Michigan
11-6, 9-6-0-1-0
Wisconsin
13-8, 11-6-0-0-1
Second-Period Flurry Propels Michigan to Victory Over No. 7 Wisconsin
2/13/2021 5:22:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Erik Portillo made 29 saves on 30 shots faced to earn his third win of the year.
» Cam York recorded three assists to notch his first career playmaker.
» Luke Morgan scored a goal off the post in addition to collecting an assist.
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Yost Ice Arena)
Score: #8 Michigan 5, #7 Wisconsin 1
Records: U-M (11-6-0, 9-6-0-1 B1G), UW (13-8-0, 11-6-0-0 B1G)
Next U-M Event: Sunday, Feb. 14 -- vs. #7 Wisconsin (Ann Arbor, Mich.), 5 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Returning to competition in style following a lengthy pause, the No. 8-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team did not miss a beat on Saturday afternoon (Feb. 13) as it knocked off the No. 7 Wisconsin, 5-1, at Yost Ice Arena.
Cam York recorded a three-assist playmaker to drive the offense, while freshman netminder Erik Portillo stopped 29 of 30 shots to earn the win as U-M quickly found their game to dig themselves out of an early deficit.
The Badgers were granted a power play just 2:54 into the game, but Michigan's shorthanded unit succeeded in killing off what would be Wisconsin's only opportunity with the man-advantage.
Michigan's leading goal-scorer, Michael Pastujov, was shut down on a partial breakaway later in the period before Wisconsin converted on the counterattack. After Pastujov's shot was pushed aside to the corner, a Badger was there to collect the puck and send a stretch pass to spring Mathieu De St. Phalle for a breakaway chance, and he made a nice move before burying it top shelf to give UW a 1-0 lead 8:59 into the contest.
That tally by the visitors on the breakaway marked the period's only scoring. After 20 minutes, both faceoffs and shots on goal stood at 11-7 in Wisconsin's favor as they savored a 1-0 lead.
Early in the middle stanza, a forecheck by Thomas Bordeleau created a turnover at the Wisconsin blue line. The freshman skated in toward the Badger net before bringing the puck to his backhand and dishing the puck cross-crease to Brendan Brisson, who wasted no time before depositing the puck into the yawning cage to tie the game at 1 just 1:48 into the second period.
Ninety-two seconds later, Matty Beniers walked in on a rush and forced a crisp wrist shot through the wickets of the UW goaltender to give U-M a 2-1 lead. Kent Johnson and Luke Morgan collected assists on the marker.
Johnny Beecher continued the offensive output for Michigan less than four minutes later as he protected the puck while carving through the Wisconsin zone. The big sophomore drove to the blue paint where teammate Eric Ciccolini was waiting to bang home a rebound and propel U-M to a 3-1 lead. York picked up a helper on his classmate's goal at 7:05 of the second period.
At 16:08, Luke Morgan dug the puck out of the corner in the Michigan end before embarking on a dazzling full-ice sprint for the Wolverines' fourth goal of the period. The senior glided through center ice, picking up speed, until he flew into the Badgers' zone and ripped a wrist shot from the left circle that caught the inside part of the right post to find the back of the net and expand Michigan's lead to 4-1. York picked up his second assist of the game on Morgan's snipe.
After two periods, Michigan had flipped the script to break open a three-goal lead and chase the Wisconsin goaltender, who was replaced to start the third period.
After a competitive 15 minutes with Michigan comfortably ahead by three, Nick Granowicz pushed the lead to four when he deflected a shot attempt from the point past UW's new goalie with 4:59 remaining in the game. Keaton Pehrson and York earned assists on the goal.
The Maize and Blue mobbed Portillo after closing out the Badgers in a 5-1 decision to earn a critical three points in the Big Ten Hockey Conference with several games in hand on the teams slotted above them.
On Sunday (Feb. 14) Michigan and Wisconsin will finish off their season series with an early-evening contest. Puck drop at Yost Ice Arena is scheduled for 5 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus.
