Michigan
Wisconsin
Michigan Looks to Continue Run Against Wisconsin Saturday Night
12/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
• TV: Comcast Channel 900 | Live Stats | Live Audio | BTN2Go
• Complete Game Notes (PDF)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 12-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team (8-2-2, 1-0-0-0 Big Ten) will close out its Big Ten opening series against Wisconsin (3-6-4, 0-1-0-0 Big Ten) Saturday night (Dec. 5) after a come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Badgers last night at Yost Ice Arena. The Wolverines are unbeaten in their last eight games against the Badgers (7-0-1), their longest unbeaten run againt Wisconsin since a 10-game streak (9-0-1) that spanned eight years from 1994-2002.
• Junior forward Tyler Motte notched his third game-winning goal of the season at 3:22 of the third period to break a 4-4 tie, his team-leading eighth goal of the season. Freshman forward Kyle Connor had a goal (empty net) and two assists, and Motte and JT Compher each added a goal and an assist. Dexter Dancs, Brendan Warren and Justin Selman each added a goal for Michigan, which scored five or more goals in a game for the seventh time this season. Zach Nagelvoort made 20 saves to earn the win.
• The Wolverines, who have finished third in the Big Ten in each of their first two seasons, improved to 2-1 in Big Ten openers. U-M is unbeaten overall in its last four contests (3-0-1).
• Michigan and Wisconsin will meet tonight for the 133rd time, with the Wolverines owning a 70-54-8 record all-time against the Badgers. On Jan. 12, 1923, Michigan played its first varsity game against the Badgers, with the Wolverines earning a 2-1 (2OT) win at Weinberg Coliseum, with Eddie Kahn scoring the first goal for the Wolverines and Robert Anderson notching the game-winner to give U-M a historic win.
• Michigan has several ties to Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves. Mike's brother Murray Eaves played two seasons at U-M (1978-80) before embarking on a 15-year professional career. Mike was raised in nearby Windsor, Ontario.
• The Wolverines are once again one of the top scoring teams in the nation with an average of 4.25 goals per game (No. 4 NCAA). The Wolverines have topped the five-goal mark in seven of 12 games this season. Last season, the Wolverines topped five goals in 14 games, the most in a single season since 2009-10 (15).
• U-M's power play has scored two or more power-play goals in four games this season, including a 4-for-6 effort against Dartmouth on Nov. 27. The Wolverines are No. 8 in the nation on the man advantage (12-for-49, 24.5%) this season.
• Michigan's penalty-killing unit has been in a groove, including a 6-for-6 effort in Michigan's 1-1 tie against Dartmouth last Saturday night. Michigan has killed off 33 of the last 36 power-play opportunities (91.6%) for the opposition. Michigan is 38-for-43 (88.4%, 11th in NCAA) on the penalty kill so far this season. Michigan is also one of the least penalized teams in the country, averaging 8.2 penalty minutes per game (52nd in NCAA).
