaring down the ice for a shorthanded chance, but his attempt was turned aside to keep the four-goal margin intact.Â
Tomorrow night, (March 2), Michigan and Minnesota will close out the regular season at Mariucci. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. With Friday's loss, Michigan is locked into the fourth seed for the upcoming conference tournament. Next weekend, U-M will host fifth-seeded Notre Dame for a best-of-three quarterfinal series.Â
