The up and down Michigan Men’s Hockey team split the weekend series with the Minnesota Golden Gophers losing 4-3. In a time where points are valued more than anything Michigan was coming off an impressive game win Friday, however, the first period Michigan was down by a 3-0 score. Michigan will be glad to see the two Minnesota players graduate Rim Pitlick and Tyler Nanne who added single goals in the first period and now have scored 18 points or more in the four years against Michigan scoring in each game for the Gophers.
The Second period Michigan got started with two goals from Michael Pastujov and a goal from Quinn Hughes to tie the game. The Wolverine power play was nil for the game as the went 0-7 in scoring chances and had two 5-3 chances with a game-ending 6-4 advantage but could not score. Tommy Novak scored a blue line shot past Michigan goalie Strauss Mann who had replaced the ineffective Hayden Lavigne for the game-winner.
The split puts Michigan in a position to have to win the Big Ten Tournament to get in the NCAA Frozen Four as they are tied for 4th with only 7 games to play and look to get on a hot streak this weekend when they have the Michigan State Spartans in Ann Arbor Friday night and in Detroit on Saturday.