[dropcap]T[/dropcap]wo of college hockey’s storied and historic teams, the Michigan Wolverines host the Wisconsin Badgers at Yost Ice Arena for game 2 of the weekend series. Michigan’s veteran leaders JT Compher and Tyler Motte lead the comeback against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 6-6 Overtime tie.
On Friday night the Wolverines did something very similar fashion coming back down a goal entering the last period. They won last night 6-4 with JT Motte scoring the game winning goal. This weekend’s Big Ten conference opener pinned two teams with a storied past not only linked to just Big Ten hockey but College hockey in general. The Wolverines entered the weekend series ranked #12 in the nation with a 7-2-2 record while Wisconsin came in with a 3-5-4 record. Coach Berenson started Junior Zach Nagelvoort in net and Wisconsin started Freshmen Matt Jurusik.
Michigan started the first period in Saturday night’s game a lot differently than they did on Friday. The Wolverines came out with passion, energy and what seemed to be a little anger. The line of Nieves, Selman and Kile knotted all 3 goals for the Wolverines in the first period. At 1:29 of the first Boo Nieves scored his 3rd goal of the season to put the Wolverines on top early. After Wolverines forward Alex Kile went to the box for charging, Michigan’s Justin Selman answered with a shorthanded goal at the 4:38. Wisconsin’s Ryan Wagner answered while on the Power Play beating Zach Nagelvoort at 5:39. Ryan Wagner would add his second power play goal of the game at 9:47 tying the game at 2. Michigan would take the lead at 15:45 when Justin Selman netted his second goal of the game and the period to give Michigan a 3-2 lead after the first period. Wisconsin outshot the Wolverines 11-9.
Tides and momentum would change in the second period in favor of the Wisconsin Badgers. Wisconsin scored 3 unanswered goals in the second to give them a 5-3 lead going into the third.
Wisconsin’s Tim Davison would add the first goal of the period when he scored through traffic while they had the extra attacker. Moments later Wisconsin’s Kevin Schulze would add the go ahead goal and coach Berenson pulled goaltender Zach Nagelvoort at 10:18 in the second after allowing two straight goals in 2 minutes and 4 seconds. Michigan’s freshmen goaltender Chad Catt did allow one goal on a Wisconsin’s Matthew Freytag would add his first goal of the night.
Michigan was trailing after two periods 5-3 to the Wisconsin Badgers at Yost Ice Arena on Saturday night. At the start of the third two of Michigan’s veteran leaders juniors Tyler Motte and JT Compher led the Wolverine charge to tie the game. Tyler Motte lead the charge in the third period when his linemate JT Compher fed him a nice backhand to that allowed him to beat Badgers goaltender Matt Jurusik to bring the Wolverines within one. Moments later at the 6:04 mark Michigan captain JT Compher tied the game when defensemen Nolan De Jong placed the puck perfectly on his stick to tie the game up. Halfway through the period defensemen Michael Downing would give the Wolverines the go ahead lead when he ripped a blistering wrist shot from the point. Wisconsin’s Matthew Freytag would add his second goal of the game tying the game at 6 when he deflected the puck passed Catt.
Wisconsin and Michigan were headed into Overtime. Michigan was on the power play for a minute and fifty seconds with a carryover power play from regulation but could not capitalize with the extra attacker. According to NCAA rules the game would be recorded as a tie but both teams would go to a shootout to see who got the extra point in the Big Ten standings. Chad Catt would not allow a single goal during the shootout while Wisconsin’s Matt Jurusik would allow a goal from Tyler Motte and the game winning goal by Alex Kile.
Michigan’s Chad Catt recorded the win for his first victory as a Michigan Wolverine and Wisconsin’s Matt Jurusik would get the overtime loss. Wisconsin outshot the Wolverines 40-34.
Michigan will face off against Minnesota at Yost. Game 1’s puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 PM EST.
