The Wolverines wasted no time taking control of their Big Ten quarterfinal series with the Spartans Friday night at Yost Ice Arena, as they recorded a 3-0 shutout win over their storied rival in Game 1. Jake Slaker scored on a five-on-three power-play opportunity halfway through the first period, and Johnny Beecher and Nick Pastujov scored at the start and close of the second period, respectively, to put Michigan on cruise control in the third. Strauss Mann made 25 saves in the win for the Wolverines.
Game 2 takes place tomorrow night, once again at Yost Ice Arena. If the Wolverines win, they advance to the Big Ten semifinals; if the Spartans win, they force a winner-take-all Game 7 Sunday in Ann Arbor. (Photos by Michael Caples/MiHockey)