Hockey: Calderone’s Shootout Winner Gives U-M Extra B1G Point Over MSU

EAST LANSING, Mich.— The No. 19-ranked University of Michigan hockey team tied Michigan State, 1-1, in regulation, but won the shootout thanks to senior captain Tony Calderone. Sophomore goaltender Hayden Lavigne turned away 17 shots in the tie, and was perfect in the shootout — his second victory in a shootout this season.

The Wolverines faced adversity early, but were able to kill off a five-minute major penalty halfway through the first period. The penalty kill unit stymied the Spartan power play, allowing a single shot on goal during the five-minute span.

The first period proved to be a defensive battle, as neither team couldn’t break onto the scoresheet over the first 20 minutes. Only 12 shots made it on net between the two squads, with Michigan holding an 8-4 advantage.

It was the Maize and Blue that broke the deadlock, when defenseman Quinn Hughes scored 5:06 into the second frame. Sophomore forward Nick Pastujov shot the puck into the Spartan zone where Hughes picked it up on the forecheck. Hughes danced around the defenders and, as he was falling, slid the puck past the MSU goaltender for the U-M freshman’s second goal of the season. Senior forward Niko Porikos also picked up an assist on the goal.

Michigan State evened up the game at one apiece with 4:43 when Carson Gatt scored while the teams were playing with four skaters. Patrick Khodorenko brought the puck into the U-M zone and dropped it for Taro Hirose, who found Gatt waiting on the backdoor for the goal.

The best scoring opportunity of the third period came with just over two minutes remaining in regulation when Pastujov picked the puck up in the neutral and put a shot on net. Pastujov continued driving towards the goal and got his own rebound which narrowly missed becoming the go-ahead goal.

The Wolverines kept the pressure on in the final minutes of regulation, with the puck rarely leaving the Spartan zone in the last 120 seconds. Despite the offensive efforts, Michigan couldn’t find twine and the game went to overtime tied at 1.

Michigan continued to hem Michigan State in its own zone, with back-to-back shots from the slot with just over a minute remaining in the overtime session. Just like the end of regulation, the Wolverines couldn’t put the puck in the net and the game headed to a shootout for the additional conference point.

Neither team scored in the first two rounds with Hirose and Mitch Lewandowski being stopped by Lavigne, and Marody and Hughes stopped for U-M. After Lavigne stopped MSU’s Khodorenko in the third round, senior captain Calderone roofed his attempt into the Spartan net, securing the extra point for the Maize and Blue.

The 18 total shots allowed by Michigan is tied for second fewest the Wolverines have allowed all year, with the 16 allowed in regulation tied for the fewest allowed after 60 minutes. Meanwhile, U-M’s 38 shots were tied for the fourth most this season, and the most since the last time they put up 38 shots against Michigan State in the Great Lakes Invitational. The 20-shot differential is the second time this season the Wolverines have outshot their opponents by 20 or more.

The two teams conclude the weekend series with the third annual “Duel in the D”, tomorrow (Feb. 10) at Little Caesars Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the game will be aired on Fox Sports Detroit.

 

Release by mgoblue.com