CHICAGO — Michigan waited out a 100-minute delay and got a goal and an assist from defenseman Michael Downing to beat Michigan State 4-1 on Saturday in the nightcap of the Hockey City Classic at Soldier Field.
The game didn’t start until 8:40 p.m.; the day’s first game between Miami and Western Michigan was delayed due to warm temperatures and compressor problems leading to poor ice conditions.
“They had a lot of issues, but the weather was still the deciding factor,” said Michigan coach Red Berenson. “I’m glad we played the game.”
Zach Nagelvoort made 31 saves for the Wolverines (16-8, 8-2 Big Ten), who held onto first place in the Big Ten.
Michigan took control early, with the ice seemingly tilted heavily toward the Michigan State zone, taking an 8-1 shots-on-goal advantage through the first 10 minutes.
The Wolverines took advantage of the early momentum, turning the shot advantage into 1-0 lead after Downing shelved a quick snap shot from the left faceoff dot over Spartans goaltender Jake Hildebrand’s glove. The goal was set up by Tony Calderone after Cristoval Nieves forced a neutral-zone turnover.
“We thought that they would be very aggressive coming out of the gate,” Spartans coach Tom Anastos said. “We were looking for a play like that and yet didn’t cover it well enough.”
The Spartans responded after a strong penalty kill midway through the period and shifted the momentum to the tune of a 10-2 shots-on-goal advantage in the latter half of the opening frame.
Michigan State was not able to capitalize on the late momentum, however, and went into the first intermission trailing by one.
The second period had a more even flow with lots of back-and-forth play.
Despite the transition game and neutral-zone play being fairly even, the Wolverines were able to outplay the Spartans in their own end, leading to a 15-9 shots advantage in the period.
“We had more second effort, more physicality,” said Berenson. “We were more invested in the game.”
The shots-on-goal advantage reflected on the scoreboard when Cutler Martin beat Hildebrand, who was screened by his own defenseman, to the low post on a wrist shot from the slot.
“I think [Justin] Selman shot the puck that Hildebrand popped out to me,” said Martin. “A lot of traffic in front of the net and it popped through.”
Michigan scored a second goal in the period when Spartans defenders RJ Boyd and Brock Krygier failed to clear their goal crease and allowed Andrew Copp to take several attempts at a loose puck before finally knocking it through Hildebrand’s legs.
“I just kind of stopped on it and whacked at it until it went it,” said Copp.
There were five power plays in the period (three for the Spartans and two for the Wolverines) but stout kills resulted in neither team being able to take advantage.
Michigan State (10-12-2, 4-4-2) changed its game in the third period by looking to take more shots and create scoring opportunities rather than trying to mitigate Michigan’s chances.
The plan paid off early when Nagelvoort failed to control a loose puck in his crease, allowing Matt DeBlouw to blast a rebound in from close range, ending the shutout bid.
Michigan added one more goal on a Selman empty-netter with just over a minute to play.
The two teams furiously combined for 24 third-period shots.
“We’ve just got to turn the page,” Michigan state junior center Michael Ferrantino said. “We’ll be preparing for Penn State come Monday and we’ll be ready Friday night.”
