Michigan
18-11-0,10-5-0-0B1G
Wisconsin
4-21-4, 2-11-2-2B1G
Racine Gets First Career Shutout; Michigan Blanks Wisconsin
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Feb. 27, 2015
• Boxscore 
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| Postgame Report 
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #17 Michigan 3, Wisconsin 0
Records: U-M (18-11-0, 10-5-0-0 Big Ten), WIS (4-21-4, 2-11-2-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 5,575
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 28 -- vs. Wisconsin (Yost Ice Arena), 4 p.m.
• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Racine, Student of Tretiak, Stonewalls Badgers
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Zach Hyman (G, A) and Zach Werenski (G, A) each scored power-play goals, and goaltender Steve Racine made 22 saves to earn his first career shutout as the University of Michigan ice hockey team (RV USA Today/USA Hockey, No. 17 USCHO) earned a 3-0 win over Wisconsin Friday night (Feb. 27) inside Yost Ice Arena.
JT Compher snapped a nine-game goal scoring drought with an empty net goal at 18:57 of the third period to seal the win, and the Michigan defense held down the fort in the final minute to preserve the shutout for Racine. For the Wolverines it was their third shutout of the season, and second against Wisconsin this year.
Michigan finished the night 2-for-4 on the man advantage while holding Wisconsin scoreless on four power play chances.
Racine was sharp early on, making a left pad stop on a point blank chance for Wisconsin's Jason Ford at the 2:15 mark. Later in the third period, he came up with a shoulder save on a partial breakaway for Cameron Hughes.
Michigan peppered Rumpel on two power play chances in the opening period, as the Wisconsin goaltender made a pad stop on Dylan Larkin's one-timer at the 11:00 mark, and then another good stop on Hyman's deflection at 16:20 on the second power play.
The Wolverines' best chance of the frame came at even strength on a 4-on-2 rush. Compher fired a shot from the left circle off the far pad of Rumpel, and Kevin Lohan had an open net to shoot at but was checked off the puck.
After going scoreless on the man advantage in the first period, Hyman gave Michigan the lead on a fortuitous bounce while the Wolverines were on their third man advantage of the game, early in the second period.
With Jack Dougherty in the penalty box for tripping, Hyman took a pass from Cristoval 'Boo' Nieves and held the puck in the corner. Looking to feed Larkin through the slot for a one timer, Hyman's pass instead deflected off the skate of Chase Drake and popped over the shoulder of Rumpel to give U-M a 1-0 lead at 1:33 of the second period. For Hyman it was his team-leading 19th goal of the season.
Dexter Dancs had two great chances to extend the Michigan lead, the first, a wraparound was stopped by Rumpel at 11:00. His second opportunity came when a Werenski wrist shot from the high slot deflected off his body and trickled just wide of an open net at 14:30.
Racine was again solid in net in the frame, making a key stop on Joseph LaBate's breakaway backhander at 18:45 to keep the Wolverines ahead heading into the third period.
Werenski gave Michigan a two goal cushion after Nieves drew a tripping penalty on Wisconsin's Ryan Wagner by driving the net on a 2-on-1 at 6:18.
On the ensuing power play, Hyman followed his own rebound around the Wisconsin net and fed Werenski in the high slot for a one-timer that beat Rumpel low at 7:28.
Michigan killed off a late penalty at 15:08, and Racine made two great stops with 2:18 remaining after Jedd Soleway was left alone in front of the net on a Wisconsin rush.
The Wolverines sealed the win with just over a minute remaining, as Andrew Copp shoveled a pass to Compher in the neutral zone, who found the open net for his fifth goal of the season.
Michigan will close out the regular season series against the Badgers on Saturday with a 4 p.m. contest at Yost Ice Arena that will be televised on BTN. [ Tickets ]
Communications Contact: Jeffrey Weinstein (734) 763-4423
