Ground Report

Site: Detroit, Mich. (Joe Louis Arena)
Score: Michigan 2, No. 5/5 Michigan Tech 1

Records: U-M: 9-7-0 (2-1-0-0 Big Ten), Michigan Tech (13-4-0, 10-2-0 WCHA)
Next U-M Event: Monday, Dec. 30 – vs. TBD (Joe Louis Arena), 7:00 p.m.

DETROIT, Mich. — Zach Hyman broke a 1-1 tie with the game-winning power play goal early in the third period, and Steve Racine made a season-high 40 saves to lead Michigan to a 2-1 win over No. 5 Michigan Tech in a semifinal contest in the 50th Great Lakes Invitational at Joe Louis Arena.

Cutler Martin also scored for the Wolverines, who made several key defensive plays in the closing minutes to seal the win.

Hyman scored the go-ahead goal after Boo Nieves drew a power play for Michigan at the start of the third period. Nieves threaded the Michigan Tech defense for a chance in front that Michigan Tech goaltender Jamie Phillips (19 saves) turned away, but the Michigan forward was hooked on the play by Mark Auk to put the Wolverines on the power play at 2:22.

On the man advantage, Hyman gave Michigan the lead for good with Michigan Tech in the midst of a personnel change. With the puck in the neutral zone Michael Downing quickly fed Andrew Copp, who gained the zone and found Hyman in the slot. Hyman fired a long wrist shot into the top left corner of the net at 3:44 to give the Wolverines the lead.

Racine came up with a big stop at 11:20, as C.J. Eick drove to the net from the corner and tried to cut to his backhand. But Racine interrupted the play with his goal stick and covered the puck to stop play.

The Wolverines struck first in the first period after a great shift in Michigan Tech’s zone. Andrew Copp had two jam attempts at the start of the shift, and eventually, Hyman fed Cutler Martin at the left point. Martin’s long slapshot beat Phillips on the blocker side to put the Wolverines up 1-0 at 6:28.

The Huskies tied it up four minutes later on a nice passing play, as Alex Petan dug the puck out of the corner to Tanner Kero, who fed cross-ice to Malcom Gould on a 2-on-1 down low. Gould beat Racine between the pads at 10:28 to tie the game up.

Racine made an outstanding save late in the period to keep it tied at the break. With 3:29 left in the first period, Tanner Kero pounced on a loose puck in the slot, but Racine made a sweeping glove save, his best of 16 in the period.

Racine was sharp again on Michigan Tech’s second power play chance of the night with Dexter Dancs in the box for slashing midway through the second period. He made his best stop, a blocker save on Tyler Heinonen’s chance from the high slot at the 12:00 mark, to help the Wolverines kill off the penalty.

Michigan had a chance to take the lead again, right after killing off the Dancs penalty, as Hyman had the go-ahead goal on his stick, but fired off the iron. A strange bounce off the corner glass gave Andrew Copp the puck. Copp fed a wide-open Hyman, who hit the outside of the post with Phillips out of position at the 13:00 mark.

But Hyman would convert on his chance early in the third to give Michigan a chance at its record 16th Great Lakes Invitational title. The Wolverines will faceoff against the winner of the Michigan State-Ferris State game in the GLI Championship game at 7:00 p.m.

 Hockey Game Box Score (Final)
2014-15 Michigan Hockey
Michigan vs Michigan Tech (Dec 28, 2014 at Detroit, Michigan)
 

 Michigan (9-7-0) vs. Michigan Tech (13-4-0)
 Date: Dec 28, 2014  Location: Detroit, Michigan     Arena: Joe Louis Arena
 Attendance:   Start time:3:30 PM   End time:5:45 PM   Total time:2:15

 Goals by Period       1  2  3  Tot
 ----------------------------------
 Michigan............  1  0  1 -  2
 Michigan Tech.......  1  0  0 -  1

   1st period - 1, MICH, Cutler Martin/2 (Zach Hyman/11, Nolan De
Jong/4) 6:28. 2, MTU, Malcolm Gould/6 (Alex Petan/8, Tanner Kero/6)
10:28. Penalties - Dexter Dancs, MICH (hooking) 18:47; Zach Hyman,
MICH (charging) 20:00; Jamie Phillips, MTU (slashing) 20:00.

   2nd period - Penalties - Dexter Dancs, MICH (slashing) 10:25; C.J.
Eick, MTU (cross-checking) 13:08.

   3rd period - 3, MICH, Zach Hyman/11 (Andrew Copp/7, Michael
Downing/5) 3:44 (pp). Penalties - Mark Auk, MTU (hooking) 2:22.

   Shots on goal - MICH 5-9-7 21; MTU 17-12-12 41.

   Power plays - MICH 1 of 2; MTU 0 of 2.

   Penalties - MICH 3 (6 min); MTU 3 (6 min).

   Goalies - MICH, Steve Racine 3-1-0 (60:00 minutes, 41 shots-40
saves); MTU, Jamie Phillips 13-4-0 (58:49, 21-19) , EMPTY NET (01:11,
0-0).

   Penalty shots - None.

 A-  T-2:15
 Three stars: 1. None    2. None    3. None
 Ref: Kevin Langseth; Keith Sergott   Line: Bruce Vida; Ryan Gordon
 Win-Steve Racine (3-1-0).  Loss-Jamie Phillips (13-4-0).
 GLI Semifinal Game 1

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