The No. 1 Michigan hockey team has rarely found itself trailing this season. Concluding the first period, the Wolverines were once again in that familiar spot, holding a 1-0 lead over Minnesota as they fought to earn another series sweep. But the win wasn’t going to come easy, and it wouldn’t be long before Michigan’s weakness would be exposed.
The scream of the whistle halted play, prompting senior defenseman Luca Fantilli’s skate to the box as punishment for his hooking penalty. As soon as Fantilli’s skate left the ice and the door was closed, it would be the Wolverines’ special teams unit’s time to shine in an effort to kill off the penalty.
Michigan’s light, however, did not shine in the way it wanted. Instead, they were left illuminated by the goal horn signaling the Golden Gopher’s game-tying goal.
The Wolverines were left stunned by the team they had beaten 5-1 the night prior, a team they had limited to only three shots in the first period. In an attempt to respond, Michigan came out hot. Back-to-back shots and a nose for the net guided the Wolverines’ aggressive offense for the next three minutes.
Then the whistle blew.
Eight minutes into the second period, freshman forward Aidan Park would be called for slashing, serving two minutes in the penalty box. This would be the opportunity for the No. 28 penalty kill team in the NCAA to prove itself after an unsuccessful first impression. And it went terribly.
It took only ten seconds for Minnesota forward Brody Lamb to see an opening, sending one past freshman goaltender Stephen Peck to give the Golden Gophers the lead over the Wolverines, 2-1. Michigan was now 0-2 on the penalty kill, urging an even more regulated game to prevent that weakness from becoming vulnerable once more.
“You just got to move past those things,” senior forward Josh Eernisse said. “You can’t change what happened in the past. So, we knew that we had a big kill coming up, especially on that third one. So it’s just time to focus on that and stick to what our game plan is, what our process was.”
To Minnesota’s credit, its power play is a threat in itself. A No. 22 ranking with a .220 conversion rate is nothing to diminish, with the Golden Gophers slotting ahead of powerful competitors like No. 4 Michigan State and No. 9 Denver, each ranking No. 24 and No. 29, respectively.
However, Michigan had no interest in letting the penalty kill define its overall play. In a relatively disciplined game, the Wolverines drew only one more penalty, and this time it would be a different story.
Minnesota’s dominance over Michigan’s penalty kill was no more, as it struggled to get the puck past the Wolverines’ blue line. There was not a single shot recorded by the Golden Gophers in the two minutes served, making Peck’s job a little easier than before. The final act of the penalty kill was grand, being the boost of energy needed to finish the period strong.
“The third PK was outstanding,” Michigan coach Brandon Naurato said. “Honestly, when Luca Fantilli made that hit in the middle of the ice, I felt like it really got our bench going. So our PK has been good all year, just some mounts and stuff, and obviously they’ve got some talented players.”
The Wolverines’ efforts to change the narrative boded well in their favor, as senior forward T.J. Hughes was able to deliver in Michigan’s most dire moment, tying the game back up at two goals apiece. And none of the Wolverines’ expended energy went to waste once junior forward Jayden Perron secured the victory with his overtime-winning goal.
Michigan has left Minneapolis unscathed, taking home another two victories under its belt. But in the midst of satisfaction, the Wolverines’ most vulnerable state has been uncovered. The obstacle took hold of Michigan for a period, but it also unveiled a platform for the Wolverines to demonstrate their ability to adapt. And in a time where the postseason is no longer distant, this skill holds the highest value.
