Michigan hockey: Wolverines sweep Ohio State on senior weekend

Last weekend, No. 2 Michigan hockey took on No. 11 Ohio State in a nail-biting senior night series in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Though the Wolverines were missing four of their top players due to the Olympics, Michigan found a way to rally and defeat the Buckeyes in both games.

Game one

On Friday night, Michigan would come out hot against the Buckeyes. Even without standout players Owen Power, Kent Johnson, Matty Beniers, and Brendan Brisson, Michigan managed to contain the Buckeye offense and net five goals, two of which came in the closing minutes of the third period.

In the two teams’ first matchup, Michigan had been short-handed due to the World Juniors tournament. Their first series, which took place in early December and was played in Columbus, Ohio, saw a short-handed Michigan roster split the series, 1-1.

Short-handed the second time around, Michigan hockey took their second series against Ohio State with ease.

After Michigan scored three straight goals to open game one, Ohio State slowly battled their way back against the depleted Wolverines, eventually knotting the game at 3-3, heading into the third period.

After a hard-fought, physical third period of hockey, Michigan’s Nick Blankenburg would fire one past the Buckeyes’ goaltender, giving the Wolverines a 4-3 lead with less than seven minutes remaining. Minutes later, Michigan’s Luke Hughes would net the game-sealing empty-net goal. When the clock hit all-zeros, Michigan had come out on top, 5-3.

Game two

Saturday night was business as usual for the Wolverines, who managed to keep themselves in first place in the Big Ten standings.

Game two saw much of the same as Michigan hockey rolled past the Buckeyes once again. Although Ohio State had nearly made a comeback in game one, the Wolverines managed to fend off the Buckeyes in game two, eliminating them from the regular-season Big Ten title hunt.

Both teams seemed to get the bad end of a few calls in this whistle-ridden contest. Though neither team likes each other (for obvious reasons), this matchup proved to be more intense than previously expected.

Michigan played consistent hockey, scoring a goal in each of the game’s three periods, but the real shinning-star was goaltender Erik Portillo. Portillo saw a total of 30 shots, and numerous scoring opportunities yet stopped everything that came his way.

The Wolverines would get 36 shots of their own on net, scoring three goals off of their opportunities. After a first-period goal from Michigan’s Philippe Lapointe gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead, Michigan standout Luke Hughes would make one of the most impressive plays of the college hockey season thus far.

Hughes would make his way from end-to-end past numerous defenders, eventually making a move on the Buckeyes’ goaltender, switching to the backhand, and burying the shot for a 2-0 Michigan lead.

At the end of the game, one of Michigan’s less-known skaters, Mark Estapa, fired the puck down the ice and into the Buckeyes’ empty net with 2:49 remaining in the game. Upon the game’s end, the scoreboard read: Michigan 3, Ohio State 0.

Implications for Michigan hockey

Michigan hockey, now 25-7-1 on the season, remains in first place in the Big Ten standings; however, the Golden Gophers are close behind. With tied Big Ten records, the Wolverines must defeat Notre Dame in one or both games this weekend to take home a Big Ten Championship.

Michigan will square off against Notre Dame in South Bend this weekend, meanwhile Minnesota will face the Wisconsin Badgers. Though Wisconsin is experienced, the Badgers are one of the Big Ten’s worst teams this season. Expect Minnesota to take both games against Wisconsin this weekend, meaning Michigan will need to bring their A game against the Fighting Irish.

Author’s note: Due to both Canada and the United States losing their Olympic hockey matchups, the Wolverines will likely be getting their four skaters back in time for the Notre Dame series this coming weekend.