Michigan taking on Boston University isn’t just a series of two tradition college hockey powers; it’s a matchup that you wouldn’t be shocked to see replayed in the NCAA Tournament. And if they do see each other again, it’ll be the tie-breaker after two well-played games in Boston last weekend. The No. 12 Wolverines split with the No. 11 Terriers last weekend, losing 3-2 on Friday night before bouncing back with a 4-2 win on Saturday.
On Friday night, Michigan jumped out to a 2-0 lead with Alex Kile scoring the first, and then getting the helper on Cooper Marody’s power-play goal. After a scoreless second period, The Terriers rallied to stun the Wolverines, tying the game with goals 12 seconds apart from Danny O’Reagan and Robbie Baillargeon. Doyle Somerby scored the winner with just under 3 minutes left to secure the win. Michigan had a late power-play opportunity but couldn’t cash in the tying goal.
On Saturday, it was Michigan’s turn to put together a three-goal period as the No. 12 Wolverines (6-2-1) jumped out a 3-0 lead after the first period. Marody and Kile scored power-play markers sandwiched around Brendan Warren’s goal. After a BU goal in the second period, Max Shuart scored his first of the season to restore the three-goal cushion. The win was Michigan’s first in five tries at the Agganis Arena.
Penn State 5, Alaska Anchorage 2; Penn State 1, Alaska Anchorage 1
Penn State took its longest trip of the season last weekend, and came away with a win and a draw in Anchorage. On Friday night, Andrew Sturtz scored even-strength and short-handed goals in the first period to give the Nittany Lions an early 2-0 lead, and Ricky DeRosa scored his third game-winning goal of the season early in the second period in a 5-2 win.
The Seawolves rallied to score twice 29 seconds apart to tie the game in the middle of the first period, but DeRosa, Curtis Loik and Kenny Brooks scored to close out the game.
On Saturday night, Luke Juha’s power-play goal early in the third period helped Penn State (7-2-3) earn a 1-1 tie. The Nittany Lions fired 19 of their 37 shots on goal in the final frame as they pushed for a winner that never came.
Michigan Tech 5, Michigan State 4 (OT); Michigan State 4, Michigan Tech 4
Michigan State squandered late leads in both weekend contests against a Michigan Tech squad that made its first visit to Munn Arena in 29 years.
On Friday night, Mark Auk scored for the Huskies with 1:40 left in regulation, setting up Tyler Heinonen’s winner with 42 seconds left in overtime. Michigan State had a 3-1 lead midway through the second period, thanks to goals from Joe Cox, Zach Osburn and Mackenzie MacEachern. Tech scored two quick goals to tie it before JT Stengelin scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season to reclaim a 4-3 lead.
On Sunday afternoon, goaltender Ed Minney made his first career appearance replacing Jake Hildebrand early in the first period and made 34 saves in the tie. The Spartans led 4-2 late in the third period before the Huskies tied the game with two goals in the final 3:53.
For the second straight game, their was a lot of action in the first period. Michigan Tech took a 1-0 lead 68 seconds into the game, but Thomas Ebbing quickly answered for the Spartans. Hildebrand was pulled after Tech scored at 7:22 to make it 2-1. Michael Ferrantino scored to tie the game after the first period.
MacEachern scored on a 5-on-3 power play to make it 3-2 in the second period, and Brennan Sanford scored his third of the season to make it 4-2 in the third. Tech tied the game with 52 seconds left in regulation.
After the overtime, the teams took part in a shootout. The Spartans (4-5-2) won it 2-0, although it doesn’t count in the standings. See more of the Michigan State-Michigan Tech series in PHN’s Best Shots of the Game.
Wisconsin 3, Denver 3; Denver 6, Wisconsin 2
Wisconsin scored three goals in a 4:08 span in the second period to take a 3-1 lead, only to have the Pioneers rally back in a 3-3 tie on Friday night at the Kohl Center.
Denver led 1-0 after the first period, but Matthew Freytag’s first career goal got the Badgers going. Jedd Soleway and Luke Kunin each scored their fourth goals of the season to continue the rally. Soleway’s goal forced Denver’s starting netminder Evan Cowley from the game, but Kunin beat new netminder Tanner Jaillet 27 seconds later. Trevor Moore and Evan Janssen scored 99 seconds apart later in the second period to force the tie.
On Saturday, Denver got two goals per period to knock off the Badgers 6-2. The Pioneers raced out to a 4-0 lead midway through the second period but two late Wisconsin (3-5-4) goals got the score to 4-2 after two. Denver scored early in the third period to restore some cushion late in the game.
Stars Of The Weekend
The stars of the weekend from the Big Ten are:
First star: Alex Kile, Michigan
Second star: Andrew Sturtz, Penn State
Third star: Mackenzie MacEachern, Michigan State
This Weekend’s Games
Michigan hosts Dartmouth on Friday and Saturday nights.
Michigan State hosts North Dakota for the first time in 35 years for Friday night and Sunday afternoon games.
Minnesota is home for Friday night and Sunday night games with St. Cloud State.
Penn State takes on Vermont in the Philadelphia College Hockey Faceoff at the Wells Fargo Center.
Ohio State travels to Nebraska-Omaha for Friday and Saturday night games.
Wisconsin is off this weekend.
Follow Lonny on Twitter @lonny_goldsmith and you can always reach him at Lonny.Goldsmith@prohockeynews.com
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