Michigan
Stonehill
Power Play Helps Michigan Cruise to Another High-Scoring Win Over Stonehill
1/13/2024 10:15:00 PM | Ice Hockey
» Mark Estapa recorded his first three-point game on his birthday ans was named the game's First Star.
» The Wolverines power play went 5-for-6.
» Noah West made 17 saves in his second win of the season.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ich hockey team used a smoking-hot power play that converted on five of its six chances en route to a 7-1 win over Stonehill on Saturday night (Jan. 13) at Yost Ice Arena.
Mark Estapa had his first career three-point game, scoring twice and adding an assist on his 22nd birthday and was named the game's First Star. T.J. Hughes added two goals and Gavin Brindley had a goal and two assists.
A Michigan turnover in its own end resulted in Stonehill potting the first goal of the game at 3:40, but it was the only marker the Wolverines surrendered the rest of the way.
Hughes scored the game's next two goals, the first at 14:04 of the first on the power play and the second goal in the first minute of the second period. Hughes had a perfect seam pass from Rutger McGroarty for the first goal, with Brindley notching the secondary assist.
Stonehill (0-22-0) nearly got its second goal, but a successful Michigan challenge for offside left things even at 1-1 at the end of the first period of play.
Hughes collected his second of the game just one minute into the middle frame, with Dylan Duke and Josh Eernisse assisting. Hughes won the offensive-zone faceoff back to Seamus Casey as the Wolverines set up. Eernisse found Duke, who circled the puck around the back of the goal and sent it across the paint to Hughes for the tap in.
Three minutes later Ethan Edwards came up big with an excellent shift thwarting two shots as Stonehill searched for the game-tying goal. Noah West made two saves, the first after an errant pass behind the goal was picked by a Skyhawk and sent to a teammate on the far post. The second was a 2-on-1 opportunity with West picking up the back-door chance. West finished the night with 17 saves.
Michigan (10-7-3) scored twice within 1:02 midway through the second to gain a 4-1 advantage. Garrett Schifsky put one five-hole with Edwards and Estapa getting credited with the assists at 13:09. Duke redirected a Casey shot on the power-play to cushion the lead at 5-1. Brindley earned the secondary assist as the power play maintained a 100 percent conversion rate.
Brindley kept the power-play scoring going at 9:32 of the third period when he rifled a shot from the top of the left circle glove side. Casey at the top of the key and McGroarty on the right flank grabbed assists.
Estapa slammed in a Frank Nazar III rebound as the second power-play unit activated at 12:15. Nick Moldenhauer chipped in his first of two assists. The trio went to work again three minutes later for the team's seventh goal.
Michigan went 2-for-2 on the penalty kill and held a hefty 47-19 advantage in the faceoff dot.
Next Friday and Saturday (Jan. 19-20), Michigan and Michigan State will battle in a home-and-home series. Friday's (Jan. 19) game will take place in East Lansing, while Saturday's (Jan. 20) game is a Maize Out at Yost Ice Arena. Puck drop on both nights is slated for 7 p.m., both games will be streamed live on B1G+.
