Michigan
9-11-2, 4-7-1-0B1G
Notre Dame
10-9-3, 5-5-2-1B1G
Michigan Downs No. 14 Notre Dame to Finish Sweep of Irish
1/11/2020 9:48:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Strauss Mann stopped 25 of 26 shots to earn his ninth win of the season.
» Jack Summers scored the game-winning goal in highlight-reel fashion.
» Nick Blankenburg scored one goal and added an assist on Jake Slaker's empty-netter.
Site: South Bend, Ind. (Compton Family Arena)
Score: Michigan 3, #14 Notre Dame 1
Records: U-M (9-11-2, 4-7-1 Big Ten), ND (10-9-3, 5-5-2 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Jan. 17 -- vs. Penn State (State College, Pa.), 7 p.m.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Nick Blankenburg scored a goal and added an assist, and Strauss Mann made 25 saves as the University of Michigan ice hockey team defeated No. 14-ranked Notre Dame, 3-1, on Saturday night (Jan. 11) at Compton Family Arena to complete a sweep of the Irish.
The Wolverines earned a crucial six points over the weekend, and the sweep was their first on the road since January 2018 when a sweep at Minnesota propelled the 2017-18 squad on a run to the Frozen Four.
One night after Mann held the Fighting Irish scoreless in Michigan's first shutout inside Compton Family Arena, Notre Dame opened the game-two scoring less than two minutes into the game with an early deflection.
With the puck at the left point, Mann was in position to make his first save before Graham Slaggert skated near the blue paint and tipped the point shot fluttering over Mann and into the back of the net. Slaggert's third goal of the season gave Notre Dame a 1-0 lead just 1:45 into the game. The Maize and Blue pressed throughout the first 20 minutes but could not tie the game before the first intermission. Michigan trailed after one period but led in shots (10-9) and faceoffs (12-10). Each team also went 0-for-2 on the power play.
The early portion of the second frame was marked by each team's third unsuccessful man-advantage opportunity, but the fourth power play turned out to be the charm for Michigan after a was called for interference in the middle of the period. Defenseman Nick Blankenburg quarterbacked the ensuing power play, waiting at the point for traffic to develop in front of the Irish net. Seconds later, with Will Lockwood and Jacob Hayhurst providing screens, Blankenburg unleashed a wrist shot labeled for the top corner of the net to tie the game at 1 with 8:32 left in the second. Freshman Cam York picked up his sixth assist of the year on Blankenburg's third tally.
Five minutes later with Michigan channeling the momentum from their game-tying goal, Lockwood received the puck from freshman winger Nick Granowicz and went on a skate around the Notre Dame zone. After swooping behind the net and gliding past the half-wall, Lockwood circled toward the Big Ten logo just inside the blue line. As he reached the center of the Notre Dame zone, Lockwood sent a perfectly placed backhand saucer pass through several defenders onto the tape of defenseman Jack Summers cutting toward the front of the net. Summers made a move to his backhand and finished a highlight-reel goal to put the Wolverines in front, 2-1, with 3:27 left in the middle frame. After two periods of play, Michigan held onto a one-goal lead while extending its advantage in shots to 28-16.
Early in the final period with U-M protecting a one-goal lead for the second consecutive night, Notre Dame thought it had the game-tying goal when an ND forward sent a wrist shot square off the right post. The puck then dribbled through the crease before being cleared away to safety by a retreating Michigan skater.
After the early scare, the bulk of the third was spent in the Irish end with Michigan ensuring it consistently reached the red line before dumping the puck in to forecheck deep in the Irish zone and attempt to churn up additional offensive chances. With just under 90 seconds remaining in the game, the Notre Dame net was emptied as six UND skaters began to cycle the puck around the Michigan zone, pouring everything they had at Mann.
With time dwindling and three critical Big Ten points on the line, a loose puck in the Michigan crease was diverted away from danger by Blankenburg. Hayhurst received the cleared puck from Blankenburg and quickly dished it back to the slot where Jake Slaker was waiting to fire the puck 150 feet down the ice toward the empty net. The gamble paid off as Slaker's heave found the back of the net with 20 seconds on the clock to seal a big win and series sweep.
Mann made 25 saves on 26 shots faced and earned his ninth win of the season. Michigan ended the game with 35 shots. With the weekend victories, Michigan has doubled its conference win total as it heads into next weekend's showdown against first-place Penn State. The Wolverines will take on the Nittany Lions on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18, in State College, Pennsylvania. Puck drop on Friday night (Jan. 17) is scheduled for 7 p.m., while Saturday's (Jan. 18) contest will begin at 6 p.m. Both games will be streamed live on BTN Plus.
