Michigan
14-10-2, 8-7-1
Wisconsin
11-12-3, 6-9-1
Hage Scores Shootout Winner to Earn U-M Extra Point in Finale at Wisconsin
1/25/2025 11:59:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» T.J. Hughes pushed his point streak to nine games with a goal and an assist.
» Michigan finished the weekend 0-for-2 on the power play while Wisconsin went 2-for-8.
» Michael Hage scored the only goal in the shootout while Logan Stein stopped all three shots.
MADISON, Wis. -- The 10th-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team won the shootout to salvage a second point in the conference standings following a 4-4 tie against the University of Wisconsin on Saturday (Jan. 25) at the Kohl Center.
Veteran goaltender Logan Stein received the start in net for Michigan, and the seasoned backstop made 21 saves on 25 shots through 65 minutes of action. Stein shined in the shootout, stopping all three shots he faced.
Michael Hage scored the lone goal in the three-round shootout.
For the second night in a row, Michigan (14-10-2, 8-7-1 Big Ten) opened the scoring with an early marker in the first four minutes of the contest. This time, it was Kienan Draper who dented the twine to break the ice 3:07 into the evening. Former Badger William Whitelaw and freshman Will Felicio each tallied assists on Draper's goal. With the secondary helper, Felicio recorded his third point of the weekend.
Three minutes after receiving its first of three power-play opportunities of the first period, Wisconsin (11-12-3, 6-9-1 Big Ten) scored to even the game at 8:29, but a little more than a minute later Michigan answered.
Alternate captain T.J. Hughes extended his point streak to nine games after U-M executed in the offensive zone. Shortly after Hughes won a faceoff, Tyler Duke collected the puck at the left point and purposefully threw a shot wide of the net so it could ricochet out the other side off the dasher for Hughes to deposit into an open cage. Garrett Schifsky earned the secondary assist on Hughes' 11th goal of the campaign.
Next in the spotlight was junior blueliner Luca Fantilli, who stepped into the lineup and onto the scoresheet by crashing the net following a shot on goal from Philippe Lapointe. Fantilli placed himself in the perfect position to knock the rebound into the top shelf. Senior forward Mark Estapa recorded the secondary assist on Fantilli's tally at 12:13. The third goal was the final straw, as the Wolverines chased the Badger goaltender for the second night in a row.
After one action-packed period, Michigan carried a 3-1 lead into the visitor's room inside the Kohl Center. The Wolverines scored on three of the seven shots they put on goal in the first, while the penalty-kill unit was the early star, going 3-for-3 in the early going.
Wisconsin trimmed the deficit at 4:46 of the second period by gaining the edge on the outside with a burst of speed and depositing a slick goal between the legs of Stein to make it 3-2.
The Badgers followed it up with another goal at 11:05 to tie the game at three goals apiece.
Michigan received its second power play of the weekend with 57.8 seconds left in the middle period after they earned the advantage by driving the puck deep into the UW zone.
With 40 minutes in the books, Michigan was deadlocked with Wisconsin at 3-3.
The carryover power play came and went without a goal, but the Wolverines continued to ramp up the pressure as they nearly scored several times in the first few minutes of the third. One particularly dangerous chance for U-M was turned aside by a beautiful toe save before a follow-up was blocked by a host of Badgers. Another near-miss came on the ensuing faceoff when Jackson Hallum skated through the circle and lasered a shot that was deflected off the post.
Michigan's consistent pressure paid off at 8:24 when Evan Werner pulled the team back in front by banging the puck across the goal line from close quarters near the blue paint. Hughes and Josh Eernisse assisted on Werner's ninth Wolverine goal that made it 4-3.
Wisconsin was not done, and the Badgers struck back by knocking a rebound into the back of the net to tie it at 4-4 with 3:43 left in regulation. Michigan challenged the play after a Wolverine had been propelled into the boards, but the goal stood.
Each side threatened in the extra session, but neither could pot a goal while playing 3-on-3 to clinch the extra point.
Next weekend, Michigan returns home to Yost Ice Arena for a two-game set against Penn State. Friday night's (Jan. 31) game will start at 7 p.m. and be streamed live on B1G+, while Saturday's (Feb. 1) weekend finale is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
