Michigan Hockey: Preview and prediction for Big Ten title game

Here’s our preview and a prediction for Michigan hockey against Minnesota in the Big Ten hockey championship game. 

Coming off of a huge win against Notre Dame for the first time all season, Michigan travels to Minnesota this weekend to face off against the Golden Gophers in the Big Ten Hockey Championship.

Overall on the season, the record between Michigan and Minnesota is 2-2, both series being a split. This weekend is the tiebreaker matchup, and the winner will be named Big Ten Champions, and hoist up the tournament trophy at the end of the night.

Michigan just defeated Notre Dame for the first time all season in a nail-biter of a game. Michigan got on the board first with a goal by Matty Beniers, the assist coming from Brendan Brisson. Michigan only scored two goals that game, which is rare for the usually high-scoring Wolverines. However, they still came out with a win with a final score of 2-1.

Likewise, #1 seeded Minnesota beat the #5 seed Penn State in what should have been an easier matchup for Minnesota. However, the Gophers gave up a two-goal lead in the second period and the game went down to the wire. That is until with less than three minutes left in the third period, Gophers captain, Sammy Walker scored the game-winning goal.

This game is a very even matchup. Minnesota stands at 24-11 overall, while Michigan is 28-9-1 overall. Both teams have impressive wins against nationally-ranked teams both in and out of the Big Ten.

As stated previously, the overall record between these two teams this season is 2-2. Three out of four of those games were not close. Michigan won two games with scores of 6-2 and 4-1. Meanwhile, Minnesota won two games with a score of 5-1 and a 2-1 overtime win.

Both goaltenders, Erik Portillo and Justin Close were finalists for Big Ten Goaltender of the year. Close is 12-3 since taking over the starting goaltender spot to replace Jack LaFontaine. Erik Portillo is 28-9-1 on the season and has been extremely solid all season for the Wolverines.

However, both teams have been on a hot streak the past few weeks and are playing their best hockey when it means the most. This game is going to be a good one, and both teams must play an A+ game in all aspects to secure the win.

Big Ten Hockey championship prediction 

If Michigan plays like it has been this entire tournament, using top players to put shots on goal as well as playing team defense, then U-M should win this game.

The Johnson, Beniers, and Brisson line will have a major impact on this game, especially after their spectacular weekend against Notre Dame. But I would not be surprised if other players get on the score sheet as well. My prediction is Michigan wins 4-2.

Getting this win would mean everything for the Wolverines. The top NHL prospects from last year’s draft, Owen Power, Matty Beniers, Luke Hughes, and Kent Johnson all came back to this team for another season so they could get the chance to win a Big Ten championship or even the national championship.

Last year in the Big Ten tournament, the Wolverines suffered a gut wrenching loss against the Gophers, giving up a three-goal lead.

This ended up being their last game of the season, and the Wolverines look to get revenge this weekend. Next year’s team is going to look insanely different with the top prospects, as well as seniors departing.

This is their chance to achieve what was cut short from them last year. Michigan is going to leave their blood, sweat, and tears on the ice this weekend, and hopefully, they are the ones celebrating on the ice when the clock strikes 0.00.

The first puck will drop at 8 PM EST on Saturday. It will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.