The big takeaway from this weekend were the two very big wins for Michigan. Heading into Duluth, the Wolverines had a lot of hype but just hadn’t been seriously tested yet. But with a convincing win over UMD — a tough NCHC opponent — and a close, resilient win over No. 1 Minnesota State, it’s hard to doubt the Wolverines at the moment.
They’ll most likely be the new No. 1 team in the nation.
As for the rest of the pack, Minnesota State won’t fall too far in this week’s poll. Its 5-2 win over Providence was a good one and in the 3-2 loss to Michigan, the Mavericks outshot the Wolverines 29-19. Senior Reggie Lutz continued his great season, posting a hat trick against Providence.
Minnesota Duluth lost badly to the Wolverines Friday night, but made up for it with a gutsy, 3-2 win over the Friars in front of a home crowd Saturday. Forward Quinn Olson had the play of the weekend when he toe-dragged a defender and then went through his legs to dish it to Dominic James for the goal.
James with his first collegiate goal with a beauty of an assist from Olson
— UMD Men's Hockey (@UMDMensHockey)
The Friars lost both games and will slide down the rankings a bit, but they hung in there and played UMD well, outshooting the Bulldogs 28-26. Forward Brett Berard had two goals over the two games this weekend.
's lead! x — The NCHC (@TheNCHC)
No. 5 Minnesota Duluth took care of business in the finale of its own Ice Breaker Tournament, beating No. 10 Providence, 3-2.
Noah Cates scored the game-winner less than four minutes into the third period when he made a great wrap-around and tucked it past Providence goalie Jaxson Stauber to make it 3-2. That came shortly after Friars forward Brett Berard potted a power play goal just 30 seconds into the final frame to make it 2-2.
After Providence forward Patrick Moynihan opened the scoring and gave the Friars a 1-0 lead in the first period, it was Minnesota Duluth forwards Jesse Jacques and Dominic James giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead in the second.
UMD goalie Ryan Fanti finished the night stopping 26 of 28 shots. Stauber stopped 23 of 26 Minnesota Duluth shots.
's lead! x — The NCHC (@TheNCHC)
The Bulldogs quickly responded to Providence's period-opening score by netting one of their own.
Forward Noah Cates beat Providence's defense and made a sick wrap-around goal to put Minnesota Duluth up, 3-2.
The Bulldogs lead, 3-2, with 16:40 to play in the game.
2:15 am, October 17, 2021
Providence 2, Minnesota Duluth 2 | 19:30 P3
Just 30 seconds into the final frame, Providence tied it up, 2-2.
Friars forward Brett Berard brought the puck around the Minnesota Duluth net and roofed it over goalie Ryan Fanti for a beautiful snipe.
The game is tied 2-2 with 19:30 to play in the game.
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky)
What. A. Pass.
Minnesota Duluth forward Quinn Olson toe-dragged a defender and passed the puck through his legs to forward Dominic James for the one-time goal. Can't say that's something we see every night.
Along with Olson, Blake Biondi registered an assist.
Minnesota Duluth leads, 2-1, with 9:52 to play in the second period.
— UMD Men's Hockey (@UMDMensHockey)
After many chances, Minnesota Duluth forward Jesse Jacques finally slapped home a rebound past Providence netminder Jaxson Stauber, tying the game, 1-1.
Kobe Roth and Owen Gallatin registered assists on the goal.
It's 1-1 with 18:32 to play in the second period.
— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey)
Providence forward Patrick Moynihan opened the scoring with less than six minutes to play in the first period, putting the Friars up 1-0.
Moynihan corralled the puck in the slot and backhanded one past Minnesota Duluth goaltender Ryan Fanti.
Chase Yoder and Guillaume Richard registered assists.
〽️ — Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey)
Minnesota State, the No. 1 team in the country, had No. 3 Michigan on the ropes in the final three minutes of the game.
