Michigan
16-9-0, 8-3-0-0B1G
Minnesota
15-9-3, 6-2-3-0B1G
Nieves' Two Goals Not Enough at Minnesota
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Feb. 14, 2015
| Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Mariucci Arena)
Score: Minnesota 6, #12 Michigan 2
Records: U-M (16-9-0, 8-3-0-0 Big Ten), MINN (15-9-3, 6-2-3-0 Big Ten)
Attendance: 10,021
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 14 -- at Minnesota (Mariucci Arena), 7 p.m. CST
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Junior forward Cristoval 'Boo' Nieves notched his third career two-goal game, but the University of Michigan ice hockey team (No. 12 USA Today/USA Hockey, No. 12 USCHO) fell, 6-2, at Minnesota Friday night (Feb. 13) inside Mariucci Arena.
Minnesota's Kyle Rau recorded a hat trick, and defenseman Mike Reilly had four points (G, 3A) to lead the Gophers, who chased Michigan starting goaltender Zach Nagelvoort (18 saves) from the net after running the lead to 5-0 midway through the second period.
Minnesota goaltender Adam Wilcox made 21 saves to earn the win in net, as the Gophers outshot Michigan, 34-23, on the night, holding the Wolverines well under their average of 35 shots on goal/game coming into the night.
The Gophers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period of play, using an early power play to get their offense going. With Justin Selman in the penalty box for hooking, the nation's No. 1 power play went to work, as Taylor Cammarata fed an open Kyle Rau for a goal in the slot from five feet out at 6:28.
Late in the period, Minnesota tacked on two goals in the span of 53 seconds. Mike Reilly created the opportunity with a shot from the side boards that Travis Boyd deflected past Nagelvoort towards the goal line. Seth Ambroz tapped the puck in at 16:07 to make it 2-0 Minnesota.
Moments later, Cammarata fired a shot from the right wing off the post, and Vinni Lettieri was there to jam the rebound past Nagelvoort at the 17:00 mark.
Minnesota continued to control the play in the early stages of the second period, outshooting the Wolverines, 8-0, in the first 7:19 of the frame, capped off by Mike Reilly's drive from the high slot to give the Gophers a 4-0 lead.
With Michigan looking to get back into the game on their second power play of the night later in the period, Rau skated the puck into the U-M zone on a 2-on-2 shorthanded rush, then fired a quick wrist shot into the net at 11:17, chasing Nagelvoort from the game in favor of Steve Racine (10 saves)
Michigan cut the Minnesota lead late in the second period, as Wilcox kicked a Dylan Larkin drive right to Nieves, who deposited the rebound into an open net at 18:35 to make it 5-1. With the goal, Nieves extended his point streak to five straight games (2G, 7A), and Larkin's assist extended his point streak to 10 games (8G, 12A).
Early in the third period, Rau completed the hat trick, corralling a neutral-zone turnover and beating Racine over the shoulder from the circle at 5:32.
Michigan added a late goal at 14:13 as Max Shuart made a nice pass from below the goal line to set up Nieves' second of the night.
Michigan will complete the regular-season series against Minnesota as it returns action tomorrow night (Feb. 14) at 7 p.m. CST in a game that will be televised on Fox Sports Detroit Plus.
Communications Contact: Jeffrey Weinstein (734) 763-4423
