Michigan
4-0-0, 2-0-0B1G
Wisconsin
2-2-0, 2-2-0B1G
Bordeleau's Overtime Magic Secures Win, Sweep of No. 14 Wisconsin
11/20/2020 11:25:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Thomas Bordeleau scored the game-winning goal with 27 seconds remaining in OT.
» Strauss Mann stopped 22 of 23 shots faced to earn his fourth win of the season.
» Nick Granowicz scored in the first period; four of his nine career goals have been against Wisconsin.
Site: Madison, Wis. (LaBahn Arena)
Score: #6 Michigan 2, #14 Wisconsin 1 (OT)
Records: U-M (4-0-0, 1-0-1-0 Big Ten), UW (2-2-0, 2-1-0-1 Big Ten)
Next U-M Event: Friday, Nov. 27 -- vs. Notre Dame (Yost Ice Arena), 7 p.m.
MADISON, Wis. -- In a matchup that took extra time to determine a victor, the sixth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team knocked off No. 14 Wisconsin, 2-1, on Friday night (Nov. 20) at LaBahn Arena. Freshman forward Thomas Bordeleau provided the game-winning goal off an exceptional solo effort. With the victory, the Wolverines picked up five points in the Big Ten standings with a two-game sweep of the Badgers.
Friday was the first time that the new NCAA overtime rules came into play for the Wolverines, as collegiate playing rules now feature a 3-on-3, five-minute NHL overtime instead of the traditional 5-on-5 format.
Wisconsin (2-2-0, 2-1-0-1 Big Ten) had a couple dangerous chances early in the overtime, but Michigan (4-0-0, 1-0-1-0 Big Ten) started to control possession with its three-man units. Bordeleau seamlessly executed a highlight-reel toe drag around Wisconsin defenders in the slot before patiently waiting and flipping a backhand shot over the sprawled Badgers netminder to ice the game for Michigan and garner an extra B1G point with 27 seconds left on the clock. Classmate Owen Power assisted on the play as Michigan head coach Mel Pearson earned career win No. 175.
It was redemption for Bordeleau, who was called for a faceoff violation with 5:53 remaining in the third period. Less than a minute after killing off that penalty, the Wolverines were tagged again, this time for tripping. As Wisconsin threatened, Jack Summers came up with a massive block before Strauss Mann kept the puck from crossing the goal line amidst a pile-up in the paint. The junior netminder stopped 22 shots to earn his fourth victory of the season.
A scoreless first period was broken earlier in the second when Wisconsin converted on its second power-play opportunity. Roman Ahcan hit the back door on a feed from Tarek Baker to give the Badgers a 1-0 lead and the first goal of the game for the second time in the series.
Michigan's pressure paid off at 13:59 when Nick Granowicz perfectly positioned himself near the net to bury a rebound and tie the game at 1. Johnson had carried the puck into the zone on the left side, threading a centering pass through a defender to an open Matty Beniers. Beniers, bearing down on Wisconsin's goalie, ripped a low shot off the pad that skittered out in Granowicz's direction for the goal.
With the win, U-M moves to 4-0 on the season -- the first time it has started 4-0 since 2011-12. Through four games, the Wolverines have scored 18 goals (4.5 goals per game) while allowing just four. Bordeleau (two goals, five assists, seven points), Beniers (2G, 3A, 5P) and Johnson (1G, 6A, 7P) have recorded points in each of their first four NCAA games. Mann is 4-0 with a .952 save percentage and a 0.98 goals-against average.
Next Friday (Nov. 27), the Wolverines will return to Yost Ice Arena to play Notre Dame. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network Plus. Game time and network designation for next Saturday's (Nov. 28) contest against Notre Dame remains TBA.
