Wolverines continue dominance over Badgers in first-round B1G win

Photos by Andrew Knapik/MiHockey

By @SKubus –

DETROIT –  The Michigan Wolverines outscored the Wisconsin Badgers 21-6 during the regular season, going 4-0, including a pair of shutout victories to boot.

In Thursday night’s first-round Big Ten tournament tilt, it was more of the same.

The Wolverines outgunned the Badgers, 5-1, thanks to huge multi-point efforts from Zach Hyman and Detroit Red Wings prospect Dylan Larkin (Waterford). Steve Racine picked up the win between the pipes.

“I thought we were opportunistic and our goalie played well, our penalty killers played well and you could say it was a good team effort,” head coach Red Berenson said. “It was a game that was kind of a track game. Wisconsin has had a tough season, you knew they were capable, if they got it going, to surprise anybody, so I’m glad we got away with the win.”

The Wolverines advance to face Michigan State Friday night in a tilt that needs no build-up given their recent history.

“Playing State, what happened with us last weekend, we still have that bitter taste in our mouth and we’re going to be ready to play tomorrow,” Hyman said. “There’s no bigger game than that. We’re going to get up for that.”

MORE: Dynamic duo of Hyman and Larkin strike again for Michigan

And Hyman opened the game’s scoring late in the opening frame, as he tipped home Larkin’s powerplay shot. Freshman defenseman and top 2015 NHL draft prospect Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe) drew the other assist.

“It’s huge, we always want to start out well and that’s been a big emphasis on us all year, starting well in the first, and that was good for us and that helped us a lot,” Hyman said of striking first.

Senior defenseman and Dexter native Andrew Sinelli extended the Wolverines’ lead to 2-0 just 2:05 into the second stanza, as his shot from in between the top of the circles deflected off the stick of a Badgers defender and essentially floated past Rumpel.

Another bizarre goal made it 3-0 in favor of the Wolverines minutes later, as Hyman added his second of the game, tipping home a Cutler Martin (East Lansing) shot. The puck got stuck behind the back bar, and nobody immediately reacted to the goal, officials included, but it was quickly ruled a good goal.

With 56 seconds to play in the middle period, Racine lost his blocker making a save and to get a stoppage, he knocked the net off its moorings intentionally taking a delay of game minor in the process.

The Badgers broke the shutout with 10:46 remaining in the third period, as Jedd Soleway stuffed a puck in past Racine on a wraparound. Video review confirmed it to be a good goal.

After killing off a 5-on-3 just under halfway through the final frame, Michigan turned that effort in their favor.

“I think we were aggressive,” Larkin said of the PK. “We didn’t give them much time to set up and I think Travis Lynch had a breakaway and we had some chances and we took away their time and space, which was good.”

With just under five minutes to play in the final frame, Larkin went end-to-end through and around the Badgers for a highlight reel goal to regain the Wolverines’ three-goal lead. Justin Selman added one more to seal the victory. Larkin drew his third assist of the game on Selman’s tally to give him a four-point night.

After the game, Berenson all but confirmed that Racine would get the nod Friday night against the Spartans.

“We’ll talk about it, but Racine’s got a lot of momentum right now,” Berenson said. “I’d be surprised if we don’t start Racine.”