Down 3-2, the Mavericks pulled goalie Dryden McKay in favor of an extra skater with 2:48 left. Then the Mavericks drew a penalty, ensuring a man-advantage for almost the rest of the game. After some extended 5-on-4 time and with 48 seconds left, McKay went back to the bench to give Minnesota State a 6-on-4.
The Wolverines bent, but they never broke in those dying minutes, hanging on for a 3-2 win over the No. 1 team in the country.
Michigan forward Brendan Brisson potted the game-winner with 4:20 left in the third period when he one-timed a pass from Thomas Bordeleau past Minnesota State goalie Dryden McKay to make it 3-2. Brisson would go on to win player of the game.
to the Victors!
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey)
After getting on the board first with a Nick Blankenburg power play goal, Michigan quickly found itself down 2-1 at the end of the second period after Mavericks forwards Julian Napravnik and Ryan Sandelin potted lamplighters of their own.
Bordeleau was the one to tie it, 2-2, less than five minutes into the third period.
Michigan goalie Erik Portillo stood strong, stopping 27 of Minnesota State's 29 shots. McKay blocked 16 of 19 shots from the Wolverines.
This game will have huge implications for the top 10. It's easy to assume Michigan is the new No. 1 team in the country.
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey)
With just 4:20 left in the game, Michigan forward Thomas Bordeleau threaded a beautiful pass across the zone to Brendan Brisson who one-timed a shot past Minnesota State goalie Dryden McKay to make it 3-2.
It's Brisson's second goal of the tournament.
3-2 Michigan with 4:20 left in the third.
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey)
Despite having some offensive troubles tonight, Michigan tied the game when forward Thomas Bordeleau tipped a shot from Jacob Truscott past Dryden McKay.
It's 2-2 with 15:40 to play.
— Minnesota State Hockey (@MinnStMHockey)
After a first period that resulted in zero goals for either side, the middle 20 minutes featured a lot more offensive, with the Mavericks leading, 2-1.
The scoring started when Michigan defender Nick Blankenburg ripped a one-timer past Minnesota State goalie Dryden McKay on the power play to make it 1-0.
Minnesota State responded with a pair of goals from in-tight on Michigan. First it was Mavericks forward Julian Napravnik going high on Michigan goalie Erik Portillo. Then, with 49 seconds to play in the period, it was Ryan Sandelin registering a rebound on the power play.
Minnesota State leads in the shot category, out-shooting Michigan 19-10 through two periods.
— J.D. Burke (@JDylanBurke)
It's hard to script a better final half of a period than that.
After already scoring one with roughly six minutes to play, Minnesota State added another with 49 seconds left to give itself the 2-1 lead.
Mavericks forward Ryan Sandelin picked up the loose puck in front and pushed it past Michigan goalie Erik Portillo for the power play marker.
Lucas Sowder and Akito Hirose registered assists.
2-1 Minnesota State, 49 seconds left in the second period.
) picks up the primary helper on this one. — J.D. Burke (@JDylanBurke)
Minnesota State responded to Michigan's tally by getting one of its own when forward Julian Napravnik roofed one over Michigan goalie Erik Portillo.
Nathan Smith and Cade Borchardt registered assists.
1-1, 6:04 to play in the second period.
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey)
After not having much offensive success in the first period, Michigan opened the second period on the man-advantage.
Senior blueliner Nick Blankenburg let a bomb of a one-timer go from the blue line to give Michigan the 1-0 lead just 55 seconds into the second.
Michael Pastujov and Luke Hughes registered assists on the play.
1-0 Michigan, 19:05 to play
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey)
No. 3 Michigan is known for its high-flying offense full of first-round picks. No. 1 Minnesota State is known for its stingy defense backed by star goalie Dryden McKay.
Even though it’s scoreless, the strength of the Mavericks is winning out, as they limited the Wolverines to just three shots through the first 20 minutes. By comparison, the Mavericks posted eight.
The next two periods will be a battle of whether or not Michigan can break through and get quality zone time in Minnesota State’s end.
