Phew.
Shortly after the Michigan men’s basketball team punched its ticket to the Final Four, it was the hockey program’s turn to win its regional. The No. 1 Wolverines did, 4-3, over Albany Region two-seed Minnesota-Duluth, despite a late rally by the Bulldogs.
Michigan looked much like its basketball counterparts early on with a three-goal onslaught in the first 13 minutes. First, junior forward Nick Moldenhauer sped into the offensive zone, freshman forward Cole McKinney did well to maintain possession
in the corner, hit junior defenseman Ben Robertson on the point and his quick shot found a gorgeous deflection from sophomore forward Will Horcoff for the tally.
Midway through the opening period, the Wolverines struck again when, on the power play, Moldenhauer found freshman forward Adam Valentini on a cross-slot feed and Valentini’s one-time rip beat the net minder. Not even three minutes later, that advantage stretched to three as junior forward Garrett Schifsky stole a lazy drop pass while shorthanded, drove in all alone and won the breakaway.
The second period saw quality chances on each end, but freshman goaltender Jack Ivankovic was steady. The defense corps also helped shut down this high-octane Bulldogs attack, and through 40 minutes, Michigan held a comfortable 3-0 lead.
However, everything changed in the third.
First, the Bulldogs scored early on an offensive zone entry that looked far too easy, and a nice slip pass led to their first goal. The Wolverines responded, as junior forward Jayden Perron found time and space, lost the puck due to a nice defensive stick on a 2-on-1 pass, stayed with the play and tucked their fourth goal of the contest.
But with less than 10 minutes left in regulation, Michigan finally felt that Minnesota-Duluth push. The Bulldogs cut it to 4-2 on another clean entry (this time on the power play), but a goal that was far too reminiscent of their first. Six-and-a-half minutes later, Minnesota-Duluth scored again, this time on a down low play which the Wolverines could not clear, Ivankovic could not freeze and suddenly, that once inevitable feeling that Michigan was going back to the Frozen Four was in doubt.
Ultimately, the Wolverines hung onto their lead, even with several anxiety-inducing chances for the Bulldogs with the extra skater. But none would go, and Michigan is officially off to its NCAA-record 29th Frozen Four.
Awaiting the Wolverines in Las Vegas on April 9 is a Denver program that has made seven of the last 10 Frozen Fours and defeated Michigan in overtime back in the 2022 National Semifinal. No current Wolverine was a part of that run, though revenge should be on the fanbase’s mind as these two blue bloods meet for a trip to the National Championship.
Can the Wolverines win two more games? What will it take for them to break the championship drought in Las Vegas? Let us know what you think in the comments.
STATS:
Goals: Horcoff (1), Valentini (1), Schifsky (1), Perron (1)
Assists: Robertson (2), McKinney (1), Moldenhauer (1), Spence (1), Rhéaume-Mullen (1)
Saves: Ivankovic (30)
