AMHERST, Mass. - Three power-play goals helped lift No. 6 Michigan past University of Massachusetts hockey, 7-2, on Friday night in front of a crowd of 7,361 at the Mullins Center. The setback leaves the Minutemen at 1-1-0 to start the year, while the Wolverines improve to 2-1-0.
"For what the score ended up there was a lot of the game that I liked," said UMass head coach Greg Carvel. "There's a lot there that makes me want to believe in this team. The score looks ugly, but I didn't think the game was that lopsided. I thought we came out playing great and should've scored on the first power play. I thought we really controlled the game for 15 minutes until we took a penalty and, you know, Michigan, they don't need a lot to score and that was the case tonight. They're a talented team and when you give them too many power plays and too much space, they're going to score. I thought that was a big part of it. I think this team has the ability to grow and be a good team. I'm sure people probably look at the score and say 'oh here UMass goes again like last year,' but that's not how I feel right now."
With the first period winding down, Michigan converted on its second man advantage of the night with T.J. Hughes firing a one-timer into an open net from the left faceoff circle with Dylan Duke and Rutger McGroarty collecting the assists at the 15:01 mark.
Just 1:04 later, the Wolverines added another as Jackson Hallum dropped the puck off for Garrett Schifsky who tucked a wrister inside the far post.
Duke added Michigan's third of the contest 3:36 into the second from McGroarty and Luca Fantilli.
Senior Aaron Bohlinger put UMass on the board at the 5:05 mark, finishing off a feed from freshman Jack Musa on an odd-man rush after sophomore Michael Cameron sprung the pair with an outlet pass out of the Massachusetts zone.
However, the Wolverines responded with two goals 35 seconds apart from Schifsky and Seamus Casey that capped the second period scoring and pushed the margin to 5-1.
Michigan began the final frame with a power-play goal from Duke 1:51 into the stanza.
Scott Morrow then netted his first of the season at 11:23 with the man advantage, putting back a rebound from Aydar Suniev for the freshman's first collegiate point. Musa picked up the secondary and finished the evening with a pair of helpers.
The Wolverines added their seventh and final tally at the 13:06 mark with McGroarty finishing off a feed from Frank Nazar II and Gavin Brindley.
Michigan ended the contest with a 31-24 shot advantage and went 3-for-5 on the power play, while the Minutemen were 1-for-6.
Cole Brady totaled 24 saves in net for UMass and Jake Barczewski had 22 stops for the Wolverines.
The two teams will meet for their second matchup of the weekend tomorrow, October 14, at 7 p.m. in the Mullins Center.
