College Hockey Series of the Week: No. 2 Michigan at No. 9 Notre Dame
It is the last week of the college hockey season, but big games are still happening right before tournament season begins.
No. 2 Michigan will travel to South Bend, Indiana to play the No. 9 ranked Notre Dame on Friday and Saturday.
The Wolverines are currently ahead of the second place Minnesota by just two points while the Fighting Irish sit just a point back of the Ohio State Buckeyes, which makes winning these two games very important for both teams.
To add to it, Michigan’s defenseman and New Jersey Devils prospect Luke Hughes won this week’s Big Ten first star with his three-goal performance over the weekend while Notre Dame’s goaltender Matthew Galajda won the second star of the week after stopping 63 of the 66 shots he faced against Michigan State.
In net on the Michigan side, goaltender Erik Portillo, a Buffalo Sabres prospect, was named as a Mike Richter Award semifinalist.
Michigan is led in goals by Golden Knights prospect Brendan Brisson with 17 and in assists by Blue Jackets prospect Kent Johnson with 24.
Seattle Kraken prospect Matty Beniers leads the team in points with 36.
The Fighting Irish are led in goals and points by junior forward Max Ellis with 16 and in assists by Predators prospect Spencer Stastney with 18.
The last time the teams met back in November, Notre Dame was able to control the NHL talent of the Wolverines and sweep the series with a pair of overtime wins.
Michigan led the first game 2-0 on goals by Brisson and Beniers, but then Notre Dame came back with goals from Hunter Strand and Blackhawks prospect Ryder Rolston with Rolston netting the game winner.
Michigan received four penalties that game including a game misconduct on Garrett Van Wyhe in overtime that led to the Rolston goal.
The Wolverines also led the second game by a score of 2-0 on goals by Panthers prospect Mackie Samoskevich and Sharks prospect Thomas Bordeleau.
The Fighting Irish then countered by scoring three straight goals by Graham Slaggert, Jesse Lansdell and Ellis.
Nick Blankenburg would tie it up for Michigan before Ellis would answer with less than a minute in the second to put the Irish up again.
Steve Holtz would take a big penalty for Michigan at the end of the second which would lead to Ellis’ second goal of the game.
In the third, Bordeleau would score the goal that would send it to overtime before Ellis would score the hattrick goal in overtime to win it for Notre Dame.
The keys to this series for Michigan are to stay disciplined and avoid the 10-minute misconduct penalties while trying to let the talent on the team take over the game.
The keys for Notre Dame are to limit the talent for Michigan and take advantage on the power play, especially the five-minute majors.
James Morrison is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jpm6920@psu.edu.
