Michigan
9-13-3, 2-7-2-2B1G
Michigan State
5-17-3, 1-8-2-0B1G
U-M Brings Home Iron D Trophy in Shootout Thriller
2/10/2017 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Feb. 10, 2017
» Nolan De Jong recorded the first two-goal game of his career, reaching the back of the net in the second and third periods.
» Evan Allen and Jake Slaker continue their impressive play each with points in four consecutive games.
» All three Michigan goal scorers, De Jong, Slaker and Max Shuart, had never scored a career goal against the Spartans.
• Boxscore 
| Photo Gallery 
| Postgame Report 
Site: Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)
Event: Duel in the D
Score: Michigan 4, Michigan State 4 (U-M wins shootout, 2-1)
Records: U-M (9-13-3, 2-7-2-2 B1G), MSU (5-17-2, 1-8-2-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 11 -- vs. Michigan State (Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
• Kornacki Postgame Feature: Coach Berenson Reflects on the Iconic Joe, Ilitch
DETROIT, Mich. -- In the last "Duel in the D" at Joe Louis Arena, the University of Michigan ice hockey team settled for a 4-4 tie with Michigan State before taking the shootout win, 2-1, on Saturday night (Feb. 10).
The Spartans started the scoring 36 seconds into the contest, when freshman Taro Hirose beat freshman goaltender Hayden Lavigne. Michigan State doubled its lead when forward Sam Saliba took advantage of a five-on-three power play with a one-timer with 13:10 remaining in the first period.
Freshman forward Jake Slaker cut the deficit in half with 5:06 left in the first when he followed his wrister and deflected the puck off Michigan State goaltender Ed Minney's pad into the back of the net. Slaker's sixth goal of the season increased his team-leading point total to 19.
Senior Max Shuart evened the score with 28.7 seconds still on the clock in the first period. After two saves from close range by Minney, the forward utilized the five-hole, elevating his point streak to three games.
Michigan State regained the lead halfway into the second period when senior Chris Knudson jabbed the puck off the skate of Lavigne for a goal after a blocked shot by defenseman Damian Chrcek.
After an interference call gave the Wolverines a power play with 5:50 remaining in the second period, junior Dexter Dancs redirected shot was called off for high sticking. Nonetheless, seconds later captain Nolan De Jong's slapshot beat newly inserted goaltender John Lethemon for a power-play goal to tie up the score at 3-3 entering the third period.
Early in the third period, De Jong netted his second goal of the game on a wrist shot from the point, assisted by sophomore defenseman Joseph Cecconi and freshman forward Steven Merl.
With 4:58 left in the contest, Saliba scored his second goal of the night, a one-timer assisted by forwards Villiam Haag and Logan Lambdin, to tie the game at 4-4.
After no goals were scored in the overtime period, the final "Duel in the D" entered a shootout. The Wolverines edged out the Spartans, with Lavigne making the game-ending save after junior defenseman Sam Piazza netted the shootout-winner.
The Wolverines will conclude the season series against Michigan State for the last regular-season contest between the two teams this season tomorrow night (Saturday, Feb. 11) at 7:30 p.m. at Yost Ice Arena.
Communications Contact: TJ Garske
