Michigan
14-9-1, 6-8-0
Minnesota
18-7-1, 12-3-1
Michigan Knocks Off No. 2 Minnesota in Overtime Thriller
1/21/2023 10:57:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Jacob Truscott scored two goals, including the game-winner, while putting five shots on goal.
» Adam Fantilli also had a two-goal game.
» Blueliner Luke Hughes notched three assists for a playmaker.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Junior defenseman Jacob Truscott capped off a tremendous weekend on the road by scoring the game-winning goal in front of a sold-out crowd, as the eighth-ranked University of Michigan ice hockey team knocked off No. 2 Minnesota by a 5-4 score in three-on-three overtime on Saturday night (Jan. 21) at 3M Arena at Mariucci. For the second straight game, 60 minutes failed to decide a winner. This time, the tables turned in Michigan's favor in the extra session as Truscott scored on the only shot of the frame.
Junior goaltender Erik Portillo was outstanding between the pipes for the Wolverines once again, making 26 saves on the 30 shots he faced from a high-octane Minnesota offense.
As fans settled into their seats less than a minute into the game, winger Mackie Samoskevich rang a rocket of a shot off the crossbar after Michigan (14-9-1, 6-8-0 Big Ten) flew out of the gates with a strong start.
Shortly thereafter, the Wolverines broke into the Minnesota zone for another rush and converted on the team's third shot on goal to take an early lead. Samoskevich had headmanned the rush before Minnesota native Jackson Hallum skated through the slot and bumped the loose puck back to open ice near right-shot defenseman Ethan Edwards. The blueliner immediately snapped a shot that popped in and out of the top corner of the net to give Michigan a 1-0 lead just 1:36 into the contest. Hallum earned the primary assist while Samoskevich picked up the secondary.
Following a U-M defensive stand that saw three blocked shots from freshmen forwards (two for T.J. Hughes and one for Rutger McGroarty), Samoskevich burst down the ice through the center lane and broke into the Minnesota end before being dragged down at 3:48 to earn the first power play of the night.
The visitors threatened to score on the inaugural man-advantage but failed to double the team's lead before play returned to even-strength.
Fresh off of a two-point game on Friday, Gavin Brindley dashed into the offensive zone on the left flank before carving in toward the crease and slowing to consider his options. An initial attempt from close to the goalmouth was blocked aside before Adam Fantilli crashed the crease and cleaned up the rebound for his 13th goal of the season at 7:45. Luke Hughes earned the secondary assist on Fantilli's tally.
Portillo was called for slashing as he worked to disrupt play in the U-M end with 10:04 left in the first period, so the Gophers started a power play. Michigan's penalty killers were able to dismiss the high-octane Minnesota attack, with Portillo making up for the opportunity by standing tall with a series of impressive stops.
As the teams left the ice for the first intermission, the Wolverines carried a 2-1 lead into the visitors dressing room along with an 11-7 advantage in shots on goal. Following up on their success in the dot on Friday night, the Gophers did hold an 11-8 edge in faceoff wins.
Michigan was penalized for high-sticking 1:38 into the second stanza to give Minnesota (18-7-1, 12-3-1 Big Ten) a power play with fresh ice. Early in the advantage, a Gopher forward drove to the net and tucked a power-play goal past Portillo's pad to tie the game at 2.
The Gophers took a 3-2 lead 3:21 into the second period with a deflection from the slot.
With the Wolverines looking for an answer, it was the freshman, Fantilli, who provided one after following the play into the slot and depositing his second goal of the night at 4:04. Luke Hughes had spun a clever pass in the neutral zone to Hallum, who carried the puck into the offensive zone. The swift Minnesotan darted in toward the right post before setting up the Fantilli one-timer to tie the game at 3.
A pair of penalties were called in succession on Michigan to give the home team a five-on-three advantage. Once again, Portillo was the team's strongest penalty killer as the Wolverines stymied the Gophers to keep the game tied while play eventually returned to five-on-five play.
Truscott, the stalwart defenseman, was rewarded for his outstanding all-around play with a go-ahead goal 17:14 into the second period. Forward T.J. Hughes showed poise and patience with the puck as he slowly worked through the offensive zone to force the opposing netminder out of position. With the Gophers scrambling in front of an open net, Truscott skated into the slot and rifled the puck into the center of the net to make it 4-3. Hughes notched the primary assist, while Samoskevich was rewarded for another strong shift with the secondary assist.
Nearing the end of the period, Truscott was hit in the head in the defensive zone on the end wall. After an official review, the Gophers were assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct.
After 40 minutes of play, Michigan held a 4-3 lead and carried 4:55 of power-play time into the third period. The Wolverines led in shots on goal, 22-17, but continued to struggle in faceoffs.
The Michigan power play threatened early, but the advantage waned and expired with the lead still at one. Just before the long chance expired, Luke Hughes was nabbed for tripping to give the Gophers nearly two minutes of power-play time at 4:52 of the third period.
Michigan's penalty killers were up to the task once again, moving to 4-for-5 on the night by successfully turning aside the first chance of the third period for the Gopher power play.
One great chance for the Wolverines came with eight minutes left in the third period when Seamus Casey stickhandled deep in the right corner and noticed a lack of pressure along the goal line. The freshman blueliner walked in along the red line and jammed a chance on net, but the goaltender's pad stood firm to deny him.
A late Michigan power play nearly doubled the team's lead, but the Gophers penalty kill withstood the two-minute threat and kept the score at 4-3.
For the second time in as many nights, the Gophers tied the game with less than five minutes remaining when a feed from behind the Michigan net was banged in by a Gopher with a one-timer from the slot to tie the game at 4 with 2:42 remaining in regulation.
The Wolverines nearly buried another go-ahead goal with just over one minute left, but the puck stayed out of the net as the teams searched for a critical fifth goal.
After 60 minutes of play, the game was knotted up at four goals apiece. Michigan held a 34-30 edge in shots on goal, but the teams continued to search for the extra conference point as play dropped to three-on-three for the five-minute extra session.
On the very first shot of overtime, Truscott secured a two-goal game by ripping a low shot into the back of the Gophers net that ended the game 49 seconds into the OT period. Luke Hughes earned his third assist of the night for a playmaker, while Brindley's hard work was rewarded once again with the other assist.
Next week, the Wolverines return to the friendly confines of Yost Ice Arena for a two-game series against Penn State on Friday and Saturday (Jan. 27-28). Puck drop for both games is set for 7 p.m. Friday's contest will be streamed live on B1G+, while the second meeting will be broadcast live on Big Ten Network.
