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Michigan Hockey takes down Minnesota to win the Big Ten Title

By Maddie Steinbock

Mar 14, 2021; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan’s Matty Beniers (10) shoots during the Michigan vs. Ohio State Big Ten Hockey Tournament game Sunday, March 14, 2021 at the Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2021; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan’s Matty Beniers (10) shoots during the Michigan vs. Ohio State Big Ten Hockey Tournament game Sunday, March 14, 2021 at the Compton Family Ice Arena in South Bend. Mandatory Credit: Michael Caterina-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Michigan Wolverines Hockey team are Big Ten champs and are bringing the tournament trophy back to Ann Arbor. Michigan Hockey beat Minnesota with a final score of 4-3. While the final score made it look like a close, tight-knit game, Michigan dominated for nearly all 60 minutes.

How Michigan hockey got the win 

At the beginning of the first period, just 32 seconds into the game, Minnesota got on a breakaway. Jaxon Nelson scored to put Minnesota on top, that being the first shot on goal all night.

Luckily, Michigan responded quickly. At the 1:17 mark, #19 Brendan Brisson scored his 19th goal of the season with assists coming from Matty Beniers and Luke Hughes to tie the game up.

For most of the 1st period, it was a very equally played game. Both teams taking shots on goal, defense blocking shots, and both goaltenders playing remarkable.

However, that changed suddenly near the end of the 1st period. At the 17:51 mark, Mackie Samoskevich took a shot, and while attempting to stop the puck, it went off of a Gopher defensemen’s stick and went into the net. Yes, Minnesota scored on itself. The goal however was credited to Samoskevich and the score was 2-1 at the end of the 1st period.

2:07 into the second period, Michigan scored just right after Minnesota killed a Wolverine penalty. Dylan Duke got the goal and the assists came from Mackie Samoskevich and Thomas Bordeleau.

With the final goal of the game, the Wolverines went on the power play after a boarding call on the Gophers. Michigan’s top power-play unit went onto the ice and first-rounder Kent Johnson fired a shot and it went off the crossbar into the net. Making the score 4-1.

The score remained 4-1 for the rest of the second and for most of the third period. Until Minnesota drew a penalty on Nolan Moyle for hooking. The eventual score cut Michigan’s lead to 4-2.

Michigan got called yet again for hooking, this time on Jacob Truscott, and Minnesota scored with 5.8 seconds left in the game.

The final score was 4-3 and made it seem like a much closer game. However, Michigan hockey dominated almost the entire game, besides the final few minutes.

Nevertheless, Michigan got the win and won their first Big Ten Title since 2016. The Wolverines stormed the ice to celebrate and sure do have something to be proud of.

Many people did not think they could do it, yet here they are Big Ten Champions. They aren’t done yet though. Now, it is time for the NCAA tournament, where Michigan is projected to be a #1 seed.

This is when it matters most, the Wolverines must play their best game, every single game of the tournament, or their season is over. The road to the Frozen Four begins now.

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