On Saturday night, both the Wolverines and Huskies battled in Game 2 of their weekend series at Yost Ice Arena. A late period goal by Cutler Martin tied it up at 3 for the Wolverines.
On Friday night, we saw the Michigan Wolverines freshman Will Lockwood score the game winning goal in the last 52 seconds of the third period shorthanded to give the Wolverines a 4-3 victory after they gave up a third period lead.
“I don’t like how we gave up the lead in the third period again,” Coach Berenson had to say after the Wolverines blew a 2-1 lead in the third period of Saturday night’s game.
The Wolverines have given up the lead to each of their five games this season. This would be an all too familiar occurrence for the Wolverines.
Michigan would start freshman goaltender Jack LaFontaine, who won at Ferris State 2-1 last Saturday. This would be LaFontaine’s first start at Yost Ice Arena.
“It was crazy,” Freshman Jack Lafontaine said about his first start at Yost Ice Arena. “It’s always nice to be in our home building. I think this has to be one of the coolest atmospheres in college hockey.”
The game had similar intensity of what it was like on Friday night. Yes, there was no 1996 National Championship presentation or a legendary Score-O. Michigan would once get an early lead, which they’ve had the early lead in all 5 of their games this season. Freshman Will Lockwood would score his third goal of the season on the power play at 3:36.
At 12:28 of the first, Michigan Tech’s Michael Neville would tie the game up at 1. Even though the first period was tied, Michigan Tech outshot Michigan 12-6 in the first period.
Michigan Tech would manage to dominate the second period at Yost even though there were opportunities for Michigan to get shots on net, they were not able to generate much of anything. Senior Alex Kile would give the Wolverines the lead with: 40 seconds remaining in the second on a beautiful goal past senior goaltender Matt Wintjes. Michigan would once again be out shot in the period 15-3 and if it weren’t for LaFontaine the Wolverines wouldn’t have the lead heading into the third period.
The Wolverines came into the final period with what could’ve been game changing momentum but the Huskies would take the wind out of the sellout homecoming crowd at Yost. 5:47 of the third is when Chris Leibinger would tie the game up on a shot that would fool LaFontaine. Less than two minutes later, the Huskies would take a 3-2 lead when freshman Thomas Beretta scored his first collegiate goal.
Michigan would once again be forced to play with desperation to tie the game up. Michigan Tech would have many quality scoring chances in the Wolverines zone but the freshman goaltender would stand his ground with remarkable saves.
Junior Cutler Martin would tie the game up when he would knock a loose rebound past Wintjes. The goal would be reviewed but confirmed at a good goal. Momentum and a breath of fresh air was felt inside Yost. Both teams tried their hardest to get the winning goal but both goaltenders were phenomenal. The third period would end tied 3-3 and those at Yost would get some free hockey.
Michigan Tech would spend most of the overtime period in Michigan’s defensive zone and LaFontaine would once again make sprawling phenomenal saves throughout the overtime period. The game would officially end in a 3-3 tie but Michigan and Michigan Tech would compete in an exhibition shootout. Alex Kile would score an insane goal similar to a goal that if you’re a Detroit Red Wings fan, have seen Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyk use in a shootout. Michigan Tech would score on their first shootout chance. Lockwood and Heinonen would miss. Freshman Jake Slaker would score the game winning goal for the Wolverines.
“Michigan Tech was better than us on the game,” Berenson said. “Our team has to be better.”
After Saturday’s night game, the team has a few issues but that does come with a new young team that still needs to gel and work on their chemistry as a whole. Michigan did lose their top five scorers from a season ago.
The Wolverines will be away from Yost the next few weeks and this stretch of games will definitely show what this Michigan team has. Do they have a fifth straight game where they blow a third period lead?
Michigan travels to the east coast next week where they will play at Vermont on Friday night and Dartmouth on Saturday night. Puck drop for Friday night’s game against Vermont is scheduled for 7 PM EST.
