Michigan
5-3-0, 1-0-0-0B1G
Notre Dame
4-4-1, 1-2-0-0B1G
'SNL' Line, Special Teams Propel Michigan to Win over No. 6 Notre Dame
11/9/2018 11:45:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Michigan's "SNL" line of Jake Slaker, Josh Norris and Will Lockwood recorded its 14th goal of the season, with Slaker scoring his fifth.
» The Wolverine special teams units went five-for-five on the penalty kill, while recording two power-play goals.
» With the victory, freshman netminder Strauss Mann earned his third win after making 26 saves.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #14 Michigan 2, #6 Notre Dame 1
Records: U-M (5-3-0, 1-0-0 Big Ten), NDÂ (4-4-1, 1-2-0 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Nov. 10 -- vs. Notre Dame (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena), 7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 14-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team defeated No. 6-ranked Notre Dame, 2-1, on Friday night (Nov. 9) at Yost ice arena in the opening game of a two-game series at Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena.
The "SNL" line of Jake Slaker, Josh Norris, and Will Lockwood continued its impressive play, recording two points on the evening. So far this season, the trio has combined for 25 points and has accounted for 14 of the Wolverines' 27 goals (51.8 percent).
"I liked our game," said head coach Mel Pearson. "We played well defensively, we played with the lead, added a couple power-play goals and did a good job on the penalty kill -- especially with the game on the line in the third period."
Michigan's best chance in the early stages of the opening period came during a two-on-one after the Wolverines killed off their lone penalty of the period. When they returned to full strength, sophomore Quinn Hughes took the puck up the right side of the rink into the Fighting Irish zone and passed it across to Norris, whose shot went just wide of the net.
"We were really looking forward to this game," said Hughes. "They're one of the best in the country, so it was fun to play them and it was good to see where our game is, and it's encouraging to win tonight."
Defensively, freshman netminder Strauss Mann kept the game scoreless heading into the first intermission, as he saved each of the 14 shots he faced.
Notre Dame got on the scoreboard first when Matt Hellickson slipped the puck by Mann to give the Irish a 1-0 lead 1:35 into the second period.
Michigan got the equalizer at the 3:54 mark after Hughes brought the puck up the left side and into Notre Dame's zone, then wrapped a pass around and in front of the net. That pass ricocheted off Lockwood's skate and onto the stick of Jake Slaker, who buried the backhand shot to even the score at 1.
At the 5:36 mark, the Wolverines went on the power play after Notre Dame was whistled for high-sticking. Michigan capitalized on the man-advantage when senior defenseman Nicholas Boka passed the puck from the blue line to junior forward Nick Pastujov, who took a shot that made its way past the left shoulder of the Irish goaltender. Pastujov's fourth goal of the season gave the Wolverines a 2-1 lead was the eventual game-winner.
Michigan's defense took control of the game in the third period, when they held the Fighting Irish to just two shots on goal. The last time the Wolverines allowed team to two shots in the third period was last season (Jan. 13, 2018) at Minnesota.
Mann earned his third win between the pipes and recorded 26 saves in the effort.
The Wolverines will conclude their weekend series against Notre Dame on Saturday (Nov. 10) at 7:30 p.m., when Michigan will battle the Fighting Irish at Yost Ice Arena.
