Michigan
11-11-6, 7-7-4-2B1G
Michigan State
10-14-5, 6-9-4-2B1G
Wolverines Defeat Rival Spartans Heading into Duel in the D Rematch
2/8/2019 11:56:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Jack Becker and Michael Pastujov each scored two goals.
» Jake Slaker tallied three assists, his second "playmaker" in the last three games.
» Will Lockwood added three points (one goal, two assists).
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena)
Score: Michigan 5, Michigan State 3
Records: U-M (11-11-6, 7-7-4-2 B1G), MSU (10-14-5, 6-9-4-2 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Saturday, Feb. 9 -- vs. Michigan State (Detroit, Mich.), 7 p.m.
• Kornacki: How Pastujov Has Rebounded to Provide Spark
ANN ARBOR, Mich. --Â Behind two goals each from sophomore forwards Jack Becker and Michael Pastujov, the University of Michigan ice hockey team defeated in-state rival Michigan State, 5-3, on Friday night (Feb. 8) on Red Berenson Rink at Yost Ice Arena.
"The team's playing well and we are starting to score some goals, which we struggled with in the middle of the season," said junior Jake Slaker.
The Wolverines cracked the scoresheet first, just 3:32 into the contest, when Becker buried a rebound off a Quinn Hughes shot from the top of the right circle to put Michigan ahead, 1-0. Junior forward Will Lockwood picked up his 11th assist of the season on the tally.
The Spartans struck late in the period on a three-on-two rush to tie the game at one, when they put the puck past junior goaltender Hayden Lavigne with a quick wrist shot from the slot at 17:48. Neither team found the back of the net the rest of the period and the teams hit the first intermission knotted at 1.
At 2:52 of the second period, Pastujov gave U-M a 2-1 lead when he converted a one-timer from the low slot. Slaker controlled the puck behind the net before backhanding a pass to Pastujov who was waiting on the doorstep to deposit the puck through the Spartan netminder's five hole. Jimmy Lambert picked up the secondary assist on the marker.
Becker netted his second goal of the game, shooting the puck past Michigan State goaltender Drew DeRidder from the slot at 14:36 of the second period to put Michigan ahead, 3-1. Lockwood and freshman Nick Blankenburg tallied assists on the goal.
"Jack (Becker) was in the right place at the right time," said head coach Mel Pearson. "It's good to see him get some goals, and hopefully this will give him some confidence."
At 17:51 of the second period, freshman defenseman Jack Summers ripped a shot from the left point that hit the stick of a falling Lockwood and was redirected into the back of the Spartan net to give U-M a 4-1 lead heading into the final frame.
MSU tallied its second of the game to pull within two, 4-2, at 4:10 of the third period.
After a long review for goaltender interference, Pastujov was awarded his second goal of the night at 12:40 in the third period to put U-M ahead, 5-2. Slaker threw the puck on net after receiving a pass from junior defenseman Griffin Luce and Pastujov crashed the net to jam the rebound home while the MSU goaltender was falling to the ice from incidental contact. The goal was Pastujov's fifth in three games after coming off a three-goal weekend at Minnesota.
Michigan State closed out the scoring with its third goal at 15:19 of the third period. Lavigne ended the game with 20 saves, while Michigan State's DeRidder collected 31.
"The puck went in for us tonight and we finally got some separation," said Pearson.
Michigan extends its record to 160-134-24 in the all-time series against Michigan State while improving to 75-44-5 against the Spartans at Yost.
Michigan and Michigan State will reunite Saturday night (Feb. 9) when the rivals meet in the Motor City for their annual "Duel in the D" matchup at Little Caesars Arena, where the "Iron D" trophy will be back up for grabs. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on Fox Sports Detroit.
