Michigan
20-4-5, 10-2-3-2B1G
Minnesota
16-14-0,11-4-0-0B1G
Kile's Hat Trick Leads Wolverines to Rout at Minnesota
2/25/2016 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Feb. 26, 2016
» Michigan scored four straight goals in the third period to take a 6-0 lead, before Minnesota added two late goals.
» Kyle Connor scored twice to extend his point streak to 18 games. Connor has the most goals by a Michigan freshman (26) in one season since Jeff Tambellini had 26 in 2002-03.
» The Wolverines snapped a five-game losing streak at Mariucci Arena, notching their first win at Minnesota since Nov. 28, 2008.
» JT Compher added two assists and extended his point streak to 18 games.
• Boxscore 
Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Mariucci Arena)
Score: #6 Michigan 6, Minnesota 2
Records: U-M (20-4-5, 10-2-3-2 Big Ten), MINN (16-14-0, 11-4-0-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Feb. 26 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis, Minn.), 8 p.m. CST
• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Kile Scores Hat Trick from Point-Blank Range
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Junior forward Alex Kile notched his first career hat trick, freshman forward Kyle Connor added a pair of goals, and senior goaltender Steve Racine made 31 saves to lead the sixth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team to a 6-2 win at Minnesota on Thursday night (Feb. 25).
Junior forward Max Shuart added a goal, and junior forward JT Compher notched two assists to lead Michigan, which snapped a five-game winless streak against the Gophers at Mariucci Arena dating back to Nov. 28, 2008.
The Wolverines are unbeaten in their last five games (4-0-1) and with the win moved into sole possession of first place in the Big Ten standings.
Leading 2-0 midway through the third period, the Wolverines exploded with four straight goals in a span of 5:18 to put the game out of reach.
With the Wolverines on the power play, Connor and Compher combined on a give and go, with Connor cutting to the net after his pass to Compher, then getting the puck back moments later. Connor found a wide-open net from a sharp angle at 11:54.
With two goals already on the night, Kile notched his third of the game at 14:52, batting in a rebound off a deflection in front by sophomore forward Dexter Dancs to put Michigan ahead 4-0. The goal is Kile's 14th of the season, the most by the junior in a single season at U-M.
Shuart struck a little more than a minute later on a 2-on-1, keeping the puck and beating Minnesota goaltender Eric Schierhorn (18 saves) on the short side at 16:27.
Connor capped the run on the next shift for Michigan, taking an errant Minnesota pass for a breakaway from the red line and beating Schierhorn at 17:12 for a 6-0 Michigan lead.
Racine lost his shutout bid on two late Minnesota goals from Steve Johnson (17:23) and Tommy Novak (18:28), but it did not spoil a convincing effort from the Wolverines.
Michigan finished the night 2-for-4 on the power play while holding the Gophers scoreless on two power-play chances. Minnesota outshout Michigan, 33-24, on the night
In a fast-paced opening period, Kile gave Michigan an early lead on a great individual play on the fore check. Kile stole the puck in the slot from Minnesota defenseman Ryan Collins, cut quickly to his forehand and fired a shot off the stick of Collins past Schierhorn at 11:19.
Racine was at his best early in the second period, stopping a Justin Kloos net drive in the opening minute of the frame.
He made his best stop of the night at 2:20 of the period, kicking out his left pad on Darian Romanko's backhander in front.
Kile struck again with Michigan on the power play midway through the second period. Junior forward Tyler Motte drove the net for a shot near the left post. The puck deflected into the slot to Kile, who beat Schierhorn over the shoulder at 12:22.
Compher added an assist on the play to extend his point streak to 18 games, while Motte has points in 13 straight. Connor's two goals later in the game also helped him extend his point streak to 18 games.
"That was my first hat trick in five years...It feels good." - Alex Kile #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/E37CiZLDfx
-- Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) February 26, 2016
The Wolverines will finish the season series against Minnesota on Friday night (Feb. 26) with puck drop at 9 p.m. EST.
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Communications Contact: Jeffrey Weinstein
