Ground Report

DETROIT, Mich. — Michigan meets Michigan State tonight at Joe Louis Arena in the championship game of the 50th Great Lakes Invitational. The Wolverines are in search of their record 16th GLI title, and their first since 2011, which was the last time Michigan played for a GLI championship. In that contest, on Dec. 30, 2011, Kevin Clare scored the game-winner at 11:44 of overtime to lift the Wolverines to a 3-2 (OT) win over Michigan State.

• Michigan will play for the John A. MacInnes Trophy for the 29th time. The Wolverines are 15-13 in GLI championship games. U-M is 54-34-1 all-time in the GLI.

• Michigan is 28-18-5 all-time against Michigan State at Joe Louis Arena, and has won five straight games against the Spartans at the Joe dating back to Jan. 29, 2011.

• The Wolverines are 10-8-1 all-time against Michigan State in the GLI, with a 7-5-0 record against the Spartans in GLI championship games. Michigan and Michigan State will meet for the fourth straight year in the GLI, including a 3-0 loss to the Spartans in the GLI third place game last year on Dec. 28, 2013 at Comerica Park.

• Last night, Michigan earned a 2-1 win over No. 5 Michigan Tech behind a season-high 40 saves from Steve Racine, who made his first start in net since Nov. 1. Zach Hyman broke a 1-1 tie at 3:44 of the third period with a game-winning power play goal to lead U-M to the win.

• With a goal and an assist last night, Zach Hyman has a new career high for points in a season, leading the team with 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists). Hyman also leads the team with six multiple-point games this season.

• Michigan’s special teams continue to improve as the Wolverines have recorded a power play goal in four straight games and are now 8-for-17 (47.1%) on the PP in that span. Michigan is also 15-for-15 on the penalty kill in the last four contests.