Michigan
8-8-6,4-4-4-2B1G
Ohio State
12-5-4, 5-3-3-2B1G
Michigan Rallies to Defeat No. 4 Ohio State in Columbus
1/11/2019 10:52:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Hayden Lavigne stopped 22 of 23 shots to earn his fourth win of the year.
» Jake Slaker and Will Lockwood each found the back of the net in the second period.
» Quinn Hughes tallied his team-leading 18th assist in his return.
Site: Columbus, Ohio (Value City Arena)
Score: Michigan 2, #4 Ohio State 1
Records: Ohio State (12-5-4, 5-3-3-2 Big Ten), U-M (8-8-6, 4-4-4-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Jan. 12 -- at #4 Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 7 p.m.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The University of Michigan ice hockey team rallied from an early deficit to defeat No. 4-ranked Ohio State, 2-1, on Friday night at Value City Arena in a Big Ten Conference showdown.
"I am really happy for our players," said head coach Mel Pearson. "We had a short turnaround having played on Tuesday, and we came into a tough place to play against a top team in the country and first-place team in our conference. Our guys did a great job in critical moments of the game to get this win."
With sophomore defenseman Quinn Hughes back in the lineup after missing the last four games whjle participating in the World Junior Championship, the Wolverines maintained possession in the Buckeye end early, but could not capitalize on several opportunities. Ohio State got on the board just over five minutes into the game when Freddy Gerard scooped up a deflection and buried it past junior goaltender Hayden Lavigne.
Moments after the goal, OSU was awarded the game's first power-play opportunity after the Wolverines were whistled for tripping, but Michigan killed the penalty to keep the deficit at one goal.
Junior forward Will Lockwood created a chance by moving his feet through the slot while being dragged down attempting to shoot at the 18:42 mark. The Buckeyes were called for tripping to put Michigan on its first power play.
Despite leading in shots, 13-6, and winning 65 percent of the first period's faceoffs, the Wolverines went into the intermission trailing, 1-0, but with 48 seconds of time on the man-advantage remaining.
Just minutes into the second period, after the remaining Michigan power play time expired, two penalties were called on the same play which gave Ohio State two minutes of a 5-on-3 advantage. With Lavigne standing strong on several rebound chances, the U-M penalty kill unit was again successful, turning away chances from in close near the crease.
With momentum from the 5-on-3 penalty kill, Michigan responded when junior forward Jake Slaker skated to the right of center ice and into the zone before leaning into a wrist shot and sniping one past the Ohio State goaltender's helmet to tie the game at 1 with 13:20 remaining in the second frame.
After 10 minutes of hockey that saw the Scarlet and Gray ding several posts, Hughes picked up the puck in the U-M end and carried the play into the Ohio State zone by skating along the far boards, protecting the puck. After drawing several defenders down toward the corner, Hughes circled around and ripped the puck to the slot where junior forward Nick Pastujov was waiting. Pastujov calmly slid the puck backdoor to Lockwood, who was waiting to slam home a one-timer, putting the Wolverines, up 2-1, with 2:28 remaining in the period. After two periods, Michigan led by one goal, while holding an advantage in shots (24-19) and faceoffs (22-15).
After several minutes of scoreless hockey to start the third period, Lavigne was taken down behind the net while playing the puck, and U-M spent two minutes on the power play without converting for the third time in the contest. The next Grade-A chance came with 7:30 left in regulation, when senior forward Brendan Warren used a nice one-on-one move to smoothly sidestep a Buckeye defender before unleashing a clear shot attempt from inside the circles that was engulfed by the OSU goaltender's midsection.
As the final minutes ticked off the clock, the Maize and Blue turned away several chances by playing stout defense, blocking shots and holding the Buckeyes to shots from the perimeter. U-M won several key draws in its defensive zone in the final minute, icing the puck multiple times to secure the win and three Big Ten points.
The Wolverines will conclude their road series with the Buckeyes on Saturday night (Jan. 12) in Columbus. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network.
? @CoachPearsonUM following tonight's 2-1 win over No. 4 Ohio State!#GoBlue https://t.co/Vx4nLKaMIN
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) January 12, 2019
