Through the first two periods of the game, the No. 2 Michigan hockey team doubled Ohio State’s shots, 30-15. Even though the Wolverines weren’t finding the back of the net, shots kept rolling off the sticks.
As Michigan entered the third period tied at two a piece, something was waiting to give as its pressure on the Buckeyes’ goaltender Kristoffer Eberly only intensified. And when the Wolverines pushed for a third goal to grab the lead, the flood gates officially opened.
“Those games can go, like it’s all going your way.” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “But it doesn’t go in and they get one. I felt like that was kind of the beginning of the game, but good for our team for continuing to fight.”
Michigan made its offensive presence known starting right in the first period. With consistent shooting and strong power-play attempts, the Wolverines crowded the crease looking for their one of many attempts to break through.
That same frustration bled into the second period as Michigan struggled to grasp the lead. After repetitive tries ended in blocked pucks and clutch saves by Eberly, the Wolverines headed into the third with the same game plan — peppering the net until they could celebrate.
As senior forward T.J. Hughes relentlessly had tried the net through the beginning of the game, he was ready for his moment. Freshman forward Adam Valentini circled from behind the net to the waiting stick of Hughes in the slot. With one shot, Hughes not only silenced Michigan’s scoring woes, but officially started its third-period rally.
“He’s an unbelievable captain and he played well all over the ice tonight,” senior defenseman Luca Fantilli said. “He was laying some big hits and playing amazing defensively. Then he had like five shots in the slot to score, and to see him get that one, it was really well deserved. I was happy he got that.”
The Wolverines didn’t let up from their offensive pressure with only a one-goal cushion supporting them in the final 10 minutes of the game. Michigan dominated the offensive zone time giving Ohio State few opportunities to generate chances of its own.
Eventually in the last five minutes of the game, the Wolverines’ unrelenting shots caused Eberly to blunder. Senior defenseman Tyler Duke sent a slap shot from the blue line looking to get the puck on net and, just as he intended, senior forward Josh Eernisse delivered with a tip to put it away.
As Michigan relished the fruits of its labor, the Wolverines had finally broken down the walls they were chipping away at all night. And when Fantilli saw the open lane and an empty net in the closing minute of the game, he grabbed Michigan’s easiest goal of the game — and watched the bounce go his way for the 5-2 win.
“You just think about that you’re getting the chances,” Fantilli said. “You know what’s going to come, but you just gotta stick to it. You can’t be upset that you missed an opportunity or something. As long as you stick with it, and we keep playing the right way, those bounces are going to go in.”
While the Wolverines incessantly fired pucks, they were fighting to produce a goal in return. By continuing its pressure, Michigan found not only the back of the net, but a win as well.
