B1G Tournament: Gophers Host Michigan (3-19-22)

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Ignatius L Hoops

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247sports.com

Michigan hockey takes down Notre Dame, 2-1, in Big Ten Tournament semifinals

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247sports.com 247sports.com

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The Michigan hockey team got revenge on Notre Dame, avenging two regular-season sweeps with a 2-1 victory over the Fighting Irish on Saturday night in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. With the victory, the Wolverines advance to the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game against Minnesota.

In front of a packed and raucous Yost Ice Arena crowd, Brendan Brisson scored the go-ahead goal at 16:01 of the third period, and Erik Portillo made 19 saves to seal the result. The netminder was mobbed by his teammates as the final horn sounded.

Brisson’s winner came after Jacob Truscott was able to win the puck in the attacking zone. He dished to Matty Beniers, who found Brisson in the right circle, and the sophomore didn’t miss with his wrister.

Michigan got on the board at 3:46 of the second period on a beautiful attack from the team’s second line. Kent Johnson carried the puck into the attacking zone and dropped a pass to Matty Beniers. The center fired a pass Brendan Brisson and crashed the back post on the give-and-go, where Beniers finished the sequence of sharp transition hockey.

Notre Dame equalized eight minutes later, taking advantage of a lucky break — a Michigan clearance blocked inadvertently by a referee. The sustained pressure resulted in a scrum in front of Erik Portillo, and Detroit Red Wings prospect Jack Adams poked it in.


The first period was an even one in which neither team generated many opportunities until the closing minutes, when Michigan had a lengthy 5-on-3 power play. But the Wolverines were sloppy with the two-man advantage — at one point, botching a line change and playing with just four skaters — and didn’t capitalize on the opportunity.

But Michigan got just enough from its offense, particularly in the third period, when the Wolverines dominated. Portillo was excellent when called upon; his diving save of Max Ellis at 6:59 of the second period was one highlight of many for the Wolverines, who got their long-awaited win over Notre Dame.

What it means

In the long run, the game means little. Michigan is a virtual lock to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and Saturday’s result doesn’t change that. The Irish will also make the tournament and play the type of hockey that can lead to a deep run in the single-elimination format.

But don't tell the sold-out Yost crowd that the result wasn't massive. The Wolverines will now play for a trophy, and finally beating Notre Dame is a sign the team can take down anyone come tournament time. Michigan played a clean game and put together possibly its best 60 minutes — a great sign at this point in the season. In addition, every win is helpful when it comes to seeding, the Wolverines are still in contention for the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

What comes next


Michigan will play at Minnesota next weekend in the Big Ten Tournament Championship Game.

The NCAA Tournament bracket will be announced on Sunday, March 20. Should Michigan reach it, the Frozen Four will be held at TD Garden in Boston from April 7-9
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Interesting - with only one evening of Men's NCAA hockey left before the selection show, Mankato is the only team with a lock on a #1 regional seed (even with a loss to Bemidji tonight):
- MN-MI winner will definitely get a #1 (MI may be able to hold on to a #1 seed with a loss, MN will probably drop to a #2 with a loss)
- Western Michigan will get a #1 if they beat UMD tonight, and will drop to a 2 seed with a loss (but hard to say whether UMD can move up enough spots with a win)
- Denver has a shot at a #1 even with their loss to UMD yesterday. (For attendance reasons and regional interest in general, I am sure the selection committee would really like to place Denver as a #1 in the West regional held in Loveland, CO)
- Despite their loss to Western MI last night, it is possible that UND (currently 6th overall) moves up a couple of spots depending on the outcome of other games
- Doubt that Quinnipiac (currently 7th overall) can get a 1 seed, even with a win over Harvard tonight.

One other men's hockey item of B1G note - OSU is right on the cutoff line towards making the tourney. Currently ranked 15 or 16 depending on the poll. It may already be too late, but for them to have any shot, OSU must root for the favorites to come through tonight. If Bemidji, Harvard or CT pull off an upset, their razor-thin hopes will be over.
 
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Cemba, think you're info is wrong. Mankato, Michigan and Western Michigan are guaranteed #1 seeds. UMD, NoDak and Quinnipiac are guaranteed #2 seeds. The only issue is if Minnesota or Denver get the 4th #1 seed. Denver is in Loveland whether they are a #1 or #2.
 


Also, Notre Dame, St. Cloud, UMass and Michigan Tech are locked into the #3 seeds.
 

First sell out in how long and you lay an egg. And bandwagon fans throwing crap onto the ice. Yeesh.
 


Taji34 said:
2 weeks. They sold out 2 weeks ago.

Record attendance for Mariucci though 10,774 people.
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Oh lol. People had been making a big deal about it, so figured it was rarer.
 



Laying eggs is what they do. This one just happened to be on their first sellout in god knows how long.
 

Don't know much about hockey, but how do you play for the BIG tourney title at home before a record crowd and then not bother to show up for the match plus give the opponent the lead with an own goal? Surprising the fans stuck around.
 


The sky is not falling. We lost by one goal to the best team in the country. Disappointing, of course, but we played the one team who has more talent than us, sprinkle in an unlucky goal, a few missed calls, and we fought until the end. God this fan base drives me nuts sometimes.
 



MRJ said:
Laying eggs is what they do. This one just happened to be on their first sellout in god knows how long.
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See my post above, they sold out 2 weeks ago
 

Liked the effort at the end. But hurts to know that a goal you scored on yourself took you out of the game in the end.
 


beavergopher said:
Good thing I watched basketball. Can we ever win something??
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We just won this tournament last year. We won the big ten regular season championship this year. We won an NCAA tournament game last year. We have the best recruiting class in the country coming in next year. People just love to complain.
 


I think I have seen this movie before: win the conference championship, lose the conference tournament, and get screwed by the NCAA tournament seeding committee. The committee likes to put the western schools on the same side of the bracket. The WCHA has foiled the committee this year. Hopefully, the Big Ten will do the same.
 

Hard to avoid this year when 10 of the 16 are Western schools. UMass will be a good test, defending champions and then probably Western Michigan, who are fast and physical.
 

walleye said:
I think I have seen this movie before: win the conference championship, lose the conference tournament, and get screwed by the NCAA tournament seeding committee. The committee likes to put the western schools on the same side of the bracket. The WCHA has foiled the committee this year. Hopefully, the Big Ten will do the same.
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How are we getting screwed? We're in the NCAA tournament that consists of just 16 teams. Every team is good and can beat any team. I remember how we got "screwed" in the Holy Cross draw. Quit whining, put on your big boy pants and beat the teams in front of you. It sounds as if you are already making excuses for the Gophers when they lose.
 

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