Michigan
19-11-0, 11-5-0-0
Wisconsin
4-22-4, 2-12-2-2
Compher's Hat Trick Leads Michigan to Win against Wisconsin
2/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Feb. 28, 2015
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Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #17 Michigan 5, Wisconsin 2
Records: U-M (19-11-0, 11-5-0-0 Big Ten), WIS (4-22-4, 2-12-2-2 Big Ten)
Attendance: 5,800
Next U-M Event: Friday, March 6 -- at Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- JT Compher notched his first career hat trick, Justin Selman added two goals, and Steve Racine made 26 saves to lead the University of Michigan ice hockey team (RV USA Today/USA Hockey, No. 17 USCHO) to a 5-2 win over Wisconsin Saturday (Feb. 28) inside Yost Ice Arena.
With the win, the Wolverines earned a sweep of the regular season series against Wisconsin (4-0-0) and improved to 12-2-0 at Yost Ice Arena this season.
With the game tied 2-2 heading in the third period, Michigan's stellar special teams play of late helped the Wolverines take the lead for good. After killing off an early penalty to finish the night a perfect 2-for-2 on the penalty kill, Michigan went on the power play when Jedd Soleway was called for interference at 6:37.
Compher notched his second goal of the game, taking a stretch pass from Nolan De Jong for a 2-on-1. Compher kept the puck and beat Wisconsin goaltender Joel Rumpel (29 saves) over the shoulder at 8:01 to put Michigan ahead 3-2. The Wolverines finished the night 2-for-4 on the man advantage.
A little more than four minutes later, Zach Hyman (2A) won a puck battle in the neutral zone and fed Dylan Larkin as he gained the zone on the right wing for a 2-on-1. Larkin found Selman for a tap-in goal at 12:18 to give the Wolverines a two-goal lead.
Compher's empty-net goal at 18:41 sealed the win for Michigan, giving the Wolverines their ninth straight win on home ice.
Michigan peppered Rumpel early on in the opening period as Andrew Copp had the first quality scoring chance for either team on a 3-on-3 rush, firing a quick wrist shot from the high slot that forced Rumpel to kick out his right pad to make the stop at 3:25.
Hyman had another great chance for the Wolverines in the opening 10:00, taking a pass from Selman in front of the net and firing a quick shot on Rumpel, who made an outstanding glove stop to keep the game scoreless.
Wisconsin took the early lead at 11:42, as Ryan Wagner beat Racine from the high slot to put the Badgers ahead 1-0.
Michigan trailed heading into the second period, before Selman struck for his first of the night. On a 3-on-2 rush, Hyman made a drop pass to Selman, who beat Rumpel at 4:53 to tie the game at 1-1.
Compher gave Michigan its first lead of the night on the man advantage as Kevin Schulze was sent off for tripping at 15:52. Tyler Motte threaded a cross-ice pass through the slot to Compher at the left circle, where he fired a one-timer from a sharp angle into the net at 16:09.
Wisconsin tied the game late in the period at 19:31, as a 3-on-2 pass from Grant Besse deflected off the goal stick and arm of Racine and into the net on a play that was reviewed and confirmed by replay.
But Michigan responded with a dominant third period to earn its third straight win and put the Wolverines atop the Big Ten standings with four regular season games remaining.
Michigan will head to Penn State next weekend where the Wolverines will open a two-game series on Friday night at 7 p.m.
Communications Contact: Jeffrey Weinstein (734) 763-4423
